Power, speed, and outrageousness. Words that have always defined the Lamborghini Countach. And of course, that’s not to forget the name itself. “Countach”, a Piedmontese expression of amazement and disbelief. A break in the tradition of bullfighting nomenclature. But has that made it any less of a bull? Oh no. Absolutely not. When it comes charging at you, with the 12 pistons roaring in ecstasy, you know you are in a bull run. Right smack in the middle of all the action. And it makes one feel oh, so alive.

But is it possible to recapture all that history and craziness of the 1970s & 80s, now, in the present, in 2021? After all, quite a few of us are of the opinion that modern cars mollycoddle us to the point where the drama is lost. That’s something seemingly gatekept by the analogue, raw nature of classic cars. The era of mechanical masterpieces, as opposed to the current age of digital this, digital that, computer here, computer there, so on and so forth.

Possibly. I think so. In fact, I can’t see why that cannot be achieved. Whilst modern cars may lack the mechanical unpredictiveness of classic cars, they more than make up for it in terms of outright power and dynamic capability. Notice I didn’t mention design. That’s a bit of a grey area. After all, when the original Countach prototype was unveiled to the world at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show, the sheer impact the wedge shape with the rising scissor doors created by standing firmly out in the sea of conservative & curvy shapes is something that can possibly be difficult to capture now. Or even recapture. Lamborghini has since, adopted that style of design in varying forms in all of its cars, and is now, a design language of the brand in itself, as opposed to just a car or a series of cars.

That’s wonderful, but doesn’t that also mean we’re used to it? That’s the funny thing about us. We look for amazement, then get used to it, and want something yet even more outrageous to tickle the inner requirement for freshness, a change of scene, and the basic desire of witnessing innovation. The good news is that creativity is never-ending and there’s always scope for thinking outside the “box”, pun totally intended.

In the August of 2021, Lamborghini surprised the world by reissuing the Countach. A new, re-imagined version of the legend. Of course, it is a limited edition with just 112 units that will ever be made. Why 112? It’s a reference to ‘LP 112’, the official developmental model designation for the original Countach.

This new Countach is based on the underpinnings of the Lamborghini Sián FK- 37, which in itself was based on the underpinnings of the ever-popular and loved Lamborghini Aventador. The funny thing is that the Aventador is the successor of the Countach, with just 2 generations between the two (The Diablo and the Murciélago). Yes, Lamborghini does take its own sweet time to produce new models. And that’s fine. After all, isn’t quality over quantity, one of the finest philosophies to follow?

One of the things about modern cars that put off enthusiasts is the move towards electrification. But when we have brands like Lamborghini, we must really wonder whether our concerns are necessary in the first place. Yes, the new Countach is a hybrid. Unbelievable? Sad? No. Oh, a big fat no. Let’s break it down. The 800 in LPI 800-4 can be split into 780 PS (770 HP) for the V12 powerplant and roughly 34 horsepower for the 48 volt electric motor, bringing the total to about 804 horsepower. We’re definitely in hypercar territory here. But still, most of the power comes from the engine. Lamborghini knows how to make things special. Instead of a battery, this system sports a supercapacitor.

The ability to easily and quickly charge up as well as discharge allows the supercapacitor to work in tandem with the engine to fill in any flat spots of the powerband. In that angle, the hybrid system only improves the experience given by the engine, rather than overshadowing it and ruining it all. Now that is smart, innovative, and special. Hats off to Lamborghini!

But we have to talk about the design. Scissor doors? Check! Wedge shape? Yes actually! And it’s rather pretty. More pretty than outrageous. But that’s alright. It’s like the dust has settled down from the chaos of the 70s and 80s, and the design has matured into something lovely. Certainly not boring, certainly not one that makes Lamborghini look like it’s sitting on its laurels. Although the interior isn’t as innovative as one would have hoped. One glance and you know it’s closely tied with the Aventador. Probably more than what many of us would have wished for. But nevertheless, objectivity says it’s still lovely within, and is definitely a step up from the Aventador. How funny. A step up, by taking a step back in time.

In conclusion, we have a winner here, really. The Aventador platform has always been an excellent blank canvas for Lamborghini’s extra side projects such as this one. And how special it is that a successor has formed the base for a re-imagined predecessor? That’s the lineage and history, being held up and cherished. A look back at the past, for moving onto a brighter future ahead. A much brighter one!

 – Abhyjith. K. Ashokan

“Keep The Passion Strong!”