End of an Era Fireworks Display

A Countach built in 2022, 31 years after the last sports car icon left the factory in Sant'Agata Bolognese? Before anyone starts thinking that Lamborghini has just jumped on the retro bandwagon with the LPI 800-4, we've done some research to find out what makes this car so special. Who is the best person to ask? One of the 112 owners of the strictly limited sports car. Italian tailor-made suits, decent policemen and the suitability of a 355 km/h twelve-cylinder engine for everyday use.

The Countach has played a key role in defining Lamborghini design: scissor doors, V12, low wedge profile. What role will the new model play?

The new Countach, along with the Aventador Ultimae, represents the end of an era for Lamborghini’s naturally aspirated twelve-cylinder engine. The new engine has been mildly hybridized, but you shouldn’t pay too much thought to that. All future Lamborghinis will probably be full hybrids. At Ford, the V8 era came to an end with this GT. The new GT will be powered by a turbocharged V6. I mean, what’s the point of that? And it doesn’t sound all that great either.

Both are real driving machines.

They really are fun to drive. There’s one important difference, however: The Ford GT was produced in the ’00s and is one of the last real men’s cars. It shows no mercy. There’s ABS, but that’s about it. Other than that, you have to fly by the seat of your pants. That’s what this car is like. The power doesn’t really announce itself, and when it does come, you usually have a lot of trouble keeping up. The Countach is different, with all its ultra-modern driving aids, although in the end it always comes down to taking the laws of physics seriously. If you overdo it, you can kiss your ass goodbye here too. In other words, both stand for enormous driving enjoyment – albeit in different forms.

How specifically does this difference manifest itself?

The Countach has modern racing brakes. They scare you at first if you’re not used to them. When they’re cold, they don’t really grip. Being naturally aspirated, it has a completely different response; it’s not as strong at first. You wouldn’t think so, because on paper it has almost 300 hp more than the Ford. The two cars weigh almost the same, but still the Countach doesn’t immediately outrun the Ford. The differences only become apparent at about 250 km/h. I should also point out that the Ford produces a torque of 774 Nm. The Countach doesn’t reach that level. Okay, so it gets close. But seen in this light, you could get nasty and say: Better buy five old Ford GTs than one new Countach.

You once owned an original Countach. Does the new one remind you of the old one in any way?

The design unmistakably documents its origins. Lamborghini found some really nice solutions here, for example at the front. In general, the new Countach includes some very beautiful, coherent references. The whole thing was skillfully built on top of the Aventador platform.

There have also been critical voices . . .

That’s true. Some people have even called it a poorly made Aventador. I struggled with myself at first, too, but when I finally saw it for the first time, I said to Mitja Borkert, the chief designer, “Mitja, you’ve built a beautiful car.” That’s why I bought it. The Countach is not as visually loud as an Aventador. It’s a finely tailored bespoke Italian suit. Of course, the car is way too expensive. But it is simply beautiful. There are one or two other cars in this price category, but when I look at them, most of them just don’t do it for me. If you find them appealing, okay. But they’re not my thing.

Is there an advantage to driving the tried-and-tested technology of an Aventador?

Absolutely. Today I even think: Thank God there’s an Aventador under there! Everything works. I know enough people who own low­volume cars, and the technology is not always reliable. The Countach LP 800­4 is a limited edition of 112 units, and you can tell by looking at one or two details of the body when something is off. Though it must be said that they put a lot of effort into it, and the build quality is extremely high.

Does the driving enjoyment compare with an Aventador?

I would say there isn’t much of a difference between an Aventador SVJ and a Countach LP 800. If you’re familiar with an Aventador SVJ, you’ll feel right at home in the Countach.

→ Read the full story in "The Lamborghini Book".