LAMBORGHINI

In the run-up to the new model, we’re still trying to arouse interest with an Nth special series. The main feature of this special edition was a customised interior, a combination of red and beige leather and alcantara, with MOMO 4-point seatbelts and a MOMO steering wheel… Some models also received 18″ chrome wheels… Once again, these models were only sold on the US market!

Lamborghini’s supercar remains one of the last of its kind to follow a truly artisanal manufacturing method, very close to the one used in its early days. In addition to the V12, which is still assembled by hand and bench-tested before being integrated into the body, the tubular chassis is made by Marchesi in Modena, while the aluminium panels for the front trunk, doors and wings are supplied by Golden Car in Cuneo, a specialist who also works for Maserati. The composite body panels, bonnet and fascias are made directly at the Lamborghini factory, in an Autoclave. The cylinder head comes from Fonderia Scacchetti before being finished at Lamborghini. The customisation still permitted by craftsmanship is almost infinite, making many Lamborghini Diablo unique. Beyond the simple customised paint colour, the engine specifications themselves can be adapted, from the gearbox ratios (3 types of axle are available) to the compression ratio! Each car is then tested over 3 60-kilometre sessions, during which the suspension and engine management settings are validated before it is declared ready for delivery. Engines assembled from 1999 onwards can be identified by the inscription ‘Valve Timing Management’ on the central air intake cover. The restyled Lamborghini Diablo SV (or Series 2) was only produced from October 1998 to December 1999.

The second series of the VT Coupé and VT Roadster is above all a styling update. The model adopts the classic headlights of the Super Veloce and 18″ wheels on all four wheels. The interior layout has been completely revised. On the mechanical side, ABS has been introduced, and the 5.7-litre V12 engine now develops 530 bhp and features VVT (Variable Valve Timing) technology (as found on Alfa Romeo models since the 75) to improve efficiency at all engine speeds, with a significant reduction in fuel consumption and pollutant emissions. Acceleration was further improved, with the 0-100 km/h time dropping below 4 seconds. Lamborghini suspended production of this ‘VT’ version after just one year.

After Lamborghini was taken over by Audi AG in 1998, the Germans froze all new projects that had already been completed. This also applied to the model that was to replace the Diablo. Audi’s management preferred to exploit the supercar’s full potential. The VT 6.0 was the first and last real restyling to be accepted, but in reality it was no more than a cosmetic update of the existing model. The changes will involve a few body elements and the interior trim. The front bumper and air intakes have been redesigned. The instrument panel has been redesigned, as has the gear lever. On the other hand, Audi chose to replace the famous Lamborghini V12 engine with a 6-litre hybrid engine derived from the engine in the Diablo GT. The result for the driver is a slower transfer of power to the wheels. In addition, Audi engineers wanted to revise the four-wheel drive version, taking inspiration from their Audi Quattro. But we don’t treat this kind of car in the same way.

The Millennium Roadster uses the bodywork of the latest VT Roadster model, but without the VT model’s all-wheel drive or electronically controlled suspension. Available in a single ‘Millennium Silver Metallic’ colour, it is a stripped-down version of the latest production model. The interior is a happy marriage of grey and black leather. This version has a carbon-fibre rear spoiler. This version was distributed all over the world, with a few rare specimens produced in yellow with a yellow and black interior.

A special version of the highly acclaimed Diablo 6.0 was presented to the public at the 2001 Geneva Motor Show. The VT 6.0 Special Edition is a reissue of the version redesigned by Audi in 2000. The new paint finishes were Oro Elios, a metallic gold, and Marrone Eklipsis, a dark brown metallic. The only real innovation is the addition of a DVD audio player.

Some twelve years after the Diablo, worn out by successive facelifts, the first Lamborghini of the Audi era, answering to the lilting name of Murciélago, has finally been unveiled. This new super sports car, the brainchild of Belgian designer Luc Donckerwolke, is strongly inspired by the lines of its predecessor, but with a sleeker design. As a result, the Murciélago’s dimensions have changed significantly, with an 11 cm increase in length and a 25 mm rise in height. Technically, the chassis and bodywork (roof and door panels) are in steel, while the rest of the car is in carbon. The slight innovation comes from the presence of two removable flaps on the rear flanks, which open occasionally to cool the engine if the need arises. Incidentally, this beast accelerates to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds. Breathtaking performance for a car that, according to the Taurus brand, is intended to be more versatile on a daily basis. Intoxicating!

The Gallardo is the result of genetic manipulation, a combination of Italian and German genes from which the best qualities have been carefully extracted to create a direct competitor to the Ferrari 360 Modena and Porsche 911 Turbo. In keeping with a tradition established since the Miura by founder Ferruccio Lamborghini, who was born under the zodiac sign of Taurus, the new Italian sports saloon bears the name of a famous line of Spanish fighting bulls. Its name is Gallardo, pronounced ‘Gayardo’. As Lamborghini explains, the Gallardo is the synthesis of a sports car and a vehicle for everyday use. A concept hitherto unknown to the brand. By broadening the range downwards, the Gallardo also enables Lamborghini to envisage much higher sales targets. In fact, the 1,200 annual Gallardo sales target will be met throughout its career.

Also known as the “Barchetta”, the Roadster is just like the coupé: exclusive, aggressive and extreme. The exterior design is characterised by highly developed musculature and sharp lines like those of a stealth aircraft, perpetuating Lamborghini’s own values. The windscreen and side windows have a very low, straight roofline, allowing the soft top to deploy easily and blend in perfectly with the roadster’s lines. So as not to detract from this sculptural beauty, the aerodynamic elements are only uncovered when necessary, either to cool the boiling V12 or to add downforce at high speed. The bonnet is also new, and when viewed from above, its shape is reminiscent of an aircraft wing. There are also new wheels with a truly sublime design. Similarly, the central twin tailpipes are new, with a larger cross-section than on the coupé, letting the fury of the legendary 12-cylinder roar even more audibly.

No sooner had the Murciélago been released than Lamborghini presented a special edition to mark the brand’s fortieth anniversary. The Murciélago 40th Anniversary Edition is recognisable by its very special colour, Artemis Green (jade green), with three coats of pearl-effect paint. The upper door mouldings and the ‘voletto’ or pillar that surrounds the rear window, where the door holds the petrol, have a carbon fibre coating. The anthracite grey colour of the wheels gives the car a more aggressive look. The car is also equipped with a new exhaust system and silver-grey callipers. Lamborghini continues to ride the wave of exclusivity…