1990 LAMBORGHINI Diablo 5.7 V12 5MT (492 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Lamborghini finally replaced the old dog Countach in 1990 with the stunning supercar Diablo, developed under Chrysler management.

When the American carmaker bought Lamborghini in 1987, they found that the Italian carmaker was working on a new supercar named Project 132. Its target speed was 315 kph (196 mph), and Marcello Gandini signed the exterior design concept. Everything was in the right place, but Chrysler’s management didn’t like it and sent the sketches to its design department in Detroit to reshape it.

The Italian carmaker already decided that the car will have a mid-engine, and that led to a short front area with a sharp and narrow edge. Its pop-up headlights were a thing of the past but still attracted many customers. Its four fog lights and the exposed turn-signals and parking lights were unique on the market. With its windshield that continued on the same line as the front compartment storage lid and a short roof, the Diablo had a unique look on the market. Behind the cabin, the carmaker made the engine compartment long enough to host a V-12engine inside. Its two, side air intakes from the lower and upper rear quarter panels ensured the cooling.

Inside, Lamborghini offered two high-bolstered bucket seats with a tall center console between them. The sloped center stack hosted the Alpine audio system and the climate controls. Despite the car’s advanced design, the instrument panel was very simple and, somehow, bland. There were family cars on the market with a better-looking dashboard than the Diablo.

In the engine compartment, Lamborghini installed a 5.7-liter V-12 engine paired to a five-speed manual gearbox. Even though it didn’t break the world’s speed record for a production car, it was close enough to be considered a speed king.