www.QV500.com - Lamborghini Diablo Part 10: Diablo 6.0 GT
 
In March 1999, Lamborghini introduced the hottest road-going Diablo of all. The 6-litre GT was a limited production version of the short-lived GT2 prototype constructed by the factory with a view to competing in the similarly titled international endurance racing class. Originally intended for a run of just 80, 83 GT's were eventually completed, all of which were left-hand drive. Outlawed from North America and Japan, these cars were essentially homologation specials developed strictly for performance and marked a fitting end to production of two-wheel drive Diablo's.
   
Only available in rear wheel drive, carbon fibre was used extensively throughout and consequently, although power rose to 575bhp thanks to the new 6-litre engine, the GT weighed in at 70kg less than the SV ’99 upon which it was based. A reinforced chassis got widened front and rear track (by 110mm and 30mm respectively) and a thicker anti-roll bar. The engine featured the first increase in displacement for a road-going Diablo with the familiar 5.7-litre V12 rising to 6-litres. Stroked from 80 to 84mm, bore remained unchanged at 87mm and equated to 5992cc. An individual intake system used a single throttle for each cylinder while there were also new intake and exhaust camshafts, a lightweight crankshaft and improved VVT. Identifiable by it's gold cam covers topped with a huge carbon air box, the GT motor pumped out an enormous 575bhp at 7300rpm thanks to a compression ratio of 10.7:1 and a trick exhaust bypass system. Retaining a five-speed gearbox, albeit with three alternative choices of ratio's, the GT could top 215mph and sprint to sixty in just 3.4 seconds.
 

The bodywork had multitude of additional vents and ducts carved into its lightweight carbon composite panels. Save for a steel roof and alloy doors, the entire GT shell was fabricated from carbonfibre, other enhancements including a distinctive new front spoiler finished in carbon black. Housing a prominent central air intake for the nose-mounted oil cooler, this was flanked by gaping brake cooling ducts. The front lid was home to a delta shaped air extractor, NACA ducts being cut into the top of each front wing, a boxy new air scoop being fitted over the engine cover.
   
Flared front wheelarches were necessary to cope with the widened track, hot air extractor vents being carved into their backs to improve brake cooling. A cockpit-adjustable high gloss carbon rear wing came fitted as standard and was normally finished in black. From the rear, the lack of any bumpers showed off the prominent venturis and was one of the GT's most striking features. Two centrally exiting exhaust pipes and new rear light clusters with integral fog and reverse units further set this very special limited edition apart. Using the updated and redesigned ’99 model year cabin as a basis, the GT inherited the SV’s fundamentals and added heavily bolstered competition bucket seats with four-point harnesses. Both driver and passenger airbags were removed (cost options) and a new smaller diameter three-spoke steering wheel fitted. The cabin was trimmed in a mixture of leather, alcantara and carbonfibre and one luxury that did remain was air conditioning. The GT's gear lever was now tilted slightly towards the driver for quicker changing, drilled alloy pedals also having been new. Optionally available was a rear wing-mounted camera to compensate for the lack of visibilty through the back windscreen.
 
This was coupled to an Alpine screen mounted in the central console that doubled up as GPS sat-nav. Some customers had their cars fitted with various GTR componentry such as rear wings, wheels and exhaust systems. First shown during March 1999 at the Geneva Salon and then later in production-ready form at September's Frankfurt Motor Show, the first deliveries were underway by October while the entire production run was sold by December. Although 80 GT's were originally going to be built, 83 were eventually completed, all of which were finished in left-hand drive.