| |
| Lamborghini Countach Evoluzione | |
|---|---|
| Lamborghini | |
| aka | Countach Evoluzione |
| Production | 1987 1 unit |
| Class | Concept car |
| Body Style | 2-door, 2-seat berlinetta, horizontally hinged doors Mid-Engined Coupe |
| Length | 4,140 mm (162.7 in) |
| Width | 2,000 mm (78.6 in) |
| Height | 1,070 mm (42.05 in) |
| Wheelbase | 2,500 mm (98.25 in) |
| Weight | 980 kg (2161 lbs) |
| Transmission | ZF 5-speed , reverse manual all-synchromesh driving to a limited-slip differential |
| Engine | 5L Nat Aspirated Lamborghini V12 60 degree, light-alloy block with pressed-in liners (type LP 112 D) mid mounted (longitudal), RWD |
| Power | 490 Bhp at 7500 rpm |
| Similar | Lamborghini Countach |
| Designer | Marcello Gandini at Bertone |
The Lamborghini Countach Evoluzione is a concept car built by Lamborghini in 1987 with the aim of developing and testing new technologies to apply to its supercars.
It was Lamborghini's first experience in the application of structural composite materials in the automotive field, but, above all, the first car in the world intended for road circulation, equipped with a carbon fiber body Conceived exclusively as a laboratory car without promotional purposes. It was never officially presented to the public.
The Context[]
In 1982 Lamborghini, then owned by the Mimran brothers, began to take an interest in the potential of composite materials in the automotive sector. For this purpose, Giulio Alfieri , who was entrusted with the technical direction, hired the engineer Rosario Vizzini who had a great deal of experience in this field, especially in the aeronautical field . Vizzini then founded a specific department within the company called E.CO. (Esperienza Compositi), but resigned shortly after due to the sale of the S. Agata company to Chrysler . In 1985 Eng. Alfieri was replaced by Eng. Luigi Marmiroli who placed Attilio Masini in charge of the 'composites' department. Including the latter, only four people worked in the department, including the Argentine engineer Horacio Pagani, who later, with Modena Design first, and then Pagani Automobili , would become one of the greatest experts in the sector. Pagani tried to convince the management to buy an autoclave needed to produce the carbon fibre products, but receiving a refusal he procured one by paying for it personally thanks to a bank loan.
The "Evolution" Project[]
The team created a car that externally followed, both in shape and size, the Countach 5000 S Quattrovalvole, but whose structure was completely different. Instead of the steel chassis, a monolithic carbon fiber body was created that included the floor, roof, pillars and front and rear bulkheads, all serving as a passenger compartment. The body also jutted forward to form a tub to which the front suspension was anchored. Reinforcements of aluminum , Kevlar and honeycomb carbon fiber sandwiched together were embedded in the lower part of the structure. At the rear, a traditional round tube trellis was maintained as the 'cradle' of the engine and support for the rear suspension. Massive use of composite materials was also made on the bodywork : the panels such as fenders and doors were made of aluminium, but most of the appendages, such as bumpers , air intakes , bonnets , spoilers , side skirts and wheel arches were in carbon fibre. Since the car was unpainted it was easy to distinguish the brushed aluminium coloured metal components (with a poorly finished surface, testifying to the experimental nature of the project) from those in composite material, in matt black. Even the lenticular wheel covers , later removed because they limited the cooling of the brakes , were in carbon fibre. The interior of the passenger compartment was bare, without a dashboard , with exposed cables and controls, without upholstery, and equipped only with two panels in which the control instruments were inserted. The only concession to luxury were the white leather seats , a choice made for practicality since they had been taken from a standard Countach.
Development[]
Equipped with a modified 5000 S Quattrovalvole engine capable of developing 490 HP, the entire car weighed just 980 kg dry, or 500 less than the car from which it was derived. It was able to reach a speed of 330 km/h (actually verified on the Nardò circuit) and accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds . Being a prototype, the car never reached a definitive configuration but several aerodynamic modifications were made and numerous innovative solutions were tested, including the ABS braking control system, four-wheel drive with variable torque splitter, electronic suspension control (the set-up of which could also be varied while driving), and even a retractable windscreen wiper system. At the end of the experimental cycle, it was deemed that the mass production of the Countach Evoluzione was not economically advantageous, both due to the costs of processing the carbon fibre and the poor, or non-existent, possibility of repair in the event of an accident. The car was subjected to a final test, a crash test against a fixed barrier, which obviously caused its complete destruction. Many of the stylistic solutions conceived for the Evoluzione were then adopted on the subsequent series version of the Countach, the 25th Anniversary of 1988.
- Thanks to the maturation of production technologies, the principle of a car entirely built in carbon fibre (and weighing less than 1000 kg) was taken up again by Lamborghini 23 years later, with the Sesto Elemento.
Specifications[]
- General :
| Years built | 1987 |
| Production | 1 unit |
| Chassisnr. | Experimental prototype |
| Presentation | Never presented to the public |
| Designed by | Based on a design Marcello Gandini for Bertone |
| Built by | Automobili Lamborghini SpA |
- Dimensions :
| Wheelbase | 2,500 mm / 98.25 in |
| Overall length | 4,140 mm / 162.7 in |
| Overall width | 2,000 mm / 78.6 in |
| Overall height | 1,070 mm / 42.05 in |
| Front track | 1,536 mm / 60.36 in |
| Rear track | 1,606 mm / 63.12 in |
| Ground clear | 125 mm / 4.91 in |
| Front overhang | 933 mm / 36.67 in |
| Rear overhang | 757 mm / 29.75 in |
| Weight | 980 kg / 2161 lbs |
- Chassis :
| Structure | Extremely light composite material |
| Body | Carbon fibre central structure, reinforced honeycomb panels, double front and rear frame |
| Suspension | All-wheel independent Front : Coil springs, telescopic shock absorbers, triangulated transverse levers, sway/anti-roll bars Rear : Twin coils over shocker units, trailing arms, transverse links and sway/anti-roll bars |
| Brakes | All-wheel ventilated disc brakes, vacuum assisted, single servo, twin circuit |
| Steering type | Unassisted mechanical rack and pinion, 3.2 turns lock to lock |
| Front tire size | 225/50 VR 15 |
| Rear tire size | 345/35 VR 15 |
| Type of tire | Pirelli P7F |
| Front wheel | 8.5×15 inch |
| Rear wheel | 12×15 inch |
| Type of wheel | Light alloy OZ-Wheels, covered with Carbon Fibre Discs |
- Engine :
| Type | V-12 60 degree, light-alloy block with pressed-in liners (type LP 112 D) mid mounted (longitudal), rear wheel drive |
| Distribution | Dual overhead camshafts, chain drive, two valves/cyl. |
| Main Bearings | 7 |
| Cyl. Capacity | 5167 cc / 315 ci |
| Bore & stroke | 85.5×75 mm |
| Compr. Ratio | 9.5 |
| Max. power | 490 Bhp at 7500 rpm |
| Max. torque | N.A. |
| Cooling system | Pressurized, twin radiators, vertically mounted either side of engine, with cross-over connection |
| Ignition | Contactless electronic with Marelli coil and distributor |
| Fuel system | Two electric Bendix pumps, 6 double-barrel Weber 44 DCNF, down-draft carburetors |
| Lubrication | Wet sump |
| Electr. system | 12 V |
- Drivetrain :
| Type | ZF five-speed + reverse manual all-synchromesh driving to a limited-slip differential |
| Clutch | Dry-single plate, hydraulically operated |
- Performance :
| Top speed | 330 Km/h / 205 Mph |
| 0 – 100 Km/h | 4.20 sec. |
- Capacities :
| Engine oil | 17 Liter / 4 Gallon |
| Cooling system | 17 Liter / 4 Gallon |
Gallery[]
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