Guide: A Sprinkling of Audi - a Historical & Technical appraisal of the Lamborghini Diablo VT & VT Roadster (99 MY)
BACKGROUND
By the late 1990s, the global economic outlook had improved sufficiently that Volkswagen Audi Group boss, Ferdinand Piech, elected to go on a buying spree of high end manufacturers that he perceived to have great potential for expansion.
The first prestigious brand added to VAG’s portfolio of makes came that July when Automobili Lamborghini was taken over by the German mega corporation. It followed Lamborghini’s four-and-a-half years under the stewardship of Megatech, a Bermuda-registered holding company for Malaysian investment group, Mycom Setdco, and Indonesian group, V Power Corporation.
Within three weeks of his Lamborghini buy out, Piech had masterminded the take over of Bentley Motors from Rolls-Royce. In December, VAG acquired Bugatti which had gone out of business during the autumn of 1995 after Italian industrialist Romano Artioli’s ill-fated attempt to revive the famous French brand.
Although Megatech’s time in charge of Automobili Lamborghini had not been without controversy (primarily owing to its association with Tommy Suharto, the son of the Indonesian President), the shadowy operation steered its acquisition through some tough times after cash-strapped Chrysler had been forced to bail out during 1994. However, in the midst of a financial crisis which affected much of Asia during the late 1990s, Megatch was forced to sell its prestigious Italian auto maker but still managed to return $110m from its initial $40m investment.
By the time VAG got the keys to Automobili Lamborghini, the Italian firm was well advanced with an updated Diablo along with a brand new successor. Upon inspection, VAG immediately ordered a series of alterations to the revised Diablo and the combined efforts of both organisations yielded a much-improved machine with superior safety systems, ergonomics and build quality.
Most notably, what came to be known as the 1999 model year Diablos featured new interiors, updated brake software, a stiffer structure and fixed glass covered headlights instead of the original retractable units.
Customers could order their ‘99 model year Diablo in either back-to-basics rear-drive SV trim (covered separately) or as a four-wheel drive VT, the latter of which was offered as both a Coupe and Roadster while the more driver-focused SV came in fixed head trim only. Both variants and body styles were unveiled at the Pairs Motor Show in October 1998.
BODYWORK
The most immediately obvious change adopted for the 1999 model year Diablo concerned the car’s headlights which were switched from the original pop-up style to fixed units. These were mounted underneath clear glass covers (sourced from the Nissan 300 ZX) and not only provided a brighter, broader and more consistent spread of light, they also saved weight and gave Marcello Gandini’s near ten-year old design a fresh lease of life.
Another new detail was found at the back where a simplified and enlarged tail fascia grille was installed between the light units. To this, a chrome Lamborghini emblem was added along with a VT script in the right-hand corner.
As per earlier iterations, both the VT Coupe and VT Roadster came with a number of body parts that differentiated them from the SV.
The VT Coupe had a bumper assembly with two pairs of square driving lights under which a slim brake cooling duct was carved out. These cars also came fitted with a standard engine lid that did not have the dual intake snorkels found on the SV.
The VT Roadster came with a carbonfibre targa top that, once removed, could be stowed over the engine. These open bodied cars also had a different sail panel treatment to the VT Coupe along with reworked cooling ducts, a unique front bumper assembly with small intakes located inboard of the supplementary driving lights (which were uniquely rectangular and circular) plus intake scoops down each flank adorned with two slatted SE30-style vertical blades.
VT Coupes destined for the USA were often fitted with Roadster-style front bumpers plus the SE30-style intake scoop blades down each flank.
Body panels were formed entirely from aluminium with the exception of the engine cover, front lid, bumpers and sills which were fashioned from carbonfibre.
INTERIOR
Although the new headlight arrangement was arguably the most striking change implemented to the Diablo for 1999, even more significant changes were made inside where a completely new dash assembly was added.
The existing arrangement where a hooded binnacle had been mounted atop the dramatically sloped dash was replaced with a sweeping new full width arrangement that saw the dials moved closer to the driver. Significantly, this set-up also enabled Lamborghini to fit a passenger-side airbag for the first time.
Also new were electronically-controlled black-faced gauges housed in a satin black fascia. Directly behind the four-spoke airbag steering wheel were large read outs for road and engine speed, in between which was a small water temperature dial. More small read outs for oil pressure, oil temperature and fuel along with a clock were located off to the sides. Myriad warning lights were now housed in a slim contoured channel located above the primary fascia.
In addition to the dash, the central control panel was also cleaned up and fitted with redesigned switchgear along with an updated audio system. Redesigned door trim panels were fitted as well.
Leather was used to upholster the dash, instrument binnacle, centre console, seats, rear bulkhead and door panels. Specially treated leather was used in the VT Roadster that could safely absorb direct sunlight.
Electric windows, electric mirrors, air-conditioning and a high end Alpine audio system were fitted as standard.
CHASSIS
The chassis comprised a square-tubed steel spaceframe reinforced around the cockpit with carbonfibre inserts and high strength alloys. The wheelbase measured 2670mm. As a consequence of various tweaks to the main structure, rigidity was said to have been enhanced by around 15% for these updated 1999 variants. The Roadster chassis was reinforced around the A pillars, door gussets and engine bay.
Suspension was via independent double wishbones with single coil sprung dampers at the front and two dampers per side at the back. Electronically adjustable Koni dampers with four alternative settings were fitted as standard.
Anti-roll bars were fitted at either end. The front axle incorporated anti-dive electronics.
Steering was power-assisted.
As per the ‘99 model year SV, the brake system was imported from the 1998 model year SV. It featured cross-drilled and ventilated Brembo discs of 355mm diameter (front) and 335mm (rear). Four-piston aluminium alloy Brembo calipers were installed at each corner.
Two new features for 1999 were latest generation Kelsey Hays ABS software and a Dynamic Rear Proportioning system that minimised the tail’s tendency to snake under heavy braking.
Standard equipment on the VT and VT Roadster were split rim 18-inch OZ five-hole Teledial-style alloy wheels (8.5-inches wide front and 13-inches wide rear). These were shod with Pirelli P Zero tyres (235/35 ZR18 and 335/30 ZR18 respectively).
Once again, a single 100-litre fuel tank was located on the right-hand side of the engine bay up against the rear bulkhead.
ENGINE / TRANSMISSSION
In the engine bay was the same uprated motor that had appeared for the 1998 model year Diablo SV.
Compared to earlier iterations of Diablo motor, this latest incarnation had ushered in a new variable valve timing system that enabled the engine to use different camshaft profiles at low and high revs to both reduce emissions and increase power.
Peak output was 530bhp at 7100rpm and 446lb-ft at 5500rpm.
Like the legendary Diablo SE30, the 1999 model year VT / SV came with custom-mapped LIE digital multi-point fuel-injection and a free-flow sports exhaust. However, they did not receive the SE30’s expensive magnesium cylinder heads or intake manifolds.
Otherwise, the rest of the VT’s engine specification was much the same as every other Diablo thus far; it featured an all-alloy construction with dual overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, dry-sump lubrication, three-way catalytic converters and a 10.0:1 compression ratio.
Displacement came in at 5709cc thanks to a bore and stroke of 87mm and 80mm respectively.
Transmission was via a five-speed gearbox with longer ratios than the SV, a dry single-plate clutch and an advanced Viscous Traction all-wheel drive system that transferred up to 25% of the power to the front axle.
OPTIONS
Lamborghini offered the 1999 model year Diablo VT with a large range of optional extras to include a body coloured or exposed carbonfibre rear spoiler, chrome-finish wheels, carbonfibre engine bay panels, a front axle lifter, two-tone upholstery, contrast seat piping, contrast stitching, coloured instrument faces, a sports exhaust and a set of leather fitted luggage.
WEIGHT / PERFORMANCE
Weight for both the 1999 model year VT and VT Roadster, widely acknowledged as the best Diablos yet, was unchanged at 1625kg.
In terms of the Coupe, top speed went from 202mph to 209mph.
The Roadster version had a top speed of 202mph (up from 197mph).
Both variants were officially quoted with a 0-62mph time of 3.9 seconds which was unchanged from earlier iterations.
VT ALPINE EDITION
During 1999 a batch of twelve VT Coupes known as the Alpine Edition were constructed for the United States to showcase the limit of in-car electronics.
Each car came with a top-of-the-range Alpine CVA-1005 retractable multimedia station with integrated navigation system, rear view camera, DVD player, six-disc CD shuttle and radar / laser detection security system. A full complement of speakers was installed and the system was managed via two remote controls
Some cars also came with exposed carbonfibre dash inserts and an exposed carbonfibre Momo gear lever. Alpine-embroidered floormats were supplied as standard.
Externally, the Alpine Edition featured chrome-finish split-rim wheels with gold-plated fixing screws (in either Teledial-style or a special five-spoke Momo design), a Roadster front bumper, a body coloured rear spoiler with adjustable exposed carbonfibre Gurney flap, exposed carbonfibre or body coloured SE30-style side intake blades and exposed carbonfibre tail light shrouds.
VT ROADSTER MOMO EDITION
An additional twelve cars based on the VT Roadster known as the Momo Edition were also built for the United States following a reveal by Mario Andretti during the 1999 Running of the Bulls between Beverley Hills and Monterey.
Included as standard was two-tone upholstery, Momo-branded headrests and floormats, Momo-badging on the sides of the rear bumper, exposed carbonfibre dash inserts, exposed carbonfibre side intake blades, exposed carbonfibre tail light shrouds and a numbered plaque on the rear bulkhead trim panel.
Some cars also came with four-point Momo harnesses and special five-spoke MOMO wheels.
VT ROADSTER MILLENNIUM METALLICA EDITION
In late 1999, a final VT Roadster dubbed the Millennium Metallica Edition was released just before Lamborghini switched over to production of the 6.0 VT.
30 were built using the the SV’s shorter gearing, standard Teledial or five-spoke Momo wheels, an exposed carbonfibre rear spoiler and two-tone upholstery.
END OF PRODUCTION
Production of the 1999 model year VT and VT Roadster was discontinued during early 2000 after the revamped 6.0 VT was launched at the Detroit Motor Show in January.
We don’t currently have precise production numbers for these cars so if you know, please get in touch. Our best guess at the moment is circa 105 Roadsters and around 60 Coupes.
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
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