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The Lamborghini Diablo Roadster Prototype.
On the 1992 Geneva Auto Show, Lamborghini presented a prototype of an open-top version
of their flagship, the Diablo Roadster, naturally the roof was removed and the chassis was
altered to cope with this, but there were also some other changes which would make their
way to the Diablo and Diablo VT production model.
Like the exterior rear view mirrors, which were now finished in the same color as the bodywork,
but a more evident change was the dashboard, reduced in size but still holding all the necessary
elements. The engine lid was also redesigned, now with a 'tunnel' between the two seats to
allow the rear view mirror, which was placed on top of the windshield, to pass between these
seats. The body part behind the engine hood now used a grill to get rid of the heat generated by
the exhaust system underneath it, and also because the air extractors in the engine hood became
smaller.
The two air intakes on top of the rear wings were larger, to allow a greater air flow into the
engine compartment, and the two air ducts on the side of the car also became bigger, and
were also to be used on the VT version.
Production of this exclusive vehicle was intended to be limited at one time, but unfortunately it never reached the production stage.
Some customers really wanted an open Diablo so Walter Koenig, from Germany converted a
few Diablo Coupe's into Roadsters, designed similar to the Prototype Lamborghini presented.
Koenig could also mount a different front and rear spoiler (check out the
Koenig Diablo), and tuned the engine to obtain a power output of about 750 Bhp by adding two turbo's on the engine.
Koenig also built some targa styled Diablo's in those years, they were the same price at US $ 250,000, but lacked
the design of the original Diablo Roadster prototype's low front windscreen, according to several sources about five
Roadster replica's were made, three of them including the special Koenig bodywork, two with standard
Diablo bodywork.
Koenig actually contacted OZ-wheels to obtain the correct Lamborghini wheels design but enlarged to 18-inch, but a contract
between OZ and Automobili Lamborghini SpA didn't allow OZ to make this specific wheel design for anyone
else, so Koenig had to use the standard 17-inch with the central wheel crest repainted in the cars
main exterior color.
In 1995 Koenig was stopped by the Lamborghini Factory, simply because the official Diablo Roadster was offered for sale to the public, directly
from Sant'Agata, so it was understandable the demand for Koenig's replica's didn't last long after this.
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