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Countach and LM 002 the Lamborghini V12 shows to be multi-purpose
Countach and LM 002 the Lamborghini V12 shows to be multi-purpose
  • الإداره
  • 28/07/2022
  • 600

This year, Lamborghini is celebrating its V12, the legendary 12-cylinder engine that for nearly 60 years has equipped the most iconic models of the House of Sant’Agata Bolognese and that, in its final evolution as a “pure” internal combustion engine, will go out of production when the last Aventador Ultimae[1] is produced in late 2022. These models include the Countach, one of the most iconic cars in automotive history, unveiled in 1971 and produced from 1973 to 1990 in 1999 + 1 units, and

the LM 002, which went down in history as the first mass-produced ultra-high-performance off-road vehicle, with 300 units produced between 1986 and 1993, that took the performance and driving pleasure of grand tourers off-road.

Countach, an automotive legend that ended up on posters worldwide

 

Even before its official unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1971, the LP 500 had astonished the world with its extreme, futuristic appearance. In fact, the exclamation in Piedmontese dialect “Countach”, used to underscore the extraordinary nature of what had just been witnessed, was added to the car’s name just a few days before its official presentation, after a Carrozzeria Bertone technician had seen it under production and couldn’t contain his surprise. Introduced as an “idea car” to see whether the public would be interested in such an advanced and extreme car, it was equipped with the 60° V12 engine that had already performed so well on previous transverse rear mid-engine Lamborghinis. This time, however, the engine was mounted in the rear-longitudinal position, a new technical solution at Lamborghini, and the displacement was increased from the traditional 4 liters to about 5 (4971 cc) for 440 hp. LP 500 was so successful that, even before the end of the Geneva show, Ferruccio Lamborghini had decided to put it into production. The LP 500 remained a one-off, modified several times during the grueling road tests conducted by test driver Bob Wallace over the next three years, and was then destroyed in the crash tests required for homologation on March 21, 1974.

The first production Countach

 

From the indications provided by the LP 500, the LP 400 delivering 375 hp at 8000 rpm was born, going into production in late 1973 equipped with the traditional 4-liter engine. Due to the notch in the roof used to improve visibility through the interior rearview mirror, it is now known by the nickname “Periscope”. In 1978, after 152 units had been produced, the Countach LP 400 was transformed into the LP 400 S, acquiring the more elaborate shape that characterized it for the next twelve years. The “S”, in fact, was modified at the level of frame and chassis to make the technical novelty of the period, the super low-profile Pirelli P7 tires, work better, but also at the aesthetic level. To accommodate the new enlarged brakes and wider tires, it became necessary to adopt wheel arche extenders, while the increased performance dictated the use of a more aerodynamic front spoiler. Certain enthusiasts would then also add a rear wing to complete the aerodynamic package.