LAMBORGHINI
DIABLO 5.7
The heir of A LEGEND
When the Lamborghini Diablo was unveiled in January 1990, it had the heavy burden of succeeding the Countach, an absolute icon of automotive excess from the '70s and '80s. At the time, Lamborghini was struggling financially and had been acquired by Chrysler in 1987. The American company wanted to modernize the brand and make the Diablo more powerful, more usable daily, yet still undeniably Lamborghini.
The initial design, created by Marcello Gandini, the mastermind behind the Miura and Countach, was considered too radical by Chrysler, which smoothed out some of its lines. Despite these changes, the Diablo retained a low, aggressive, and unmistakably Lamborghini look, complete with its trademark scissor doors and massive mid-mounted engine.
A demonic ENGINE
At its heart, the first Diablo 5.7 featured a 5.7-liter naturally aspirated V12, an evolution of the Countach’s legendary engine. This powerplant delivered 492 horsepower and 580 Nm of torque, making the Diablo, at its launch, the fastest production car in the world, with a top speed of 325 km/h (202 mph). But beyond the numbers, it was the engine’s character that left a lasting impression.
Raw, loud, and demanding, it required a physical driving style, made even more challenging by the lack of electronic aids. The Diablo had no ABS and no power steering, making it a beast to handle at low speeds but a thrilling experience at high velocity.
A brutal and intimidating SUPERCAR
Unlike later versions (VT, SV, GT…), the first Diablo remained rear-wheel drive only, making it even trickier to control on slippery roads. Its steel tubular chassis ensured excellent rigidity, and while the interior was more modern than the Countach, it still had a certain handcrafted feel. The Diablo was a car for skilled drivers.
Its 5-speed manual gearbox required precision, and its extreme proportions (2 meters wide, just over 1 meter tall) demanded constant attention. It was a supercar that didn’t forgive mistakes but rewarded those who mastered it.
In the 1990s, the Diablo quickly became a pop culture icon. It was featured in countless video games (Need for Speed, Test Drive), music videos, and films. Several celebrities made it their car of choice, including Jay Kay (Jamiroquai), Eddie Van Halen, and even Donald Trump, who owned a Diablo VT Roadster. Former F1 driver Mario Andretti described the Diablo as one of the last truly analog supercars, before the rise of electronic driving aids.
Today, this original rear-wheel-drive, no-assistance version is highly sought after by purists, who see it as the last "pure" Lamborghini before the Audi era.