Anyone who did not hang a Lamborghini Diablo poster in their children’s room in the 1990s couldn’t have meant it so seriously with their auto enthusiasm. It was as always: Porsche delivered sober technical brilliance, Ferrari expanded it with dream car vibes, but the true showman naturally came from Sant’Agata Bolognese.
The Diablo, especially later in its model cycle, was able to substantiate the usual ramp accuracy with serious performance. That was somehow new at Lambo and so the Countach successor was not only a poster boy and pop icon, but also paved the way for the extremely capable and successful Lamborghini, as we know it today.
In 1990 a new era for the Lamborghini brand began with the launch of the Diablo. However, the history of the car starts earlier, in 1985 with the 132 shape project. The successor to the legendary Countach is said to be the fastest car in the world. The first prototypes await with a sharp and visionary design language, but Marcello Gandini has to design several forms of body until the new owner Chrysler gives the green light.
The final silhouette includes shear doors, muscular proportions, an impressive rear and a sporty and at the same time comfortable interior. The Diablo was presented in 1990 in the Principality of Monaco at the opening of the Monte Carlo rally. It will be built exactly 2,903 times until 2001. The super athlete has retained his icon status to this day. And obviously he is now enjoying a newly flamed popularity:
“The Diablo is not only a milestone in the history of Lamborghini, but also a model with growing strategic importance,” explains Automobili Lamborghini Automobili Lamborghini. “In recent years, we have seen a significant increase in demand for certification and restoration services related to the Diablo, which can be attributed to a new generation of collectors and vehicle lovers who consider the vehicle as a cultural asset and design icon.”
Unsurprisingly, the name Diablo is a tribute to a legendary fighting animal. In 1869 Diablo fought with the Matador José de Lara, called “El Chicorro”, a fight.
Unusual a good 35 years ago: The first orders for Lambo’s new V12 flagship already received before the car was presented, at a time when there were no preliminary publications on social media and on the Internet.
The P132 is larger, heavier and much more powerful than the Countach. It differs significantly from a technical point of view, but uses the same gear in front of the engine and the further developed V12 from the predecessor. The pipe frame differs from that of the Countach by a longer wheelbase and the use of square instead of round pipes.
The body consists of a combination of steel, light metal and carbon fiber reinforced plastic. The latter is used for the first time in a series model of the bull. The CW value is 0.31 and thus significantly lower than the Countach.
The twelve cylinder has a displacement of 5,707 cm³ instead of the 5,167 cm³ of the Countach. Bore and hub are enlarged, which had a positive effect on the engine output and the torque. For the first time, all versions of this engine are equipped with an in-house suction tube injection system.
The 5.7 liter V12 brings it to 492 hp and 580 Nm torque. The Diablo accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in around 4.5 seconds. In addition, a test dragon on the high-speed route from Nardò is said to have reached 337 km/h, which means a new speed record for road vehicles. The specified top speed of 325 km/h is also outbid in independent tests.
During the eleven -year production period, numerous variants of the Diablo are developed. In 1993, the first Lamborghini super athlete with all-wheel drive was launched with VT. In the same year, the SE30 celebrates the brand’s 30th anniversary with an engine that has been increased to 525 hp, which even reaches 596 hp in the Jota version. The VT Roadster presented in 1995 is in turn pioneered for the open V12 models from Lamborghini.
With the takeover by Audi in 1998, a completely new era for the crisis -tested car manufacturer begins. First, the Diablo receives an extensive facelift: Not everyone appreciates the change of folding headlights to fixed lights. ABS and the enlargement of the V12 hub space are also new to 6.0 liters. For Lamborghini, a new chapter in terms of design and engineering technology begins.
The SV embodies the ultimate expression of performance, the GT brings the V12 in 1999 to 575 hp and thus enables a top speed of 338 km/h, while VT 6.0 and 6.0 SE represent the last evolution stage. Incidentally, the design comes from none other than Luc Doncker cloud, the company’s first chief designer of the company under the ownership of Audi.
At the same time, the Diablo opens the doors to motorsport: in 1996 the Diablo SV-R debut in a edition of 32 copies in the Super Sport Trophy brand championship, the first racing program of the brand. From this, the two rare racing prototypes Diablo GT1 Stradale, which are boards with 655 hp, and the GT racing version Diablo GT-R with a number of 40+1, which competes both in the Japanese JGTC championship and in various European GT series.
66
Those: Lamborghini
The influence of the Diablo extends beyond the street. As a permanent guest in films, video games and television programs, he conquered Hollywood in the storm: Whether painted red with Jim Carrey in stupid and stupid (1994), in Exit Wounds – the Copjäger (2001) and James Bond 007 – Die on another day (2002) or in the Smallville, Nip/Tuck and Blue Mountain State.
In the Need for Speed car racing series, he has been legendary since the 1990s, while in 1992 he makes hearts beat faster in a famous commercial with top model Cindy Crawford. It is also popular in music: In the video clip by Cosmic Girl of the band Jamiroquai, the very purple diablo of the frontman Jay Kay becomes a pop symbol of an entire generation. Celebrities like Jay Leno, Mike Tyson, Dennis Rodman, Rod Stewart, Nicolas Cage, Troy Corser and Mario Andretti opt for a Diablo and make him a global status symbol and dream car.
Also interesting: Far before the current mega trend of individual paintings, there are over 60 colors for the Diablo, including 40 personalizable special paintings. In doing so, he laid the foundation for today’s AD-Personam individualization program of the manufacturer.
By the way, the favorite color of the customers is red with over 550 copies. With a total of 2903 vehicles produced by 2001, the Diablo not only sets up an absolute sales record, but also increases the global reputation of the brand, which results in a new phase of international growth.
In 2023, a Diablo SE30 from 1994 came to the Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance on the podium – proof of its timeless fascination. Today, the Diablo, especially in the special editions and versions with a high degree of personalization, has a constant increase in value, which is accompanied by a significant increase in restoration and certification applications at the Lamborghini Polo Storico as well as growing demand and increasing value for international auctions.
