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Lamborghini has teased images of its new supercar on its social media. They have also stated that this new car will be called the Countach. We don’t know much about the new car yet, apart from the fact it is speculated to be unveiled at the ongoing Monterey Car Week. For now, all we have is this image that was shared on Lamborghini’s social media.
From what we can tell with it covered, the silhouette seems like it is a modern interpretation of the original Countach, penned by Marcello Gandini, and not a replica.
The Sant’Agata Bolognese carmaker, having announced its plans for electrification earlier this year, said that it would be launching two internal-combustion powered V12s in 2021 before switching completely to electric power. While the recently launched Aventador Ultimae was the first, it is speculated that the Countach could possibly be the final Lamborghini to be powered exclusively by a naturally-aspirated V12, before the hybridisation kicks in. Other rumours indicate that the Countach could be a hybrid, given that LPI badges were spied on shots leaked from the customer-only Unica app – a change from the ‘LP’ nomenclature we’ve seen Lamborghinis so far.
Now it's time to take a retrospective at the evergreen mid-engined icon – the original Lamborghini Countach.
The original Lamborghini Countach was the perfect epitomisation of one word – excess. Introduced in 1974, the Countach looked absolutely outlandish. Designed by Gandini when working for Bertone, the futuristic design went on to fully embrace the jet age heyday. The end result was a clean, wedge-like silhouette, sitting low and wide. While the design proportions might have appeared downright radical back then, they would go on to set the design DNA for Lamborghinis in the years to come. And speaking of DNA, the Countach was the first Lambo to sport the scissor doors!
It is hard not to appreciate the visual excesses of the later Countachs. Especially the one launched in 1982, the LP-5000. With a huge rear spoiler and monstrously wide tyres, the LP-5000 was aimed specifically at putting the Ferrari Testarossa back in its place, becoming the fastest production car in the world for its time. It is no wonder, the outrageous appearances of the Countach made it the revered poster car of the ’80s and ’90s. It also led to the Countach achieving celebrity status, with on-screen appearances in movies like The Wolf of Wall Street and The Cannonball Run, along with shows like Miami Vice.
The original Countach LP-400 was powered by a 4-litre V12 making 370bhp, with the ‘LP’ standing for the engine being mounted longitudinally or lengthwise. Although you did get a bigger 5-litre engine from 1982, a proper power upgrade arrived only in 1985 with the Countach LP-5000QV, the QV standing for Quattrovalvole or four valves per cylinder. This beefier spec of the Countach could be easily identified by its massive rear spoiler, and a larger 5.2-litre V12 that made nearly 450bhp at 7000rpm.
Given that the Countach marked a big change for Lamborghini fifty years ago, it is fitting that the nameplate has been revived to mark the transition of Lamborghini into a new era. Regardless of its future powertrain, the Countach is bound to go down in history as one of the automotive greats.
