If ever there was a car that shook the foundations of automotive design, it was Lamborghini’s edgy Countach. Although its production run spanned 1974 to 1990, fewer than 2,000 units were built. Yet the Countach has possibly featured in more wall posters than any car before or since.
It’s now 50 years since the Countach debuted as a concept at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show, and Lamborghini is celebrating the milestone by rolling out a modern-day take on the yesteryear model.
Same but different
The reimagined Countach LPI 800-4 was unveiled on Friday. Only 112 units of the new-age Countach will be built and sold, with ex-factory pricing starting at about $2.3 million, plus taxes.
Whereas most Lamborghinis derive their names from bulls, the Countach was a rare exception. Pronounced Coon-tach, the term is an expression of surprise and wonder in the Piedmontese dialect – and the spontaneous response of a Lamborghini employee when he first laid eyes on a prototype five decades ago.
The modern-day Countach LPI 800-4 is has Aventador underpinnings, but each body panel is unique to the low-volume special, helping to justify its stratospheric price tag – almost six times that of the donor car.
The LPI 800-4 imagines how the iconic Countach of the 1970s and 1980s might have evolved into an elite super-sports model of this decade
Stephan Winkelmann,
Lamborghini president and chief executive
Even though the debutant’s inspiration comes from its half-century-old ancestor, Lamborghini is at pains to point out it’s not rooted in the past.
“The Countach LPI 800-4 pays homage to this Lamborghini legacy, but it is not retrospective,” says Lamborghini president and chief executive Stephan Winkelmann. “It imagines how the iconic Countach of the 1970s and 1980s might have evolved into an elite super-sports model of this decade.”
Speed monster
The Countach features Lamborghini’s familiar 6.5-litre V12, but it’s been massaged to eke out 780hp at 8,500rpm, and the torque figure is bumped up to 720Nm.
The Countach also uses the 48-volt hybrid supercapacitor technology that debuted two years ago in the limited-edition Sian. The electric motor kicks in an additional 34hp, boosting the Countach’s total power output to 814hp. Even so, the car wears the designation LP 800-4 (rather than LP 814-4) as it’s a nice round figure.
Lamborghini’s chief technical officer Maurizio Reggiani says the beauty of the supercapacitor system is that it adds only 34 kilograms to the car’s girth, with the result being that the Countach tips the scales at a sprightly 1,595kg (dry weight).
The company quotes a zero to 100 kilometres per hour split of 2.8 seconds, zero to 200kph in 8.6 seconds, and a top speed of 355kph. By comparison, the 25th-anniversary Countach from 1988, the fastest variant of the original car, clocked zero to 100kph in just under five seconds and topped out at 295kph.
Visual cues
The 1970s Countach looked as otherworldly on the road as a spaceship, and the modern-day version captures much of the visual drama of its ancestor. The distinct wedge shape has been reprised, and the slit-like headlamps create a further visual link to its forerunner.
Large triangular Naca air intakes integrated into the doors and rear fenders likewise hark back, as do the prominent air scoops that sit on the car’s wide shoulders.
There are clear Countach design cues at the rear, too, with distinctive three-unit light clusters housed within hexagonal cut-outs. A quartet of large round exhausts thrust out of the lower rear fascia, as they did in the original.
The Countach LPI 800-4’s wheels are also created in the “telephone” style of the 1980s, although these rims (20-inch at the front and 21-inch at the rear) are now shod with Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres, and housed within them are carbon-ceramic brake discs.
Buyers of the Countach LPI 800-4 will be offered a range of personalisation options, such as visible exterior carbon fibre in the front splitter, as well as around the front window and wing mirrors, engine cover, air intakes and rocker panel.
Lamborghini also points to the moveable air vents, produced by state-of-the-art 3D printing technology, and a photochromic roof that changes from solid to transparent at the push of a button, as proof that this car – despite its historic inspiration – is a “future automotive screensaver for the 21st century”.
Most%20polluted%20cities%20in%20the%20Middle%20East
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MOST%20POLLUTED%20COUNTRIES%20IN%20THE%20WORLD
%3Cp%3E1.%20Chad%3Cbr%3E2.%20Iraq%3Cbr%3E3.%20Pakistan%3Cbr%3E4.%20Bahrain%3Cbr%3E5.%20Bangladesh%3Cbr%3E6.%20Burkina%20Faso%3Cbr%3E7.%20Kuwait%3Cbr%3E8.%20India%3Cbr%3E9.%20Egypt%3Cbr%3E10.%20Tajikistan%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cem%3ESource%3A%202022%20World%20Air%20Quality%20Report%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Drishyam 2
Directed by: Jeethu Joseph
Starring: Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba, Murali Gopy
Rating: 4 stars
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Student Of The Year 2
Director: Punit Malhotra
Stars: Tiger Shroff, Tara Sutaria, Ananya Pandey, Aditya Seal
1.5 stars
Final round
25 under - Antoine Rozner (FRA)
23 - Francesco Laporta (ITA), Mike Lorenzo-Vera (FRA), Andy Sullivan (ENG), Matt Wallace (ENG)
21 - Grant Forrest (SCO)
20 - Ross Fisher (ENG)
19 - Steven Brown (ENG), Joakim Lagergren (SWE), Niklas Lemke (SWE), Marc Warren (SCO), Bernd Wiesberger (AUT)
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Last 10 NBA champions
2017: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-1
2016: Cleveland bt Golden State 4-3
2015: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-2
2014: San Antonio bt Miami 4-1
2013: Miami bt San Antonio 4-3
2012: Miami bt Oklahoma City 4-1
2011: Dallas bt Miami 4-2
2010: Los Angeles Lakers bt Boston 4-3
2009: Los Angeles Lakers bt Orlando 4-1
2008: Boston bt Los Angeles Lakers 4-2
If you go
Flying
Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.
Touring
Gondwana Ecotours’ seven-day Polar Bear Adventure starts in Fairbanks in central Alaska before visiting Kaktovik and Utqiarvik on the North Slope. Polar bear viewing is highly likely in Kaktovik, with up to five two-hour boat tours included. Prices start from Dh11,500 per person, with all local flights, meals and accommodation included; gondwanaecotours.com
What's in the deal?
Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024
India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.
India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.
Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments
India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery
SHAITTAN
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UK%20-%20UAE%20Trade
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Should late investors consider cryptocurrencies?
Wealth managers recommend late investors to have a balanced portfolio that typically includes traditional assets such as cash, government and corporate bonds, equities, commodities and commercial property.
They do not usually recommend investing in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies due to the risk and volatility associated with them.
“It has produced eye-watering returns for some, whereas others have lost substantially as this has all depended purely on timing and when the buy-in was. If someone still has about 20 to 25 years until retirement, there isn’t any need to take such risks,” Rupert Connor of Abacus Financial Consultant says.
He adds that if a person is interested in owning a business or growing a property portfolio to increase their retirement income, this can be encouraged provided they keep in mind the overall risk profile of these assets.
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
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Brave CF 27 fight card
Welterweight:
Abdoul Abdouraguimov (champion, FRA) v Jarrah Al Selawe (JOR)
Lightweight:
Anas Siraj Mounir (TUN) v Alex Martinez (CAN)
Welterweight:
Mzwandile Hlongwa (RSA) v Khamzat Chimaev (SWE)
Middleweight:
Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Rustam Chsiev (RUS)
Mohammad Fakhreddine (LEB) v Christofer Silva (BRA)
Super lightweight:
Alex Nacfur (BRA) v Dwight Brooks (USA)
Bantamweight:
Jalal Al Daaja (JOR) v Tariq Ismail (CAN)
Chris Corton (PHI) v Zia Mashwani (PAK)
Featherweight:
Sulaiman (KUW) v Abdullatip (RUS)
Super lightweight:
Flavio Serafin (BRA) v Mohammad Al Katib (JOR)
The Africa Institute 101
Housed on the same site as the original Africa Hall, which first hosted an Arab-African Symposium in 1976, the newly renovated building will be home to a think tank and postgraduate studies hub (it will offer master’s and PhD programmes). The centre will focus on both the historical and contemporary links between Africa and the Gulf, and will serve as a meeting place for conferences, symposia, lectures, film screenings, plays, musical performances and more. In fact, today it is hosting a symposium – 5-plus-1: Rethinking Abstraction that will look at the six decades of Frank Bowling’s career, as well as those of his contemporaries that invested social, cultural and personal meaning into abstraction.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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%3Cp%3EElena%20Rybakina%20(Kazakhstan)%0D%3Cbr%3EOns%20Jabeur%20(Tunisia)%0D%3Cbr%3EMaria%20Sakkari%20(Greece)%0D%3Cbr%3EBarbora%20Krej%C4%8D%C3%ADkov%C3%A1%20(Czech%20Republic)%0D%3Cbr%3EBeatriz%20Haddad%20Maia%20(Brazil)%0D%3Cbr%3EJe%C4%BCena%20Ostapenko%20(Latvia)%0D%3Cbr%3ELiudmila%20Samsonova%0D%3Cbr%3EDaria%20Kasatkina%E2%80%AF%0D%3Cbr%3EVeronika%20Kudermetova%E2%80%AF%0D%3Cbr%3ECaroline%20Garcia%20(France)%E2%80%AF%0D%3Cbr%3EMagda%20Linette%20(Poland)%E2%80%AF%0D%3Cbr%3ESorana%20C%C3%AErstea%20(Romania)%E2%80%AF%0D%3Cbr%3EAnastasia%20Potapova%E2%80%AF%0D%3Cbr%3EAnhelina%20Kalinina%20(Ukraine)%E2%80%AF%E2%80%AF%0D%3Cbr%3EJasmine%20Paolini%20(Italy)%E2%80%AF%0D%3Cbr%3EEmma%20Navarro%20(USA)%E2%80%AF%0D%3Cbr%3ELesia%20Tsurenko%20(Ukraine)%0D%3Cbr%3ENaomi%20Osaka%20(Japan)%20-%20wildcard%0D%3Cbr%3EEmma%20Raducanu%20(Great%20Britain)%20-%20wildcard%3Cbr%3EAlexandra%20Eala%20(Philippines)%20-%20wildcard%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The years Ramadan fell in May
The years Ramadan fell in May
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The Porpoise
By Mark Haddon
(Penguin Random House)
Brief scores:
Toss: Australia, chose to bat
Australia: 272-9 (50 ov)
Khawaja 100, Handscomb 52; Bhuvneshwar 3-48
India: 237 (50 ov)
Rohit 56, Bhuvneshwar 46; Zampa 3-46
Player of the Match: Usman Khawaja (Australia)
Player of the Series: Usman Khawaja (Australia)
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