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www.QV500.com - Lamborghini Countach Part 4: LP500 S |
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After the commercial, visual and reputation-enhancing success of the wide-bodied four-litre Countach S, Lamborghini's next move was to launch a five-litre version at 1982's Geneva Salon. Outwardly almost identical to its illustrious predecessor, the LP500 S did feature a number of important revisions under the skin. Most obviously, engine displacement was substantially increased from the 3929cc of four-litre cars to a massive 4754cc. This came thanks to bigger bore and stroke measurements, now 85.5 and 69mm respectively (up from 82 x 62mm). Meanwhile, it was also necessary to reinforce the engine so it could cope with yet more power. |
The Countach was now producing a genuine 375bhp at 7000rpm despite compression having been reduced from 10.5 to 9.2:1. New gear ratios and bucketloads more torque made the LP500 S a much more exploitable beast and the benchmark for every contender. Although weight was up by around 130kg (primarily as a result of the bigger engine), this gain was more than offset by improvements in performance, the LP500 S being able to top 173mph when bereft of the optional rear wing and sprint to sixty in just 5.5 seconds. Aesthetically, it was unchanged save for five-hole wheels that were identical to before but now manufactured by O.Z Racing rather than Campagnolo. The interior also remained the same and following the construction of 321 LP500 S' between 1982 and '85, production ended to make way for the most powerful Countach of all – the awesome Quattrovalvole. |
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