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Original Lamborghini Countach designer wants no association with 2021 remake

The designer of the groundbreaking 1974 Lamborghini Countach, Marcello Gandini, has issued a remarkable statement to the press regarding the recently released Countach LPI 800-4. In it, he repeatedly affirms that he had nothing to do with the revived Countach that Lamborghini revealed at Monterey Car Week on the occasion of the model's 50th anniversary. Gandini alleges that Lamborghini may have misled the public into thinking he had something to do with the Sian reskin, and he wants to make it clear that he had nothing to do with it. "The external public, seeing and reading what has been communicated by Automobili Lamborghini and consequently by the media during recent weeks, may be led into believing that Marcello Gandini was a part of, or was involved with, or the project may have had his blessing. It is therefore appropriate to clarify the facts and reiterate that he did not participate in, nor was he aware of the project in any way."   Rarely has a designer of Gandini's stature and repute so publicly refuted a company they've worked for. Though Gandini penned cars from the humble Renault 5 to the masterful E12 BMW 5 Series to the incredible Lancia Stratos, it is Lamborghini — where he was responsible for the legendary Miura, Espada, Marzal and Countach, among others — that Gandini is historically most closely associated with.  Some of the confusion Gandini references stems from a video published by Lamborghini earlier this year. In it, Gandini talks about his design philosophy (which, ironically, includes breaking new ground with every design) and current Lamborghini head of design Mitja Borkert presents Gandini with a scale model of the then-upcoming Countach LPI 800-4. The latter believes that his presence in the video equates to tacit approval of the new design. "Neither earlier, nor during the interview was it stated that the car was scheduled for limited series production. With the elegance and kindness that have always distinguished Marcello Gandini, when Mitja Borkert presented the scale model during the interview, the former did smile and acknowledge as would be customary to do so."   Gandini believed that the model was the end of it, but after Lamborghini pulled the wraps off of the LPI 800-4, he says he received "countless requests for clarification" from press and colleagues in the auto design field. He decided to issue the statement to make clear he had nothing to do with the remake.

Lamborghini Urus ST-X will race in on- and off-road series in 2020

The Squadra Corse division at Lamborghini gave birth to fraternal twins over the weekend. First came the customer-commissioned, one-off SC18 Alston, an Aventador-based track-day coupe racier than the Aventador SVJ. Then, at the Vallelunga circuit hosting the 2019 Lamborghini World Finals, the motorsports department revealed the Urus ST-X concept. This monster of Sant'Agata will serve a different kind of customer — namely, those who want to enter an FIA-approved one-make race series in Europe and the Middle East in 2020. Lamborghini has supported various one-make series since it produced the 1996 Diablo SV-R. With changing times come changing ride heights and track surfaces: Lamborghini says the "single-brand championship combines racetrack and off-road track." We don't know yet if that means a single track will include asphalt and dirt, or if the overall series will include both kinds of tracks, but we hope for the former. To make the ST-X — which could stand for Super Trofeo X, based on the automaker's other current series' — ready for racing, Squadra Corse amputated a bunch of weight and bolted on competition bits. The matte Verde Mantis concept gets a steel roll cage, fire suppression system, and FT3 fuel tank. Quick release latches on the hood and modified rear hatch replace traditional locking mechanisms. The front end loses the production car's grille and aero aids, becoming a gaping angular void of mesh. A trim rear wing hovers above the backlight, and center-lock wheels fasten the 21-inch, 10-spoke wheels. The simple rear diffuser omits exhaust outlets, because the pipes have been moved to just in front of the rear wheels. The package weighs 25 percent less than the retail Urus, or about the same as an Aventador. Although the hood gains two intakes, the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 remains unchanged, putting out 641 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque. The company will put the Urus ST-X on track at some point during the six-race, 2019 Lamborghini World Finals. The mixed-surface series will host arrive-and-drive races, providing "driver-customers maximum flexibility and support during weekend events." If you got it, this seems a fine way to flaunt it. Related Video:

Time to catch up with Jay Leno's Garage, including his Lamborghini Espada restoration

If you're already jealous of the time, effort and money that Jay Leno can devote to his massive car collection, prepare to get a little greener with envy with this latest video from Jay Leno's Garage. Instead of the usual format of discussing a model for about ten minutes and then taking it out for a test drive, this week Leno gives viewers on a tour of over a dozen projects concurrently happening in his stable. The breadth of the vehicles shown and the things being done to them run the entire span of the automotive hobby. At the same time, Jay's shop is working on just a simple restoration of his 1969 Lamborghini Espada (pictured), and at the other side of the building, the team is rebuilding a wood-bodied 1914 Detroit Electric from scratch. He eventually plans to slot a more modern electric drivetrain into it. If bikes are more your interest, there's a freshly completed Brough Superior just waiting for a ride, and if American models are your thing, a Ford Bronco is getting a Coyote V8 installed into it. You have some very specific tastes if you can't watch this clip and start wishing at least one of these vehicles could be in your own garage. Other than the personal projects his mechanics are working on in the shop, Jay gets to have them all, plus plenty more.