Countach

Segment
Coupe

The V12 engine has traditionally been the reserve of Italian supercars, and especially those who wear the mark of the raging bull, and it's Lamborghini who is fighting for its very survival it would seem. As the automotive world head towards an all-electric future, some brands are still clinging to the internal combustion engine, and as we've seen with the rebirth of the Lamborghini Countach thirty one years after the last one rolled off the production line. But despite a number of automakers trading V12s for downsized turbo V8s, Lamborghini is committed to bringing the glorious sound of the V12 engine to the world at large, and will not see it die off any time soon.

The new Countach is a significant step in Lamborghini's history, and one of the men who played a pivotal role in its development is Maurizio Reggiani, project leader for the Murciélago in 1998, and Lamborghini veteran. "I believe that what we sell is emotion, and part of that emotion comes from the sound of the engine. For us, it's fundamental to continue to use a V12 engine. That is the best in terms of sound and progressivity, and it's the sound Lamborghini customers want to hear." he told The Drive in a recent interview. Reggiani does admit that the company has its eye on making things more efficient, and is a strong supporter of Lamborghini's commitment to reduce its carbon footprint by 50 percent by 2025. As previously confirmed to CarBuzz, Regianni said that hybrids are a natural next step.

For now the focus is on incorporating electric powertrains into the existing Lamborghini DNA, aka V12 engines. The Italian manufacturer is currently in partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston to develop advanced electric and hybrid powertrains. "What I imagine in ten years is based on our experience with the Urus; we proved we can enlarge our product range in a successful way," Reggiani says. "And if I look back at the story of Lamborghini, we have several examples, like the LM002. I think we can have other body types that can be fitted on our DNA. And along the way, our first electric Lamborghini at the end of this decade." he concludes. The new Countach features Lamborghini's latest gas/hybrid technology, and features a 6.5-liter V12 engine that develops 769 horsepower. This is mated to a 48-volt motor that adds 33 hp and 25 lb-ft of torque for a total of 802 hp and 531 lb-ft of torque. We understand that manufacturers are being pressured into electrification, but kudos to Lamborghini for sticking up for the V12.