Diablo SE Jota edition - the STORY

Automobili Lamborghini SpA introduced their SE30 Diablo model as a limited edition, only 150 would be made, each one numbered and bearing a special plaque stating which serial number the car had ... but within this already very limited production run you could request an even more exclusive car : a Diablo SE30 with a Jota upgrade.

This upgrade consisted of a new, redesigned engine cover with two big air scoops to cool down the highly tuned engine, a similar engine cover would later be used on the Diablo SV model.

This new engine cover and a very small 'Jota' logo at the rear of the car were the only visible differences compared to the original Diablo SE30 model, but underneath the bodywork the famous V12 engine was tuned to nearly 600 Bhp by reprogramming the LIE electronic injection system.

The black car featured on this page was seen in the Netherlands and in Belgium, it was one of the limited 150 SE units built in Italy and probably one of the first to be converted into full Jota specifications at the factory, apparently you could send your Diablo SE30 back to Sant'Agata and have the Jota upgrade performed after you had taken delivery of the car.

Recently a visitor of the Lamborghini Cars website stated this rare Jota with production number 117/150 was totally wrecked in an unfortunate car crash, and was apparently not rebuilt.

Most sources state only 12 or 15 Diablo SE 30 editions Were delivered in the JOTA specifications directly from the factory, however other sources state that no less than 28 Jota kits were made, this does not necessarily mean that 28 Diablo are now driving around in Jota specs.

An open exhaust system was standard for the Diablo SE30 JOTA, but with this configuration, the car was absolutely not street-legal. A UK based customer actually had his Violet Metallic Jota detuned because he didn't like the jumpy engine, so he had a car with the bodywork modifications of a Diablo Jota, but not the performance.

With dual air intakes mounted on the engine cover and a massive 'pressure tray' on top of the manifolds, the interior rear view mirror became completely useless and was subsequently removed on the Diablo SE30 Jota. Note that the Lamborghini Diablo SE30 Jota was in fact sold with a statement the car couldn't be used on the road, it was a circuit car only, but it soon became obvious that several cars were actually driven on the public road, probably by installing a different exhaust system.

A few of these Jota were sold to collectors in Germany and Switzerland, and one Jota was in fact shipped to the United States, where the car was parked inside a collector's garage and hasn't moved since, it could never be registered for road use as the car was equipped with the open race type exhaust system as specified by the factory.

Several Diablo SE30 Jota editions were shipped to Japan, were they actually were registered and had a license plate, but even in Germany a lucky owner managed to get his yellow Jota registered ... unfortunately he got caught in a severe accident, totally wrecking the car. But he rebuilt this very rare Diablo ... into a GTR look alike, images of this car are available in the image galleries.

Specifications :

Type : Lamborghini Diablo SE30 JOTA

Years built : 1995
Production : about 28 Jota kits were produced
Type of car : Two door coupe, two seater berlinetta, horizontally hinged doors
Designed by : Marcello Gandini
Built by : Automobili Lamborghini SpA

Wheelbase : 2650 mm (104 in)
Overall length : 4505 mm (177 in)
Overall width : 2040 mm (80.3 in)
Overall height : 1105 mm (43.5 in)
Front track : 1540 mm (60.6 in)
Rear track : 1640 mm (64.6 in)
Weight : 1450 Kg. (3196 Lbs)

Engine type : modified V-12 60 degree, light-alloy block, mid mounted (longitudinal), rear wheel drive
Cyl. Capacity : 5709 cc (349 cu)
Bore & stroke : 87 x 80 mm
Compr. ratio : 10.0:1
Max. power : 595 Bhp at 7300 Rpm
Max. torque : 639 Nm/471 lbs. ft. at 4800 rpm

Drive train : 6-Speed all synchromesh
Top speed : 340 Km/h. (211 Mph)

0 - 100 Km/h : 3,9 sec
0 - 1000 m : 20,1 sec

Price : $ 300.000

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