Countach makes a radical return
● Style inspired by 1974 icon ● Hybrid V12 makes 803bhp
IT’S been 50 years since the Lamborghini Countach wedged itself into the supercar crowd with wild Bertone styling, a bellowing V12 and a race-inspired chassis. For 2021, the Italian marque is reviving the iconic name – so meet the reborn Lamborghini Countach.
Just 112 examples will be built, each combining Lamborghini’s most advanced powertrain technology and an appearance that is distinctly Countach, with a wedgeshaped silhouette and numerous details that pay homage to the original model.
The new car blends cues from the 1974 Countach with contemporary Lamborghini touches. Retro features include black NACA intakes along the flanks, and distinctive “Periscopio” lines running from the roof to the rear deck. Trapezoidal rear-light housings and deep side gills also draw inspiration from the original car.
Ever since the Miura, the mark of a Lamborghini flagship has been a midmounted V12. The new Countach is true to the lineage, with power coming from a hybrid-assisted 6.5-litre 12-cylinder that it shares with the Sián hypercar. The combustion engine makes 769bhp, while a 48-volt electric motor adds 34bhp. The full 803bhp is sent to all four wheels through a seven-speed single-clutch semi-auto gearbox, giving the Countach a 0-62mph time of 2.8 seconds, with 0-124mph taking 8.6 seconds.
The design wasn’t the only groundbreaking aspect of the original Countach: its tubular spaceframe chassis was cutting edge, and the modern-day counterpart uses what Lamborghini says is the most advanced chassis tech available. The body panels and monocoque chassis are made from carbon fibre, giving a dry weight of 1,595kg, while carbon-ceramic brakes hide behind “telephone dial” wheels – a reference to the dramatic wheels of the later Countach LP5000. They’re shod in track-focused Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres.
Inside, there are 3D-printed air vents and above is a photochromic glass roof, which changes from opaque to transparent at the push of a button. Bespoke seats and a
square motif on the dashboard also mark out the retro-inspired flagship. The car features Lamborghini’s latest infotainment system that made its debut in the Huracán Evo, and includes Apple CarPlay.
The new Countach, along with the Sián, marks a transitional period for Lamborghini. While the marque has pledged to extend the life of its V12, it can only do so through hybridisation. That means its next flagship will have an all-new V12 hybrid unit, which will follow the demise of the Aventador’s V12 with the LP780-4 Ultimae special edition. CEO Stephan Winkelmann has revealed that the new flagship will not share powertrain components with the Sián or Countach, but we can assume that these cars have served as a test-bed for Lamborghini’s electrified future.
The brand is aiming for a fully hybridised line-up by 2024, and the first all-electric Lamborghini will be revealed by the end of the decade, taking the fight to cars such as the Lotus Evija and Rimac Nevera.
The new Countach can be specified in heritage colours that draw from the original paint palette, plus the firm’s contemporary shades. Prices have not been disclosed, but when owners take delivery in the first quarter of 2022, they will have likely paid a similar amount to the Sián’s figure of £2.6million plus taxes.
“The car blends cues from the 1974 Countach with contemporary Lamborghini touches”
“Trapezoidal rear light housings and deep side gills draw inspiration from the original icon”