New Countach Doesn’t Reflects Gandini Vision

The original Lamborghini Countach was designed by Marcello Gandini, who also designed other iconic Lamborghinis such as the Miura and Diablo. It was built from 1974 to 1990. 

The Countach LPI 800-4, a new limited-series Lamborghini, was unveiled at The Quail this past August, recreating the historic brand in 769-hp hybrid supercar form, powered by both a V12 engine and supercapacitors. 

“Marcello Gandini clarifies that he has not participated in and does not approve the project, that he didn’t give his approval,” read a statement from the man himself, released through his daughter, Marzia Gandini Provera, and her agency THINK PR. 

Last April, Lamborghini reportedly sought a video conversation between senior Gandini and Mitja Bokert, head of Lamborghini’s design department Centro Stile, to discuss the Countach’s upcoming 50th anniversary. Gandini concurred. During the meeting, Bokert delivered a scale model that he described as a “personal tribute to Maestro Gandini,” made for him and to serve as a foundation for a celebratory model that would be exhibited at The Quail later that summer. 

Gandini says that “neither earlier, nor during the interview was it stated that the car was scheduled for limited series production.” Gandini merely, “did smile and acknowledge as would be customary to do so.” But that didn’t mean he approved! So let’s all get that straight. 

“The press reports that followed made clear that the interview was not an end in itself as a celebration of the Countach 50th anniversary but marked the beginnings of series production and sale of its remake, and seeing the use made of the abovementioned interview, it is important to rectify facts,” read Gandini’s statement. “This rectification is also made necessary in response to the countless requests for clarification received by Marcello Gandini from members of the press and professionals of car design industry in recent weeks.” 

“Thus, Marcello Gandini would like to reaffirm that he had no role in this operation, and as the author and creator of the original design from 1971, would like to clarify that the makeover does not reflect his spirit and his vision. A spirit of innovation and breaking the mold which is in his opinion totally absent in this new design: ‘I have built my identity as a designer, especially when working on supercars for Lamborghini, on a unique concept: each new model I would work on would be an innovation, a breaker, something completely different from the previous one. Courage, the ability to create a break without sticking to the success of the previous car, the confidence in not wanting to give in to habit were the very essence of my work,’ explained Gandini. ‘It is clear that markets and marketing itself has changed a lot since then, but as far as I am concerned, to repeat a model of the past, represents in my opinion the negation of the founding principles of my DNA.’”