After 17 years in production, Lamborghini’s iconic Countach finally made way for the Diablo, a car that moved the marque decisively into a new era.

Unveiled at Monaco in January 1990, it was faster, more advanced and more expensive than any Lamborghini that had come before it, yet retained the dramatic presence for which the company had become famous.

Styled by Marcello Gandini, whose previous work included the Miura and Countach, the Diablo combined the visual theatre expected of Sant’Agata with genuine progress in engineering, refinement and usability.

The model introduced a new level of sophistication to the Lamborghini formula.

Carbon fibre composite panels, developments in suspension design and the adoption of fuel injection for the 48-valve V12 all marked a significant step forward.

The platform was conceived with future developments in mind, including four-wheel drive, and Lamborghini’s 5.7-litre V12 delivered performance that comfortably moved beyond the Countach.

Over th...