Lamborghini Diablo History
Catalog record
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History
Unveiled on 21 January 1990, the Diablo ('Devil') replaced the Countach with a longer, more aerodynamic body that Lamborghini claimed could exceed 320 km/h (200 mph), making it the first production Lamborghini to break that barrier. The 5.7-litre V12 produced 492 hp at launch, and the car was designed in-house by Marcello Gandini (the same designer as the Miura and Countach), though then-owner Chrysler had the bodywork softened from Gandini's original angular proposal.
Over its 11-year life the Diablo gained all-wheel drive (1993 VT), open-top motoring (1995 VT Roadster — Lamborghini's first production open-top V12), and a refreshed second-generation face for 1999 that replaced pop-up headlamps with fixed units. The track-focused Diablo GT of 1998 was limited to 80 examples. The final version, the VT 6.0 of 2000–2001, used a new 6.0-litre V12 producing 543 hp.
The Diablo was produced from 1990 through 2001 before being succeeded by the Murciélago; it was the last Lamborghini produced before Audi's full ownership influence was felt in the design.
Generations
First generation · Diablo / VT
Original 5.7-litre car; added VT AWD (1993) and VT Roadster (1995).
1991 Photo: “1991 Lamborghini Diablo in Midnight Blue Metallic, front left” by Mr.choppers / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1993 Photo: “1993 Lamborghini Diablo SCD 24” by MrWalkr / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1994 Photo: “1994 Lamborghini Diablo Affolter Evolution, front left (Greenwich)” by Mr.choppers / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1997 Photo: “Lamborghini Diablo VT Roadster (1997)” by andreboeni / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1998 Photo: “1998 Lamborghini Diablo VT Roadster, front right (Greenwich Concours 2018)” by Mr.choppers / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Second generation (facelift) · Diablo 1999+
Fixed headlamps, 18-inch wheels, and the 543 hp VT 6.0 final variant.
1999 Photo: “1999 Lamborghini Diablo VT Roadster in Giallo, front right” by Mr.choppers / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Body styles
- Coupe
- Roadster
Notable special editions & performance variants
Diablo SE30
30th anniversary limited edition; lighter, track-focused, ~150 built.
Diablo GT
Stripped-out, track-biased 575 hp variant; only 80 produced.
Related models
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