2 aluminum tanks below sideways in passenger compartment, total of 120 liters
Kerb weight
Approx. 1490 kg + driver
Luggage compartment
240 liters
Top speed
Just under 300 km/h
Presentation
1971 Autosalon Genf, study
Construction period
1974 - 1990
Purchase price
Approx. 100.000 DM (1975)
Variant
Rear spoiler (-10 km/h)
Elektric
12 V/ 55 Ah/ 1190 W
Transmission before mid-engine -> good circuit
With this car will not be made any compromises concerning the arrangement of the power drive. The engine behind the front seats transmits its torque to a transmission before in a broad center tunnel. Then it is through the oil pan to the rear, where at the end of the engine is arranged the final drive. No component of the power drive is behind the rear axle. Here is room for a little hot, but with 240 liters quite spacious luggage compartment.
Countach -> 'Kuuuntasch' = Astonished exclamation in Piemont
A somewhat unusually start to the description of a vehicle which arouse much interest alone by its proportions. It is the time in the world that less than 10 cars are at least two meters wide. And such a small height and contours is probably even more rare. It appears for its time like from another planet. Other manufacturers are presenting such thing utmost as a study.
Design versus aerodynamics
Although the individual sections inside of the car are clearly separated from each other, it acts on the outside like an enclosed space. How can a body made for high speed be so edgy? The top speed points not exactly of a low air resistance. Even the air vents looks as if they were designed for an industrial air conditioning. In truth they are only later added to the original draft. Such an engine needs a lot of air.
The dominance of the form
Only on closer inspection you will see curved lines. And not all the straight lines point in the same direction. Thus for example the front opening hood is trapezoidal cut out towards the shape of the front end. Square intakes meet round. Even in the interior one feels the dominance of the design. A very simple held door covering, view is only forward and for larger people it is a bit narrow.
Elastic, but a noisy engine, hard spring system
Although the twelve-cylinder engine can be accelerated even with a large force of 60 km/h on, its domain is the higher speed level. Give in a low gear full throttle and you have to keep your senses together. The enormous engine noise one may not discourage a early enough good time of switching. The chassis is still more uncompromisingly. Is it possible to move the engine slowly and without any problems, you also can feel the adamant spring system.
1989 313-kW-version follows with KA jetronic and catalytic converter