Lamborghini recalls Diablo’s rich history to celebrate V12 engine’s 60th anniversary

Lamborghini is celebrating the 60th anniversary of its V12 engine — the legendary power mill that propelled its most iconic offerings for the past decades.

The Raging Bull marque said that Diablo was one of the famous models that received the powertrain. Upon its debut, the first-ever Lamborghini super sports car was considered ahead of its time that it was identified as a series production hypercar.

The 12-cylinder engine (which was officially presented during Lamborghini Day at the Sporting in Monte Carlo back in January 21, 1990) initially had a displacement of 5.7 liters and later 6.0 liters, that can produce a maximum power output of nearly 600 horsepower (hp) in the road versions and 655hp in the GT1 Stradale model for the racetrack, of which only two units were made.

The brand’s final V12 combustion engine form will go out of production before the end of 2022, which will be found on last Aventador Ultimae. “From next year, the heir to the Aventador will be fitted with a new plug-in hybrid version of the V12 engine,” Lamborghini explained.

Automobili Lamborghini said that the Diablo holds a special place in the history of the brand as it was the nameplate that propelled the automaker in the modern era.

Known in the company as the “Project 132”, the Lamborghini Diablo was created in 1985 to replace the Countach. The former was a tough act to follow so the Lamborghini Diablo had to highlight its full capabilities: appear athletic and muscular yet appealing; deliver the aesthetics that the marque Lamborghini has been known for; and future-proof.

During the course of its commercial life, which lasted until 2001, the Lamborghini Diablo also demonstrated its ability to transform itself and adapt to market demands and the expectation of customers. In the 11 years that it was offered commercially, 2,903 Lamborghini Diablo units have been delivered to buyers.

The automaker said that the technical cornerstone of the Diablo remains the 60-degree V12 engine, which was derived from the 1963 3.5-liter engine, increased to 5.7 liters over the years.

With the aforementioned configuration, the rear longitudinal position with catalytic converter generated a maximum power of 492hp and 580Nm of torque value. The engine also features a Lamborghini-Weber Marelli LIE electronic fuel injection.

In 1999, the engine size grew to 6.0 liters (which was first fitted on the Diablo GT and later with the Diablo 6.0 SE). Along with its improved fuel injection calibration, the engine output reached 525hp and 605Nm of torque.

The turning point for Lamborghini came in 1998, when Audi bought the company. With the acquisition, Lamborghini gained enough resources to develop a more refined industrial plan and gained access to more components and technology.

The new owners then allowed the creation of a second series of the Diablo nameplate, designed in the brand-new internal Centro Stile. Such resulted in a model equipped with a faster and more powerful V-12 six-liter engine and tailored with more luxurious finishes and increased reliability during daily driving.

1993 was the year that Lamborghini presented the Diablo VT to the world — the brand’s first four-wheel-drive offering.

Instead of wearing the traditional rear longitudinal engine with four chain-driven camshafts, electronic fuel injection, rear-wheel drive and mechanical transmission, the Lamborghini Diablo VT (which means “Viscous Traction”) updated its mechanisms by having a viscous coupling to manage the torque transfer from the rear axle to the forecarriage.

The model also came with an electronically-controlled suspension (with five preset operation programs to choose from).

Some two years later, the first open-top Lamborghini — the Diablo Roadster — was introduced. The offering sports a carbon fiber Targa top housed over the engine cover when down.

The brand returned to racing with the Diablo, thanks to the Super Sport Trophy – later the Super Trofeo – racing championship, where it made its debut in a side race during the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1996. A total of 34 units of Diablo SV-R were made to compete in one-hour races.

Diablo featured in films, game

The Lamborghini Diablo was also seen in numerous films. One of the most memorable scenes was from the “Dumb & Dumber” where Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels arrive in a hotel on a red Diablo.

In the 2001 film “Exit Wounds” (which was directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak, with “DMX” Earl Simmons and Anthony Anderson), a 1999 Diablo VT Roadster was bought in cash in a showroom after an engine “rev up”.

Finally, in the video game “Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit,” the featured car is a Diablo SV.

Photos from Automobili Lamborghini

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