In our recent coverage of Lamborghini Centro Stile’s 20th anniversary celebrations at the brand’s museum in Sant’Agata Bolognese, the Lamborghini Manifesto concept took center stage. However, among the design studies was something far more intriguing: an unreleased Countach prototype that shaped the production version of the LPI 800-4, a name that celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2021.
Lamborghini’s current design director, Mitja Borkert, recently shared close-up photos of this prototype on his Instagram. Before the Countach LPI 800-4 project was completed, this prototype served as a visual test bed, a design feasibility study carried out to near-off-the-shelf accuracy. The final car, which debuted during Monterey Car Week 2021 and is limited to just 112 examples worldwide, carries much of that DNA forward, from its low stance to its dramatic proportions. But look closer and you’ll see that the differences lie in the detailing: the prototype’s surfaces were sharper, its lines more geometric, its intent purer.
Serving as a creative bridge between past and present, this 1:1 pre-production model managed to capture the essence of Marcello Gandini’s original wedge philosophy from the early 1970s, but with even greater design freedom. Without the usual restrictions of homologation or production tools, Borkert’s team was able to fully explore the possibilities of what a modern Countach could really look like.
The production LPI 800-4 combined a 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V12 engine with a 48-volt electric motor and produced 802 hp. It could sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 221 km/h. It represents the creative turning point when Lamborghini designers reinterpreted Gandini’s legacy through a modern lens, proving that the wedge still defines the soul of Sant’Agata half a century later. Experience a detailed tour with Mr. Borkert, during which he delves into the development of this unique creation and highlights the differences to the series version.
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