The MOTOR Awards 2021: Biggest Controversy

Welcome to the MOTOR Awards 2021, where our team offer a tip of the hat to those that displayed automotive excellence in the last 12 months.

Biggest Controversy Winner: That letter from Gandini

When Lamborghini revealed the new limited-run Countach LPI 800-4, there was one name that was left hanging in the air. Marcello Gandini, designer of the original Countach didn’t seem to have been involved in any particular way with the latest car. Current head of Lamborghini design Mitja Borkert’s work draws on the theme of the original but is not deliberately retro, instead aiming to imagine how the Countach would look today had it been in continuous production.

Marcello Gandini got a bit sniffy about the new car, releasing a statement through his daughter Marzia’s PR firm.

“Marcello Gandini clarifies that he has not participated in and does not approve the project, that he didn’t give his placet,” the release said.

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“I have built my identity as a designer, especially when working on supercars for Lamborghini, on a unique concept – each new model I would work on would be an innovation, a breaker, something completely different from the previous one. Courage, the ability to create a break without sticking to the success of the previous car, the confidence in not wanting to give in to a habit were the very essence of my work.

“It is clear that markets and marketing itself has changed a lot since then, but as far as I am concerned, to repeat a model from the past, represents in my opinion the negation of the found principles of my DNA.”

Ahead of the 50th anniversary celebrations for the Countach earlier this year, Gandini was invited by Lamborghini to be interviewed about his iconic supercar, where he was then presented with a scale model of the new Countach by Mitja Borkert, head of Lamborghini’s design department Centro Stile. According to Gandini, Lamborghini didn’t make its intentions of bringing the Countach back to life clear to its original designer.

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“Neither earlier, nor during the interview was it stated that the car was scheduled for limited series production.

“...when Mitja Borkert presented the scale model during the interview, [Gandini] did smile and acknowledge as would be customary to do so,” his statement added.

“Any assumption that this new Countach is coming out (even if only be way of assent) from Marcello Gandini is untrue”, the statement concludes, before signing off with a caustically proper, “Cordially, Marcello Gandini”. Revenge is a dish best served with a hefty side of snark. – AE

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Honourable mention: The M3/M4 grille

It looked like a bad joke when we first clapped eyes on the huge grille worn by the 3 and 4 Series, but putting it onto an M3 just sort of worked. We’re still not quite sure how, but it has definitely grown on us. Just think how many of the Bangle-era cars that looked so jarring then have aged so well today and maybe BMW is onto something.

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Honourable mention: C63 ditches V8

Think AMG and you probably think hulking great V8s that sound as if they’re gargling chisels. Yes, you can buy an A45 S with a four-pot, but that’s just the My First AMG diffusion line isn’t it? Not if Affalterbach has anything to do with it. The next-gen C63 ditches the V8 for a hybrid four-pot. Sacrilege or sage? We’ll have to wait to find out.

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