as much as I love Countaches and all Lambos for that matter ... Must admit it's doors was an extremely poor design , a 1970's failure anyone who has ever driven one and tried to open the window to reach out their hand can assure that .
Never had a problem with that with all 10 Countach Ive owned in the last 25years. I simply opened the door to reach out my hand, given that the only instance that I would want to reach out my hand whilst driving would be at a toll-booth. The 'Carabo' door was heralded amongst designers as a benchmark component, and it allowed the Countach to be parked in very close proximity to another car or building and the driver could still emerge. The doors are aesthetically pleasing, slim with nice lines, simple, nicely balanced, quite light to raise, and close easily. Sorry, but you'll find that your view is particularly unique, and most people I have encountered in the last 25 years worldwide absolutely love the Countach's benchmark doors.
I'm not sure how many Countach you have personally owned and operated, but I can assure you that if you attempt to open the door of a car whose unit does not have broken struts, it is a very SIMPLE process. Unless of course even minimal strength is an issue Yes, it is indeed a very simple process, take my word for it.
Never owned , driven once ... but opening the door in a Countach regardless of how minimal strenght it takes it's always a tiresome event ! It's difficult to say that's a SIMPLE thing to do ... whereas is much easier to just roll down the window in a modern Lambo whatever ... I love the Aventador and how it opens it's doors and rolls down the window
The Aventador doors were carefully and deliberately designed according to Lambo's North American CEO. I was at the private unveiling in LA and was initially put off by the doors myself. However, after getting in and out of the car a few times and opening the doors and closing them, regardless of how they look, they are more practical than the scissor doors on my LP640. They also open automatically at the touch of the handle as opposed my Murci's door requiring gentle help to lift upwards. I was told that safety regulations governed the new design. Requirements of being able to have required access to the passenger compartment after a rollover with the car resting on its roof after a rollover (and say it is on fire!), was given to me by the Lambo management at the unveiling. I believe that the doors can be opened outwards on the Aventador enough for a passenger to get out even if the car was resting on its roof after a rollover. I am not 100% sure but will be able to verify this shortly when my local dealer gets his first demo Aventador in a month. Not that I plan to roll it over on the showroom floor!
My guess is that there is likely an ability to open the doors fully, out, in an emergency if there is a rollover as opposed to having to crawl out of the little space that is made when you open it horizontally and then up. To get that working, it was probably best to have the door open a little horizontally first and then up. My guess comes from this: "..but at least when it all goes wrong, the new Aventador is ready to cushion its occupants with eight airbags, including knee bags for each and, we're told, the scissor doors have an emergency opening system in case of roll-over." from http://www.motortrend.com/future/future_vehicles/1012_midnight_run_in_lamborghini_murcielago_replacement/index.html How they open looks fine to me (especially when compared to many alternatives )
I am certain there is a deliberate reason for the doors looking the way they do. But, aesthetically they are a compromise at best. Again, standard doors (as with the original Supercar, the Miura) would have been an impeccable solution.
Doors that open up are very practical because I tend to park very close to walls or curbs to prevent door dings from other cars. The issue with vertical doors is the "trapped in a rollover" case and it seems like this is the first model to solve both issues. The list of safety features on the car is pretty impressive.
Just looking at the new design and after having several Countach's delivered to me...there is going to be some scratched paint in the car haulers. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Just think when the Aventador roadster hits the market. It will look just like this kitcar. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4zw0L7Or08&feature=related[/ame] Lamborghini has really excepted this time around they will take a backseat to ferrari. The newer cars look so "Recycled" cause they didn't really start from scratch instead they took the current styling cues and put them together and built a car. Even the doors look after market which is horrible. The Interior looks even worst.
I'd still like to know exactly/technically how these new doors solve a "trapped in a rollover" problem? And more importantly, who or what dictated this change? -mick
I understand your point, but, the doors still open outwards so it loses a foot or more of parking next to a wall compared to the Countach/Diablo/Murcielago. Progress? Image Unavailable, Please Login
Mick, honestly, I don't think they solve the safety issue fully, so, safety is also compromised. If they wanted to adhere to safety fully, standard doors like those of the first Supercar, the Miura, would have been the way to go.
I cannot even begin to understand how Lambo is taking a backseat to Ferrari in design???Styling is personal but you are definitely in the minority based on rave reviews the Aventador received at Geneva from laymen, current owners of exotic cars, non-owners and the motoring press alike. The Ferrari FF did not. Consesnsus is that the FF is UGLY and looks like BMW Z3/Z4 Coupe...
You are being more generous than I as I don't think they have changed anything re the rollover situation. While I'd be happy to be corrected, I think the story of the door change being "safety" related is very suspect and may have more to do with the carbon fiber monocoque shell design than anything else. -mick
Yes, I'd like to know how these offer any advantage at all over straight ups in a roll over, if it's being claimed that this is the reason for the new doors' deviation from the past.
speaking of door design : nobody has mentioned the "frameless" window that's a huge step beyond ... Isn't it ?
No its not. By 1965, 46 years ago, Lamborghini already had frame-less windows. Martin, do you give consideration before you post? Or would you like to go back to bashing the Countach? Image Unavailable, Please Login
