When Automobili Lamborghini SpA unveiled the limited edition Lamborghini Diablo SE30 back in 1993 they only built 150 units of this special celebration model … but...
The Ultimate Guide To The Lamborghini Diablo: Every Variant, Specs, Pics, Performance & More
Lamborghini Diablo
The Lamborghin Diablo was launched in 1990 as the successor to the iconic Lamborghini Countach. Chrysler bought Lamborghini in 1987 and the Diablo was developed under their stewardship. The Diablo name came from the Spanish word for “Devil". Like the Countach before it, the Diablo shape was penned by Marcello Gandini. The design elements included the slant front end, steeply raked windscreen and scissors doors. However, the final design was refined by Chrysler's studio in the USA, smoothened all sharp edges and corners, improved cooling and aerodynamics. Overall, the Diablo design looks amazing even now over 30 years after its initial launch.
From a platform perspective, the Diablo was merely an enhancement of the Countach. It still had a spaceframe chassis, aluminium body and transmission layout that was largely unchanged, with the exception that the new car gained more length, width and wheelbase as well as a touch more cabin space. As a result, a standard Diablo tipped the scale at more than 260 lbs heavier than the last Countach.
Straightline performance was never a problem to the Diablo, because it's epic 5.7-litre V12 produced close to 500 horsepower. It recorded 0-60mph in 4.5 second and a top speed of 202 mph by independent magazines. It was the fastest production supercar of its time (not for very long in fairness). The V12 was always the jewel of the crown. Powerful and sharp throttle response aside, it impressed most with its thundering roar, a sound we will never tire of. Louder and rawer than Ferrari’s V12, the Lamborghini engine noise was still the top of the supercar bunch. Handling was average at best, the Diablo just too heavy, too wide, too bulky to handle. Several updates over the years improved the Diablo immensely and by the end of its production run it was considered a legitimate top-tier supercar. Below, we take you through the models, history and specs as well as anything else you could ever want to know about the Lamborghini Diablo.
The Basics
Years: 1990-2001
Production: 2,884 units
Assembly: Sant'Agata Bolognese, Italy
Layout: Longitudinal rear mid-engine
Driven Wheels: RWD/AWD
Engine: 5.7L - 6.0L Nat Aspirated V12
Original price (base): $239,000
Predecessor: Lamborghini Countach
Successor: Lamborghini Murcielago
Diablo Fun Fact
The Lamborghini Diablo had no ABS until 1999, and no power steering until 1993. That's right folks, a massive mid-engined V12 with over 485 hp, rear drive and no ABS or power steering. Sounds like a boatload of fun (and wet underpants).
Best Diablo? The Diablo VT 6.0
For VT 6.0, Lamborghini has lengthened the stroke by 0.16 inch, lightened the crankshaft, used lighter and stronger titanium connecting rods, and updated the old 16-bit engine-control system to a more powerful 32-bit unit. As a result, peak engine output was up to 543 horsepower at 7100 rpm, 20 more than found in the prior Diablo. Torque was up 11 pound-feet to 457 at 5800 rpm. The character of the car was also changed, a much more enjoyable and less scary drive.
What amazes us most about the Diablo, however, are its benign handling characteristics. We wouldn't call it nimble, or tossable, but it is immensely stable and forgiving.
Car and Driver (about the VT 6.0)
LAMBORGHINI DIABLO PRODUCTION MODELS
The main directive for the Diablo was simple; its top speed had to be at least 315 kmh. Work started in 1985 and the company made its biggest investment yet in a new platform. Marcello Gandini was the right person to design the Diablo. The Diablo received a modified V-12 engine, still with four valves per cylinder, but now with a displacement of 5.7 liters and a newly developed multi-point fuel injection system. This new supercar was wide, low, and futuristic. The Diablo was produced between 1990 and 2001 and sold almost 3,000 units.
Lamborghini Diablo (1990)
Years: 1990 - 1998
Production: 900 units
Engine: 5.7 L Nat Aspirated V12
Power: 492 bhp @ 7,000 rpm
Torque: 428 ft lbs @ 5,200 rpm
0-60 mph: 4.09 seconds
Top Speed: 204 mph
Lamborghini Diablo VT
Years: 1993 - 1998
Production: 400 units
Engine: 5.7 L Nat Aspirated V12
Power: 492 bhp @ 7,000 rpm
Torque: 428 ft lbs @ 5,200 rpm
0-60 mph: 4.09 seconds
Top Speed: 204 mph
Lamborghini Diablo SV
Years: 1995 - 1998
Production: N/A units
Engine: 5.7 L Nat Aspirated V12
Power: 492 bhp @ 7,000 rpm
Torque: 428 ft lbs @ 5,200 rpm
0-60 mph: 3.9 seconds
Top Speed: 204 mph
Lamborghini Diablo VT Roadster
Years: 1995 - 1998
Production: ~200 units
Engine: 5.7 L Nat Aspirated V12
Power: 492 bhp @ 7,000 rpm
Torque: 428 ft lbs @ 5,200 rpm
0-60 mph: 4.09 seconds
Top Speed: 204 mph
Lamborghini Diablo VT MY1999
Years: 1998 - 2000
Production: N/A units
Engine: 5.7 L Nat Aspirated V12
Power: 530 bhp @ 7,100 rpm
Torque: 446 ft lbs @ 5,500 rpm
0-60 mph: 3.95 seconds
Top Speed: 208 mph
Lamborghini Diablo VT Roadster MY1999
Years: 1998 - 2000
Production: 100 units
Engine: 5.7 L Nat Aspirated V12
Power: 530 bhp @ 7,100 rpm
Torque: 446 ft lbs @ 5,500 rpm
0-60 mph: 3.95 seconds
Top Speed: 208 mph
Lamborghini Diablo SV MY99
Years: 1998 - 2000
Production: 100 units
Engine: 5.7 L Nat Aspirated V12
Power: 530 bhp @ 7,100 rpm
Torque: 446 ft lbs @ 5,500 rpm
0-60 mph: 3.85 seconds
Top Speed: 201 mph
Lamborghini Diablo GT
Years: 1999
Production: 83 units
Engine: 6.0 L Nat Aspirated V12
Power: 575 bhp @ 7,300 rpm
Torque: 465 ft lbs @ 5,500 rpm
0-60 mph: 3.9 seconds
Top Speed: 210 mph
Lamborghini Diablo VT 6.0
Years: 2000 - 2001
Production: N/A units
Engine: 6.0 L Nat Aspirated V12
Power: 550 bhp @ 7,100 rpm
Torque: 457 ft lbs @ 5,500 rpm
0-60 mph: 3.95 seconds
Top Speed: 208 mph
LAMBORGHINI DIABLO FACTORY SPECIALS
It turns out that while most of us thought the Lamborghini Diablo was wild enough, it turns out many customers (and Lamborghini) did not agree. Cue the procession of special edition Diablo models.
Lamborghini The Malcolm Forbes Diablo
Year: 1991
Production: 1 unit
Engine: 5.7 L Nat Aspirated V12
Power: 492 bhp @ 7,000 rpm
Torque: 428 ft lbs @ 5,200 rpm
0-60 mph: 4.09 seconds
Top Speed: 204 mph
Lamborghini Diablo SE30 (Special Edition)
Year: 1994
Production: 150 units
Engine: 5.7 L Nat Aspirated V12
Power: 525 bhp @ 7,000 rpm
Torque: 428 ft lbs @ 5,200 rpm
0-60 mph: 4.0 seconds
Top Speed: 207 mph
Lamborghini Diablo SE Jota
Year: 1995
Production: 28 units
Engine: 5.7 L Nat Aspirated V12
Power: 595 bhp @ 7,300 rpm
Torque: 471 ft lbs @ 4,800 rpm
0-60 mph: 3.9 seconds
Top Speed: 211 mph
Diablo SE Corsa and Jota P
Year: 1995
Production: N/A units
Engine: N/A
Power: N/A
Torque: N/A
0-60 mph: N/A
Top Speed: N/A
Lamborghini Diablo SV-R
Year: 1996
Production: 31 units
Engine: 5.7 L Nat Aspirated V12
Power: 540 bhp @ 7,100 rpm
Torque: 441 ft lbs @ 5,800 rpm
0-60 mph: 3.7 seconds
Top Speed: 205 mph
Lamborghini Diablo SV-R. The Diablo SV-R was the first Lamborghini that was officially entered into racing by the factory, although the actual drivers weren’t factory pilots, it was still the closest thing to a race car Automobili Lamborghini SpA ever built, beside the Formula one engines they built.
Lamborghini Diablo VT-R
Year: 1996
Production: 3 units
Engine: 5.7 L Nat Aspirated V12
Power: 492 bhp @ 7,000 rpm
Torque: 428 ft lbs @ 5,200 rpm
0-60 mph: 4.09 seconds
Top Speed: 204 mph
Lamborghini Lamborghini Diablo VT-R. A Lamborghini Diablo VT-R started life as a 'normal' Diablo VT, but it was build on special demand only, production of this 'factory custom' was halted after only 3 cars. The intention was to produce five cars, but after the third was ordered, Audi AG took over.
Diablo Roadster VT-R
Year: 1997
Production: 1 unit
Engine: 5.7 L Nat Aspirated V12
Power: 540 bhp @ 7,100 rpm
Torque: 441 ft lbs @ 5,800 rpm
0-60 mph: N/A
Top Speed: 208 mph
Lamborghini Diabo Roadster VT-R. In 1997, Automobili Lamborghini SpA built a one-time special car for a single-marque championship, a Diablo Roadster in the VT-R edition. Based on the VT Roadster MY1995, but for some reason it was equipped with two wheel drive only and used a highly tuned V-12 delivering nearly 600 bhp in full race tuning.
Lamborghini Diablo GT1
Year: 1997
Production: 2 units
Engine: 6.0 L Nat Aspirated V12
Power: 655 bhp @ 7,500 rpm
Torque: 506 ft lbs @ 5,500 rpm
0-60 mph: N/A
Top Speed: N/A
Lamborghini Diablo GT1. During 1996, Automobili Lamborghini SpA contacted SAT in France to design and build a race version of the Diablo to be able to compete in the GT championships, much like the Porsche GT1 from 1997, this was a car that needed to be based on a production car, but with a completely race oriented setup.
Lamborghini Diablo SVS
Year: 1997
Production: 2 units
Engine: 5.7 L Nat Aspirated V12
Power: 540 bhp @ 7,100 rpm
Torque: 441 ft lbs @ 5,800 rpm
0-60 mph: 3.7 seconds
Top Speed: 205 mph
Lamborghini Diablo GT2 (Test Car)
Year: 1998
Production: 1 unit
Engine: N/A
Power: N/A
Torque: N/A
0-60 mph: N/A
Top Speed: N/A
Lamborghini Diablo GT2 (Test Bed Car). This car was a test bed for new technologies, but was not initially intended to be sold. The SV-R was a very competitive car and a new race car wasn't needed at that time, also the styling for the GT2 was surprisingly similar to those of the Swiss based Affolter tuned cars.
Lamborghini Diablo SV Roadster
Year: 1998 - 1999
Production: 6 units
Engine: 5.7 L Nat Aspirated V12
Power: 530 bhp @ 7,100 rpm
Torque: 446 ft lbs @ 5,500 rpm
0-60 mph: 3.9 seconds
Top Speed: 201 mph
Lamborghini Diablo Alpine Edition
Year: 1999
Production: 12 units
Engine: 5.7 L Nat Aspirated V12
Power: 530 bhp @ 7,100 rpm
Torque: 446 ft lbs @ 5,500 rpm
0-60 mph: 3.95 seconds
Top Speed: 208 mph
Lamborghini Diablo Alpine Edition. During the 1999 year, a very special series of only 12 Diablos was built for the U.S market to celebrate the relationship between Lamborghini and Alpine Car Audio. The Diablo VT was used as a base to show what could be done with car electronics those days.
Lamborghini Diablo SV Monterey Edition
Year: 1998
Production: 20 units
Engine: 5.7 L Nat Aspirated V12
Power: 510 bhp @ 7,100 rpm
Torque: 428 ft lbs @ 5,900 rpm
0-60 mph: 3.9 seconds
Top Speed: 204 mph
Lamborghini Diablo SV Monterey. This very special limited Diablo SV edition was only 20 times made, so they were sold out almost at once, and prices went up. If you could obtain one through some dealer you would have to pay a large amount of money. The Monterey Edition used a slightly redesigned air intake in front of the rear wheels.
Lamborghini Diablo VS Victoria Secret Special
Year: 1998
Production: N/A units
Engine: 5.7 L Nat Aspirated V12
Power: 510 bhp @ 7,100 rpm
Torque: 428 ft lbs @ 5,900 rpm
0-60 mph: 3.9 seconds
Top Speed: 204 mph
Victoria Secret Diablo. If you had about $ 350,000 to spare for a very special Christmas gift, you could always try to get one of the very limited edition Diablo VS special Lamborghini's. This wasn't a real factory special but a custom ordered Diablo SV modified for Victoria's Secret, in cooperation with Lamborghini USA.
Lamborghini Diablo VT Roadster Momo Edition
Year: 1999
Production: 12 units
Engine: 5.7 L Nat Aspirated V12
Power: 530 bhp @ 7,100 rpm
Torque: 446 ft lbs @ 5,500 rpm
0-60 mph: 3.95 seconds
Top Speed: 208 mph
Lamborghini Diablo VT Roadster Momo Edition. The Diablo VT Roadster Momo was in fact a cosmetic upgrade of a standard VT Roadster, a custom two color interior was installed into this car, a red over beige Leather/Alcantara covered the seats and the dashboard. Special four point seat belts by Momo were used to keep you seated.
Lamborghini Diablo Roadster Millennium
Year: 2000
Production: 30 units
Engine: 5.7 L Nat Aspirated V12
Power: 530 bhp @ 7,100 rpm
Torque: 446 ft lbs @ 5,500 rpm
0-60 mph: 3.95 seconds
Top Speed: 208 mph
Lamborghini Diablo GT-R
Year: 2000
Production: 30 units
Engine: 6.0 L Nat Aspirated V12
Power: 590 bhp @ 7,300 rpm
Torque: 472 ft lbs @ 5,500 rpm
0-60 mph: 3.5 seconds
Top Speed: 210 mph
Lamborghini Diablo GT-R. In comparison with the Diablo GT, GTR most important features are a modified chassis frame with integrated roll bar, improved suspensions, central fixing nut for the rims, race braking system, additional radiators for transmission oil cooling, very high performance rear wing.
Lamborghini Diablo VT 6.0 SE (Special Edition)
Year: 2001
Production: 42 unit
Engine: 6.0 L Nat Aspirated V12
Power: 550 bhp @ 7,100 rpm
Torque: 457 ft lbs @ 5,500 rpm
0-60 mph: 3.95 seconds
Top Speed: 208 mph
Lamborghini Diablo GT2
Year: 2002
Production: 1 unit
Engine: N/A
Power: N/A
Torque: N/A
0-60 mph: N/A
Top Speed: N/A
Lamborghini Diablo GT2. Recently these photos were taken at the official museum located at the Lamborghini factory in Sant'Agata, they show us another Diablo GT2 model based on the 6.0 model.
DIABLO CONCEPTS & PROTOTYPES
Lamborghini Diablo P132 (Early Prototypes)
Year: ~
Production: N/A
Engine: N/A
Power: N/A
Torque: N/A
0-60 mph: N/A
Top Speed: N/A
Lamborghini Diablo Roadster Prototype
Year: 1992
Production: 1 unit
Engine: N/A
Power: N/A
Torque: N/A
0-60 mph: N/A
Top Speed: N/A
Lamborghini Diablo Roadster Concept. 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.
The VT 6.0 model marks the final—and best—version of Lambo's devilish V-12 wedge.
Car And Driver
Lamborghini DIABLO Specs & Performance OVERVIEW
A summary of the Main DIABLO specifications and performance numbers.
Lamborghini Diablo model guides
Every Diablo variant has it's own story. we go in-depth with our model guides, giving you the story behind these amazing Diablo's.
Recent lamborghini DIABLO News & Updates
Lamborghini DIABLO NEWS, UPDATES, AUCTION RESULTS, WALLPAPERS AND MORE. While the DIABLO has long been out of production, there are lots of people the world over with one in their garage and millions more wishing that there was a DIABLO in theirs! Whenever we find something cool about the LAMBORGHINI DIABLO, we will post it here.