Eccentrica Unveils Lamborghini Diablo Restomod: A Modern Marvel with Vintage Charisma

Italian startup Eccentrica Cars has stepped into the spotlight with a remarkable restomod project centered around the iconic Lamborghini Diablo. Founded by Emanuel Colombini, a passionate Lamborghini aficionado and owner of the Colombini furniture company, Eccentrica aims to lead the restomod sector with the Diablo project being the harbinger of their ambitions.

Colombini, an active participant in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo racing series and a fervent collector of Lamborghini vehicles, set his sights on merging modern aesthetics with enhanced performance while preserving the Diablo's cherished analog essence.

"I fell in love with the red Diablo when I first saw it in Quattroruote magazine as a child," said Colombini. "After driving the GT version later in life, I decided to pay tribute to it by conceptualizing a restomod firm with this project at its heart."

A Comprehensive Transformation

The project involved an extensive overhaul, starting with reinforcing the original steel tubular chassis for greater strength and rigidity. The vehicle's body was entirely reconstructed, adding width and gravitas to its appearance while widening the track width to improve handling and reduce understeer. Traditional coach-building techniques like aluminum hammering and rolling were employed alongside modern composite materials.

The once-pop-up headlights have been replaced with contemporary LED units, revealed via a fold-down mechanism. The rear section has undergone significant renewal, featuring central tips from a Capristo exhaust system as a prominent highlight.

Powertrain Evolution

Underneath the hood, the original 5.7-liter V12 engine found in early Diablos (later versions upgraded to a 6.0-liter) remains, now equipped with new valves and camshafts. This enhancement elevates the power output to an impressive 550 hp, up from the stock 485 hp. Development is ongoing, but Eccentrica estimates 0-62 mph acceleration in 3.5 seconds, a top speed of 208 mph, and up to 1.2 g of lateral acceleration.

A Contemporary Interior

The interior receives equal attention, blending the original minimalist design with high-quality materials, digital displays, and switchgear reminiscent of vintage fighter jets. Analog gauges have given way to pixelated graphics displays. Luxurious materials like Alcantara, carbon fiber, and leather are utilized throughout. A carbon fiber steering column pays homage to the original Diablo GTR.

Not a One-Off

This Diablo restomod is not a singular project. Eccentrica plans to produce a limited run, totaling no more than 19 units. Pricing for this conversion starts at 1.2 million euros (approximately $1.3 million), excluding the cost of the donor Diablo. The entire process will take 16-18 months, depending on the specifications.

The prototype has been unveiled at the 2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK, followed by a tour of the US, commencing with the 2023 Monterey Car Week in mid-August.