1999 Diablo GT
In 1999 Lamborghini decided to upgrade the original Diablo and re-named it the Diablo GT. Some of the changes that were made to the vehicle were made to create and enhance an aggresive style with features that would improve handling and perform top speeds. Lamborghini made a bold claim stating that they were creating the fastest car in the world and decided to make only eighty of them. This of course peaked enthusiasts curiosity and made it more appealing to them.
Engineers concentration remained mostly on the vehicle to be made as light as possible. In order to complete this they decided to focus on making the body of the car with carbon fiber and carbon composite. They used steel only on the roof of the vehicle so as to protect passengers from crushing if the car was ever rolled in an accident. In order to create the speed that they were looking to pull from the car they built it with a 6.0 litre V12 engine, which gave it higher performance and created an exhaust system designed specifically for the vehicle. The exhaust system sent the vehicle up to 338 kilometers per hour, which is nearly 210 miles per hour.
The standard 5 speed manual transmission was altered to provide the driver with an easier grip and faster gear changes, but also allowed for owner specific gearing regulations to provide the exact RPM for the individual driver to maximize the individual shift rate ratio. They improved the lower riding suspension, flaring the fenders, and widening the wheel base, which proved to successfully enhance performance handling. An intricate alteration to the suspension using a geometrically accurate base increased both speed and performance.
The 575 horsepower engine and the new aggressively styled body gave the driver the desired speed while the personally constructed racing bucket seat with a five point restraint system added comfort and safety to the vehicle. The enlargement improvement to the front track which in turn increased the front wheel arches added easier maneuverability, enhancing a driver’s ability to avoid accidents as much as possible.
Though at the time it received criticism for its $300,000 exclusive price tag for its lack of creature comforts, Lamborghini enthusiasts felt the heat and rumble of the new system and had no issue with the price tag, only the sour disappointment that by the time production ended on the first model, the eighty scheduled releases were already sold.
Lamborghini carries a reputation for being able to deliver unique models that are worthy only of the Lamborghini name. While both its predecessor and ancestor were received with the same amount of enthusiasm, there are numerous high end enthusiasts that feel Lamborghini would have great difficulty matching the performance value of the Diablo GT.