Lamborghini Diablo turns 30, 2903 units of iconic car produced to date

NEW DELHI: Automobili Lamborghini’s most-produced car to date, the Diablo, has turned 30. In its 11-year run between 1990-2001, the Lamborghini Diablo range managed to clock 2903 sales.
Lamborghini’s Diablo chapter began back in 1985 when it was codenamed Project 132. The project was initiated with the aim of replacing the Lamborghini Countach which was at the top of the range then. Designed by Marcello Gandini, the Diablo was partially revised by Chrysler’s design centre, giving the car much cleaner and aggressive details.

During its launch in 1990, the Lamborghini Diablo became the fastest production car in the world as it was capable of achieving a top speed of 325 kmph. The dynamic behaviour was achieved with the classic Lamborghini 5.7-litre 12-cylinder engine that managed to churn out 491 PS of power and 580 Nm of torque.

The Lamborghini Diablo was a purist with traction in the rear wheels only and no electronic driving aids or power steering were available until 1993. The Italian automaker also luxuriously finished the car with a leather interior, air conditioning, electric windows, and electrically adjustable seats.
The Diablo chapter was taken forward by Lamborghini in 1993 with the launch of Diablo VT. The Diablo VT was the first Lamborghini Granturismo to come with a four-wheel-drive. The production model of the VT offered 517 PS of power and came with a two-wheel drive powertrain only, while the open-roofed, Diablo VT Roadster offered a four-wheel-drive powertrain.

In 1999, Automobili Lamborghini was purchased by the Audi Group and that led to the unveiling of the Diablo SV and modernization of the Diablo VT and the Diablo VT Roadster. That was the first time a Lamborghini car boasted ABS.
Diablo remains to be the most produced Lamborghini car and it was phased out in 2001 when it made way for the Lamborghini Murciélago.