At The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, the Eccentrica stand held a nostalgic surprise: a cassette mixtape, not the gated shifter of a first-series Lamborghini Diablo. Rows of "Mixed by Eccentrica Vol. II" tapes in new jewel cases were meticulously displayed, alongside the Eccentrica V12, a Diablo-based creation that marked its US debut during Monterey Car Week. Also in attendance was Maurizio Reggiani, the recently retired Chief Technical Officer of Lamborghini, who spent nearly 30 years with the automaker. Instead of retiring fully, Reggiani has been deeply involved in the development of this Diablo restomod—a tribute to the 1990s.
Reggiani, who began his career at Lamborghini in 1995 working on the Diablo SE and SV, expressed his personal connection to the project: "This car was not part of my life, and now it's like I’m closing the entire circle of my career in Lamborghini." The Eccentrica V12, based on a first-series Diablo from 1991 to 1994, aims to enhance the original's driving experience and functionality while preserving its classic 1990s style.
The 5.7-liter V-12 engine features single-coil ignition, throttle-by-wire, and a redesigned exhaust, delivering 500 horsepower and over 440 pound-feet of torque through a custom-made six-speed manual transmission. Reggiani emphasized the use of technology to improve the car without excessive electronic intervention. The car also includes electronically-controlled dampers and a drive-mode knob that adjusts settings for comfort, sport, and standard modes, as well as traction control and engine response.
Reggiani revels in the freedom of developing a restomod, free from modern homologation constraints and emissions regulations. He describes the experience as akin to playing in a Luna Park as a child. However, to remain street-legal, the Eccentrica must adhere to the regulations in place when the original Diablo was built. The result is a vehicle that offers a pure, uncompromised driving experience with impressive sound, thanks to a single catalyzer setup.
The only modern touch missing from the Eccentrica's '90s nostalgia is the absence of a cassette deck, despite the inclusion of a state-of-the-art Marantz sound system. This restomod Diablo, a tribute to an era just beginning to be fully appreciated, combines classic looks with enhanced capabilities that the original could never achieve.
