The Italian sports car that bears the name of a hellish spirit replaced the Countach in 1990. Although its name is demonic, the new
Lamborghini was perhaps a bit more angelic than the car it replaced. Built with input from Lamborghini’s new American owner, Chrysler, the
Diablo offered much better noise and vibration control than its predecessor. With curving lines and doors that opened up in traditional gullwing fashion, its design was more practical than that of the Countach, and to most, more pleasing.
The car premiered with a midships-mounted 5.7-litre version of
Lamborghini’s DOHC, 48-valve V-12, With 492 horsepower on tap, this fresh face from the now famous Italian maker could top 200 mph and sprint to 60 mph in just a tad over four seconds. A fully-independent coil spring suspension system with unequal-length control arms and anti-roll bars provided firm grip in the twisties. In 1993, the Diablo VT offered still better handling with the introduction of four-wheel drive to the line.
Leaner and slightly more powerful two-wheel drive
Diablos continued to be offered as SV models. A convertible Diablo, the VT Roadster, premiered in 1996 with the standard four-wheel-drive, 492-hp powertrain. A two-wheel drive SV Roadster came along at about the same time with 530 horsepower and more than 200 pounds less weight.
In 1999 the line was updated with minor cosmetic changes, a bit more power and better brakes. An SE model with a 6-litre engine premiered at about the same time. Featuring additional styling changes, the
Diablo SE 6.0 served as curtain call for the Diablo line, which was discontinued in 2001.
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