But now it's the Year 2012, and the famous Lamborghini V12 is being featured in a racing game with hundreds of others with newer technology. Engine management computers, fuel-injection, and all that. So the question: How does the Countach stack up? Did its day end sometime long ago? Or does it still offer some ferocity, able to keep up with the modern litany of Skylines, Corvettes, RUFs, McLarens, and the like?

At the new Gran Turismo Test Track X, I got to drooling. Who cares about the stop-clock: let's listen to that engine for a moment, okay? 

The Countach's V12 sounds somewhat busier than an 8-cylinder for sure. Listen closely. With each engine revolution, there are three pistons on their compression stroke ... three on their ignition stroke. And there are 6 cylinders at all times with valves open; either intaking or exhuasting. This is quite a busy engine, folks!

Stomp off the line, and uh-oh...there is what feels to be a moment of lag. Dangit. 

 

With 8,000 RPMs of revolutions in the future, it does take a few before the torque really starts to kick in. This is also a short-stroke engine. Just 2.44 inches of piston movement, and this means most of the energy (torque) is not going to be generated at first. Engines with longer strokes generally can put more torque out earlier. So considering this, it does take a moment before it all really happens. 

 

And it starts to happen between 2,000 and 4,000 rpms. Oh...but what's this? Are we going faster? Yes we are! After that moment of lag, the speed does start to pick up, and piles on fast. The engine's actual note now changes from a gruff sound (almost like a truck) to more of a zing, with a slight snarl at those highest of revs. Now is when the fun really starts. 

Amazingly, it doesn't seem as though the LP400 is moving so fast, simply because there's a lack of drama with this car's launch. No screaming or tire-squeals, despite this car's comparitively narrow rear tires. ....Then the results start coming on the data stream:

Zero to 60 mph in just over 5.3 seconds....GONE.

Zero to 100 mph just over 10 seconds! Goodbye!

150 mph? Yes, it can be yours in less than a mile, as well.  

The car passes the 400 meter and 1/4 Mile marks...and is already doing 118. This 38-year old automobile is not just keeping up with the moderns of our world, it is actually blowing lots of them away, and some of these moderns feature more power than the LP400's V12. The LP400 therefore does live up to any hype associated with it. Unlike the Venturi or the DeLorean, the Countach is a supercar. It's got the look, but also the speed to back up its super-dart shape. 

It moves so effortlessly. It all happens so quickly and so easily...it's a shame we don't get to experience any of the g-forces associated with movement, here.

As the revs rise, it's obvious that the rumors are true. The rumors that the Countach LP400, even in its day, was a 200 miles per hour vehicle. Gearing is tall, and there are LOTS of revs to eke out. We're not casting out an ordinary fishing line into a pond here, hoping for a trout or a largemouth bass, we are going deep-sea fishing for a giant squid, and there is LOTS of fishing line to troll!  Granted, my car only got to 194.6 mph during the test, but this means 200 is possibly an air filter or an exhaust upgrade away.  

There are lots of useful revs, too...this is not a "keep those revs high at all times" situation. I'm finding that yes....we should keep revs high for the best results, but useful torque happens consistently at about 4 to 5,000, which means 4,000 rpms or more of perfect V12-revving action, depending on track and situation. We don't always need to choose the shortest gear out of turns, then. Peak horsepower happens at 8,000 while the engine is stock, and we have an RPM limit of 8,500. This seems like it'll be a problem, but it's always easy to shift and avoid this before the limit happens.

Gearing is tall, as noted. One odd feature is 2nd gear, which is not significantly different from 1st. There is a decent amount of traction out of turns most of the time (limited-slip devices eventually are needed here), and there definitely are times when 1st gear will be needed. But there are also times when we can substitute 2nd out of the same hairpin or chicane. Problem is, 2nd is too short. Despite that mountain of revs on the tachometer, there are times when I needed to skip up to 3rd for a moment when it seemed I wouldn't need to. But at times like these, staying in 2nd did wind up smacking that rev-limiter.   
 
Let's discuss upgrades. We get the usual PD-mandated triple-kits of natural power, but no turbos. At first, I assumed I wouldn't need turbos. Stacking a blower into a Lambo almost seems like blasphemy. But the truth is, natural power upgrades are so lame, I did wind up wishing for some turbo action.

A Stage 1 kit only raises 11 extra horses, for instance, Stage 2 does barely more than this: 508 hp @ 8,800 rpms with 328 ft-lbs. @ 6,300. Stage 3? Now the LP400 is pushing another 10 hp or so, with a comparable amount of torque.

Can we do plenty of racing with such power? Of course we can! But eventually, the LP400 does meet its limits. There are later editions of the Countach in our games of course. The 25th Anniversary car (also found in the used car lot) packs about 420 horsepower to start, and that's before oil change or other maintenance.

But overall, I'm pleased. Next.