Lamborghini Diablo VT Roadster (1996)

Replacing the outdated Countach in 1990, the Gandini-penned Diablo took the world by storm. Hot on the heels of Ferrari and Porsche, the Diablo was Lamborghini’s first car capable of the mythical 200mph. Whereas today the SV derivative is regarded as the highest specification, the 1995 ‘SV’ reintroduced the name from the Miura and was competitively priced as the entry level model in the range.

The VT on the other hand sat atop the lineup. Introduced in 1993, the VT was most notably different with the addition of its all-wheel drive setup. ‘VT’, standing for Viscous Traction could direct up to 25% of the torque to the front wheels to aid traction during rear-wheel slip. The difference was significant and greatly improved the handling characteristics of the car. The VT saw further updates over the standard Diablo. Brake effectiveness was improved with new ducting and revised four-piston calipers. Power steering was introduced on the VT as well as larger side intakes; ergonomic improvements saw deeper and wider seats, revised dampers and a lighter clutch.

1995 saw the launch of the VT Roadster at the December motor show in Bologna and offered a removable carbon fibre panel that could be stowed on top of the engine cover behind the driver.