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Conference terri::cars_uk

Title:Cars in the UK
Notice:Please read new conference charter 1.70
Moderator:COMICS::SHELLEYELD
Created:Sun Mar 06 1994
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2584
Total number of notes:63384

932.0. "Iacocca launches the Lamborghini Diablo" by NCEIS1::CHEVAUX (Patrick Chevaux, Nice, 828-6995) Mon Jan 22 1990 15:35

Saturday night in Monte-Carlo

Sat 20 Jan 1990 at the Sporting Club, Mr Lee Iacocca officially lauched the
new Lamborghini Diablo in front of approx 800 guests. Emile Novaro, gen mgr
of Lamborghini also addressed the crowd. The guests were mostly Lamborghini
customers (supporters). Aprox 50 Lamborghini cars of all kinds were parked 
in various places of Monaco.

Also present saturday night were: 

. the Lamborghini management team (Sig. Venturelli production mgr, Marmiroli
  design mgr, Sgarzi sales mgr, Sandro Munari  PR mgr),
. Marcello Gandini 
. Lamborghini engineering (Forghieri, Audetto)
. F1 guys: Gerard Larrousse (team Larrousse), Tony Rudd (team Lotus)
. Mario Andretti, Henri Pescarolo, Keke Rosberg, Paul Frere, ...
. ex F1 team owner Walter Wolf
. ...

Sunday morning (7:50 !) Sandro Munari, at the wheel of one of the 4 Diablos 
parked infront of the casino, gave the start signal to Massimo Biasion in 
the Lancia Integrale carrying No1.

Some technical details about the DIABLO :

. 2 models: Diablo (RWD) and Diablo VT -Visco Traction- (4WD)
. Diablo available soon, VT in 1991
. engine : totally redesigned 60deg V12, 5.7ltr capacity, 4valves per cyl,
  492bhp @7000rpm, 580Nm @5200rpm, locally designed petrol injection system
  extremely sophisticated ignition system, figures above with fully approved
  catalytic converter
. architecture similar to that of the Countach ie engine located between 
  the gearbox and the limited slip diff, water radiators on both sides
. performance: top speed 202.1mph, 0-100kph 4.09sec, 0-1km 20.7sec

4 prototypes were displayed in front of the casino. What a sight !

For those interested I have a press kit that I can copy.
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
932.1Yes, Please!CURRNT::SAXBYIsn't it 5.30 yet?Mon Jan 22 1990 16:028
    
    I'm interested!
    
    Mark Saxby @UCG, The Crescent Basingstoke.
    
    Mark
    
    
932.2Sign me up for press kit copyVANISH::BARRONSnoopy Vs Red_BarronMon Jan 22 1990 16:243
So am I.

Dave Barron @NEW A1/1
932.3I'll buy two!!!!LARVAE::BRISTOW_AMon Jan 22 1990 17:035
    Me Too..!!!
    
    Andy Bristow@ush
    
    Ta.
932.4PEKING::TAYLORGBodybuilders do it till it hurtsMon Jan 22 1990 19:453
    Me too
    
    Grant Taylor @RDL 1E
932.5AYOV27::ISMITHRoger Mellie, The Man On The TellyTue Jan 23 1990 12:224
    And me, please.
    
    
    Ian Smith @ AYO
932.6Yet another copyCLADA::LOUGHLINTue Jan 23 1990 17:344
    
    	Yes please.
    
    	Martin Loughlin @ GAO 1/22
932.7UKEDU::PENNEYWed Jan 31 1990 20:583
    Me too...
    
    Richard Penney @ RKA 1/19
932.8one across the pond.TLE::LEGERLOTZI came. I saw. I left.Wed Jan 31 1990 22:533
Long distance...to Nashua, NH USA.

Alan Legerlotz @ Zk02-3/N30
932.9PEKING::TAYLORGBodybuilders do it till it hurtsThu Feb 01 1990 11:315
    re.0
    
    I got my copy on Tuesday Thanks
    
    Grant
932.10SUBURB::PARKERThu Feb 01 1990 20:065
    Yes, please.
    
    Stephen Parker @RGM B2/F1.
    
    Ta.
932.11Thanks Patrick.VANISH::BARRONSnoopy Vs Red_BarronMon Feb 05 1990 20:3410
Re .0
>NCEIS1::CHEVAUX "Patrick Chevaux, Nice, 828-6995"    
>
>For those interested I have a press kit that I can copy.

Thanks Patrick

I got my copy on Friday...

Dave
932.12Diablo PresskitCECV01::BROWNEFri Mar 09 1990 21:127
    I've driven an '88 Countach and I'm still in shock. This listed for
    $140k,was purchased for $120k and now the dealer wants it back for
    prices in the $250k range...demand outpaces supply... 
    I'd like a copy of the press kit,also!!  Thanks..
    
    Richard Browne
    BUO/E23
932.13Me tooESSB::DOODY3 Cylinders Good- 4 Cylinders badTue Apr 03 1990 20:397
    I hope Im not too late...
    (they 'Diablos' Might be out of stock)
    
    PLease forward same to me
    
    Brian Doody @ESSB
    
932.14Diablo does 331kph at NardoNCEIS1::CHEVAUXPatrick Chevaux, Nice, 828-6995Thu May 30 1991 19:0912
    The Diablo has set a new speed record at Nardo (Southern Italy) on 12
    May 1991. A team set by french SPORT AUTO magazine and supported by CAR
    AND DRIVER and a few Japanese mags has taken a standard Diablo supplied
    by unnamed customer to the Nardo test track. Both in acceleration and
    top speed the Diablo has beaten the Ferrari F40. The Porsche 959 is
    still the fastest on the 400m acceleration test but slower on the 1000m
    and in top speed.
    
    Lamborghini President Emile Novaro had declared last summer that the
    Diablo has performed 325kph at Nardo. Several drivers assembled by
    SPORT AUTO this month managed average speed around 329kph with a
    fastest run at 331kph.                    
932.15CRISPY::TAYLORGBodybuilders do it till it hurtsThu May 30 1991 19:435
    re-1
    
    What was the 0-100Kph figure then ?
    
    Grant
932.16the figuresNCEIS1::CHEVAUXPatrick Chevaux, Nice, 828-6995Fri May 31 1991 11:0616
    Acceleration figures
    
    0-100kph	4"5
    0-120	5"7
    0-140	6"9
    0-160	8"7  (=0-100mph)
    0-180      10"1
    0-200      12"4
    0-220      15"1
    0-240      18"2
    0-260      25"0
    
     400m      12"3
    1000m      21"6
    
    Full tank, instruments, 1 person on board
932.17Only midgets need apply?UNTADI::SAXBYVorsprung Durch MahlzeitMon Mar 06 1995 12:428
    
    Has anyone driven a Diablo (Patrick?) ?
    
    I had a look at a Diablo VT today and the legroom looked virtually
    non-existent! It looked as if it'd be really awkward to drive, but I
    wouldn't mind trying it out. :^)
    
    Mark
932.18CHEFS::GEORGEMThe West is the BestMon Mar 06 1995 12:537
>>>>>...the legroom looked virtually non-existent! It looked as if it'd be 
>>>>>really awkward to drive...

Damn.  Better cancel that order then, or chop 6 inches off my legs.

One assumes that Diablo purchasers don't give a monkeys how comfortable it is, 
so long as it whips the face off every other road car.
932.19UNTADI::SAXBYVorsprung Durch MahlzeitMon Mar 06 1995 13:0012
    
    Re .18:
    
    :^)
    
    Still, there's a lot of cars with Diablo type performance these days
    and even with THAT kind of money to play with, I'd want a car I could
    actually drive! 
    
    Mark
    
    PS I decided on the Bugatti in the end. :^)
932.20LEMAN::CHEVAUXPatrick Chevaux @GEO, DTN 821-4150Mon Mar 06 1995 16:3211
932.21minor problems...WOTVAX::STONEGTemperature Drop in Downtime Winterland....Mon Mar 06 1995 16:389
    
>>>   I'm more concerned about driving a Miura (really bad) or a Countach 
>>>    (slight improvement).
    
    ... If I had a Miura (SV preferred) I'd have whatever operations were
    necessary to squeeze me into the drivers seat %^)
    
    Graham (5'11 and not too over-weight)
    
932.22UNTADI::SAXBYVorsprung Durch MahlzeitMon Mar 06 1995 17:0412
    
    Patrick,
    
    I didn't actually sit in the car, I was just looking at it (it was
    parked awaiting servicing), but the seat seemed pretty well back and
    the legroom looked very limited, that's why I asked (I got lent a
    Fiesta, apparently they had no Lamborghini courtesy cars left...:^( ).
    
    Mark
    
    PS I'd accept surgery for a Muira, too, but I wouldn't bother for a
    Diablo. After all, I KNOW an XJ220 fits :^)
932.23FORTY2::HOWELLJust get to the point...Mon Mar 06 1995 17:061
    XJ220's are such hulking masses, it's not surprising they fit!
932.24UNTADI::SAXBYVorsprung Durch MahlzeitMon Mar 06 1995 17:136
    
    True Dan,
    
    but, then the Diablo's no Lotus Elan (original), is it? :^)
    
    Mark
932.25FORTY2::HOWELLJust get to the point...Mon Mar 06 1995 17:144
    Indeedy!
    
    Cheers,
    Dan