The Lamborghini Diablo celebrates 35 years, this is everything about the wedge icon that defined a generation's dream supercar

Few cars capture the essence of the ’90s dream supercar quite like the Lamborghini Diablo.

With its razor-edged lines, scissor doors, and roaring V12, the Diablo was the poster car of choice for an entire generation of enthusiasts.

It was outrageous, excessive, and unapologetically bold in a way only Lamborghini could pull off.

Now, 35 years after its debut, the Diablo’s legacy still burns bright as one of the most iconic machines ever to come out of Italy.

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The Lamborghini Diablo was the fastest production car of its time

Unveiled in 1990 at the opening of the Monte Carlo Rally in Monaco, the Lamborghini Diablo replaced the legendary Countach as the carmaker’s new flagship.

The name itself was drawn from a ferocious fighting bull that battled the matador José de Lara ‘El Chicorro’ in Spain.

This is a pretty apt metaphor for the wild supercar that would soon charge down roads around the world and become a dream supercar for many.

Under its wedge-shaped body sat a 5.7-liter V12 engine producing 485hp and 428lb-ft of torque, all sent through a crisp five-speed manual gearbox.

The numbers were just as dramatic as the design: 0–62mph in about 4.5 seconds, and a top speed of 209mph (337 km/h), verified at Italy’s Nardò circuit.

That achievement crowned it the fastest production car in the world at the time, although it has since been dethroned multiple times, most recently by BYD’s Yangwang U9 Xtreme.

Red was the most popular color

Development began in 1985 under the internal codename Project 132, with one clear goal: build the world’s fastest car.

Lamborghini nailed it, and between 1990 and 2001, 2,903 Diablos rolled off the line, setting a new sales record for the brand.

Buyers could order their car in over 60 colors.

However, it turns out that red isn’t just the favorite color for Ferrari lovers, as over 550 out of 2,903 Diablos were finished in the fiery shade, making it the most popular shade.

Across its 11-year run, Lamborghini kept evolving the Diablo formula with variants like the VT Roadster, SV, GT, and the GTR.

However, the SE30, which is a limited-edition special built to mark the company’s 30th anniversary, might be the most coveted of all.

Celebrities and collectors alike couldn’t resist it: Jay Leno, Mike Tyson, Dennis Rodman, Rod Stewart, and Nicolas Cage all had one in their garages.

And while the Diablo passed the torch to the Murciélago in 2001, it remains the car that redefined what a Lamborghini could be, making it a dream supercar for many.

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