Producing modern interpretations of old cars is especially difficult. Most of them have design elements that due to laws and regulations would never be legal today. This, in many cases, is the reason why most attempts fail. However, Lamborghini is no stranger to creating vehicles that in many cases have you just standing and staring; therefore, we have high hopes for the new Countach.
Before we go into whether this exercise was worth it or not, we shall get into some information as to why the vehicle was created in the first place. The Countach LPI 800-4 exists as a homage to the original Countach LP-400 which gob-smacked the world at the 1971 Geneva motor show.
The new version marks the 50th anniversary of that event and is based on the Lamborghini Aventador LP-780-4. However, unlike the Aventador, the new Countach costs roughly $2.6 million. it is safe to say that Lamborghini knows how to leverage a limited run special for some profit.
Recreating a modern interpretation of an old car is tough. Vehicles of the 80s were small, low, had thin doors and pillars, and rolled on tall tires with small wheels – none of which is the case with new cars.
Current rules and regulations mean that headlights need to be at a specific height while safety tests bring thick pillars. Also, to fit the huge brakes needed to slow down an 803-horsepower Lamborghini, the wheels need to be huge.
So, this is no easy task, but Lamborghini seems to have just about pulled it off. Surely, beauty is a matter of perception, but with a car bearing such a nameplate, some comments are inevitable.
Size-wise the new car has nothing to do with the old one. It is far longer and wider which makes the side profile of the car look a bit thick. However, get a glimpse of its pointy front end with the squared-off headlights and you are instantly reminded of the original vehicle. The same is true for the rear thanks to the discrete lines around the headlights which again serve as a nod to the LP-400.
The interior bears little resemblance to that of the original; however, it does feature a lipstick red color that could be found in the older cars. When compared to the Aventador, the LP-800’s interior is simpler and more “grownup” – a welcome change to all the flamboyance associated with the brand.
Overall, we believe the new car does as good of a job as possible when it comes to looking like the old while also complying with the regulations of today.
Under the hood, we find the same 6.5-liter V-12 found in the Aventador LP-780-4 where it makes 769 horsepower. As the name suggests (LP-800-4), the one in the Countach gets a little extra help which bumps it up to 803 horsepower. The additional 34 horsepower comes from a supercapacitor powering an electric motor built into the drivetrain.
A supercapacitor is a superior technology to lithium batteries as it takes less space and is lighter. It can also charge and discharge much faster. Because of this, the energy is never fully depleted and you never have to plug it in to recharge it.
As great as the big V-12 is, there is no denying that some obvious torque gaps exist once setting off. The electric motor is there to fill in those gaps until the engine is in the correct rev range to take over.
Sadly, the electric motor does not solve the sluggish gear changes present in the Aventador. However, Lamborghini suggests that it makes the gear changes less aggressive which in turn increases traction.
The increased power and technology lead to a 0-60 time of 2.8 seconds and a top speed of 221 mph.
It is safe to say that the new Countach is as good as re-imaginings of old vehicles can get. The styling is modern yet old-school and the drivetrain takes the one in the Aventador and makes it a bit more modern thanks to the electric motor.
Driving impressions of the car have been mixed. Some have stated that it performs brilliantly, with great handling characteristics and neck-snapping acceleration. On the other hand, there have been criticisms that when compared to the Aventador, the Countach is firm, busy, and does not handle as well. Due to the EV motor, there have also been comments suggesting that the sound of the V-12 inside the vehicle has been dampened.
Such opinions can be subjective and since only 112 examples are going to be made and all of them are sold, we are not sure that they matter anyway. We believe that reviving the old vehicle was worth it. Yes, it certainly was somewhat of a marketing exercise; however, it gave us a glimpse of what a V-12 Lamborghini combined with electricity can be like while also reminding us of the legendary vehicle that was the original Countach.