Tantalising Lamborghini Diablo "restomod" revealed

Straight from the heart of Italy comes an exciting new restomod, based on none other than Lamborghini’s iconic Diablo. 

Words: Wilhelm Lutjeharms
Images: Supplied

"Restomods" (restored, modified) cars are nothing new. The Singer brand, in particular, has made the genre quite popular with its "reimagined" classic 911 offerings. 

Spurred on by Singer's success, enthusiasts have been turning their attention to other cars in recent years. These include, to name a few, the Ferrari Testarossa, Jaguar E-Type and who can forget the recent re-incarnation of the Lancia Rally 037 in the shape of the jaw-droppingly beautiful Kimera EVO37?

Quite appropriately, from the heart of Italy comes another restomod, this time to celebrate one of the most memorable cars from Lamborghini’s illustrious history, the Diablo. 

Called the Eccentrica, this is the company’s first prototype of what they call the “restomod based on the 1990s’ Diablo, which exalts the personality and performance of the iconic supercar while preserving its identity.”

Looking through the set of pictures there are some extremely tasty and tantalising details, inside and out, of a up-to-date interpretation of this modern-classic Lamborghini. 

People behind the project

As is often the case, it is an enthusiast and his passion for these cars that is at the head of this project. Emanuel Colombini is a successful entrepreneur who is head of one of the biggest companies in the furniture sector. But, he is also a Lamborghini (and classic car) collector and an AM driver in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo series. One can say that as an individual he is fairly entrenched in the brand. 

Emanuel Colombini says of the project: “As a child I remember seeing the red Diablo in the first release of the Quattroruote magazine. It was love at first sight! It’s hard for other cars to leave such a strong impression on me. Later, after having had the chance to drive the GT version, I decided to pay homage to it, conceiving a restomod company built around this project. At its essence lies the idea that the hypercar and supercar market will require a product with a more authentic soul, precisely like the sensations drivers experienced while driving these speedsters.”

The car is the initial offering from a start-up based in San Marino that has the same name.

The design firm BorromeodeSilva was the supplier in the development process, as well as a number of other engineers and technicians. The company is also eager to share the identities of other brands that got involved in the project such as Pirelli, Brembo, Marantz, Capristo and Alcantara.

The details, inside and out

As with all restomods, you have to start with a donor car, and yes, in this case it will be a Diablo from the first series, designed by the legendary designer Marcello Gandini.

As only 19 models are planned to be produced, there is a good chance that these expensive models will keep their value and will become some of the most sought-after Diablo models on the market. As expected, all 19 models are likely to be completely different as customers will be able to specify options from a long list. 

It is said that every body panel has been redesigned and that only the windscreen size is kept from the original car. In terms of the dimensions, the track of the car has been widened at the front and rear, while the length and height are unchanged. The overhang, however, is shorter, which further contributes to the aggressive and compact stance of the car. Thankfully, the use and function of the iconic scissor doors remain.

The technical details make for interesting reading. As expected, composite materials have been used, while the chassis (made from tubular steel) is reinforced to provide better vehicle stability and safety.

Move to the interior, and it is said to be a combination of “the minimalism of the early 1990s and the state-of-art mechanics typical of luxury watchmaking.” The result is that the company wants to substitute all the plastic elements with more modern materials.

The cabin is a feast for the eyes and have been upgraded in every way. The steering column for example is a carbon-fibre shaft (paying homage to the Diablo GTR), while the centre console is pure and clean in its design with the beautiful open-gate gearlever. 

The 19-inch alloy wheels are new and the design is said to come from the world of motorsport. Move to the front and here you will find “pop-down” headlights where the panel that covers the lights move down, into the body.

Performance

Under the rear engine cover you'll still find a 5.7-litre, V12 engine. However, it receives a thorough rebuild which includes new valves and camshafts. Power is said to be 410 kW at 7 000 rpm (367 kW in the original car) while torque climbs to 600 Nm at 6 500 rpm (580 Nm in the original car).

Virtual simulations indicate a 0 to 100 km/h acceleration time of 3.5 seconds (with the manual transmission) and a top speed of 335 km/h. Lateral acceleration in curves of up to 1.2g is said to be achievable. 

The aim was to have a car that weighs less than 1 595 kg, which is close to the original car’s weight. The fitment of Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tyres further illustrates the performance intent of the car. 

The company is also forthcoming in terms of timing and pricing. The transformation is planned to take between 16 and 18 months and will cost €1 200 000 (R24.6m at a R20.50 exchange rate), excluding the donor car.

The model will make its public debut this week at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK. It will then head to the USA for the Monterey Car Week in August, followed by a stop in New York and Miami in September and October.