2022 Lamborghini Countach design
There are probably only a handful of cars that became as genuinely iconic as the original Lamborghini Countach — how many bedroom walls in the eighties were plastered with a poster of a Countach? — and so it’s perhaps surprising that Lamborghini has taken so long to revive the original.
We do mean the original, too. This new Countach LPI-800-4 harks all the way back to the first Countach, the 1974 ‘Periscopio’ version. When it was first launched, the Countach was a clean, sleek, simple design and all the more striking for it. The hateful spoilers, extra air intakes, and balloon tyres came later (what we might call Wolf Of Wall Street spec).
For the new Countach, Lamborghini has kept things clean and smooth. The low, pointy nose references the original design with square LED headlights (no pop-ups, this time around) and a slim, black bar running across the front, which houses a ‘Countach’ badge, complete with eighties-style lettering.
Around the sides, the scissor doors (they open up and forwards) are cut deeply into by a big NACA-style air duct, that helps to feed the mighty V12 engine behind. There are also air scoops and ‘gills’ higher up on the rear bodywork.
Around the back, the rear end of the car comes almost to a point, and there’s no big, ugly rear wing to spoil the lines. The LED brake lights — ultra-slim units — are set into a black panel just under the lip of the rear bodywork, and below them, there’s a massive carbon fibre diffuser, quad exhausts, and the finishing touch of an Italian tricolour.
You can choose from 33 different colours for your Countach, including a set of ‘heritage colours’ such as the brilliantly named ‘Verde Scandal.’
Design
The original Countach was in production for just over 20 years, and Lamborghini tried to incorporate design elements from that entire timespan into the new version. Details like thin headlights, an air intake at the base of the windshield, and vents just behind the side windows tie the Countach LPI 800-4 to the first Countach prototype, which debuted at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show. However, the large side air intake and boxy wheel arches are more reminiscent of later Countach models.
Lamborghini didn’t go too crazy, however. The Countach LPI 800-4 doesn’t have the fender flares, raised side air intakes, or large rear spoiler the original Countach accumulated as it aged. The automaker said it was going for a cleaner look, and some of those add-ons, such as the spoiler, were purely cosmetic anyway. Designers did keep the scissor doors, which were introduced on the original Countach and have been a Lamborghini signature every since.
Aventador в стиле Countach
Передняя часть с ее трапециевидными фарами, плоским носом и прямоугольными воздухозаборниками напоминает LP5000 QV 1985 года — одну из более поздних версий Countach. То же самое касается шестиугольных колесных арок с колёсными дисками размером 20 дюймов спереди и 21 дюйм сзади, обутыми в шины Pirelli P Zero Corsa.
Прорези за боковыми окнами — дань уважения прототипу 1971 года, как и дизайн крыши и заднего окна. Однако такие элементы, как огромный воздуховод в стиле Naca на дверях и верхние воздухозаборники на задних крыльях больше напоминают последнюю Countach 25th Anniversary 1988 года.
Шестиугольные трехсекционные задние фонари позаимствованы у Sián, но остальные элементы задней части тут оригинальные, включая диффузор из углеродного волокна, четыре выхлопные трубы и укороченный задний бампер, открывающий большую часть сверхшироких задних шин. Здесь нет фиксированного заднего антикрыла, но судя по всему есть выдвижной спойлер.
2022 Lamborghini Countach LPI-800-4 engine and performance
The Countach will use the same 6.5-litre V12 mild-hybrid as the limited-edition Lamborghini Sian. It has a combined output of 814hp — 780hp of that comes from the petrol engine, while the other 34hp comes from the hybrid system.
This will likely be the last time that Lamborghini uses its super-capacitor hybrid system. Super-capacitors react more quickly than conventional batteries, charge more quickly, and are lighter — Lambo says that its super-capacitor gives three times more power compared to a lithium-ion battery of the same weight — but they can’t hold on to a charge for long. For that reason, Lambo is likely to switch to a plug-in hybrid V12 for its next flagship supercar and is planning to develop a new all-electric car, too.
But back to the Countach for now… Performance is pretty staggering – how does 0-62mph in 2.8secs, and 0-124mph in 8.6secs sound? It has a top speed of 207mph too, assuming you own your own race track… The Countach has four-wheel drive, just like the Sian and Aventador that share much of its mechanical makeup.
Back in 1974, the original Countach broke the supercar mould with its racing-car influenced tubular spaceframe chassis, side-mounted radiators, and forward-facing gearbox. The new Countach uses contemporary racing car tech — the chassis and bodywork are all made from lightweight carbon fibre, keeping the dry weight (no fluids, no driver, no fuel) down to 1,595kg. That gives it a power-to-weight ratio of 510hp per tonne.
There’s some clever modern tech built into that seventies shape, including moving air vents made with a 3D printing process, and a photochromatic roof that changes from solid to transparent at the push of a button.
The wheels — styled after the original Countach’s ‘telephone dial’ alloys — are 21-inch items front and rear, and get Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres. Behind them are massive carbon-ceramic brake discs.
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Внутри он похож на Aventador?
И да, и нет. Рулевое колесо и сиденья тут общие с Aventador, но приборная панель, дверные карты и центральная консоль — от Sián. Чтобы выделить Countach, дизайнеры Lamborghini добавили новые дефлекторы климатической системы и немного изменили кожаную отделку центрального туннеля.
Они также добавили новый 8,4-дюймовый сенсорный экран мультимедийной системы, хотя устройство выглядит очень похоже на то, что устанавливается на Sian. Что определенно уникально для Countach, так это кнопка «Stile», которая инициирует презентацию философии дизайна автомобиля для «привилегированной аудитории» — так в Lamborghini называют водителя и пассажира.
Интерьер демонстрационного экземпляра выполнен из красной и черной кожи, вдохновленной дизайном Countach LP 400 S, принадлежащего Ферруччо. Кузов окрашен в цвет Bianco Siderale. Естественно, каждый владелец сможет выбрать цвет кузова и отделку интерьера по своему вкусу.
Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4 был представлен на выставке The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering в США и будет выпущен ограниченным тиражом в 112 единиц. Компания не предоставила подробную информацию о ценах, но мы ожидаем, что цена будет находится в диапазоне между особыми версиями Aventador и более эксклюзивным Sián FKP 37. Первые поставки клиентам ожидаются в первом квартале 2022 года.
LPI 800-4, скорее всего, является последней моделью, основанной на архитектуре монокока Aventador, поскольку вскоре ожидается появление флагмана нового поколения, возможно, с подключаемым гибридным силовым агрегатом в соответствии со стратегией компании по электрификации.
Specs
The gasoline V12 and electric motor combine to produce 803 horsepower, which is where the “800” in the car’s name comes from. “LP” stands for “longitudinale posteriore,” referencing the positioning of the engine, “I” represents the hybrid system, and “4” stands for all-wheel drive.
Despite its carbon fiber chassis, the Countach LPI 800-4 is still portly. Lamborghini quotes a 3,516-pound curb weight, and that’s a dry weight without fluids onboard. The automaker also quotes a 43/57 front/rear weight distribution, slightly off the ideal 50/50.
Still, the new Countach is about as fast as one would expect an 803-hp car to be. Lamborghini says it will do zero to 62 mph in 2.8 seconds, zero to 124 mph in 8.6 seconds, and reach a 220.5 mph top speed. However, it’s worth noting that the zero-to-62-mph time is identical to the non-hybrid Lamborghini Aventador Ultimae coupe, which also has roughly the same top speed as the Countach.
Pricing
Lamborghini plans to build 112 copies of the new Countach, referencing the LP 112 codename used during the development of the original. Pricing is expected to be well into the seven-figure range, and production is scheduled to start in 2022.
Lamborghini is expected to introduce more hybrids over the next few years. A planned successor to the Aventador is expected to use a new V12 engine teamed with a more aggressive hybrid system than the one used in the Countach. However, it’s unclear if we’ll see an all-electric Lamborghini anytime soon.
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Технически очень похож на Sian
Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4 построен на базе Sián FKP 37, который был представлен еще в 2019 году. Помимо монокока из углеродного волокна, тут применили тот же мягкий гибрид суммарной мощностью 814 л.с. и полный привод — отсюда цифры 800 и 4 в названии.
Силовая установка состоит из атмосферного V12 объемом 6,5 литра, который в данном случае выдаёт 780 л.с., и 48-вольтового электродвигателя, производящего дополнительные 34 л.с. Последний расположен внутри 7-ступенчатой автоматической механической коробки передач. Как и в Sián, энергия регенеративной тормозной системы накапливается в суперконденсаторе, который легче, чем традиционный литий-ионный аккумулятор.
От 0 до 100 км/ч новый Countaqch разгоняется за 2,8 секунды, до 200 км/ч — за 8,6 секунды, а максимальная скорость находится на отметке 355 км/ч. Это делает Countach LPI 800-4 столь же быстрым как Sián FKP 37 и Aventador LP780-4 Ultimae.
Tech
The new Countach uses the chassis from a Lamborghini Aventador, but with a hybrid powertrain similar to the one used in the limited-edition Lamborghini Sián FKP-37, which debuted in 2019. Lamborghini’s traditional 6.5-liter V12 engine gets assistance from an electric motor, albeit only up to 81 mph, according to Lamborghini. The motor is mounted directly to Lambo’s seven-speed Independent Shifting Rod (ISR) transmission, which in turn drives all four wheels.
Electricity for the motor is harvested with regenerative braking and stored in a supercapacitor rather than a conventional battery pack. Lamborghini claims this provides three times the power output of a battery pack of the same weight.
The infotainment system plays second fiddle to the hybrid powertrain. Lamborghini included an 8.4-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, but not Android Auto.