Eccentrica has unveiled the V12 Roadster, an open-air evolution of its re-engineered first-series Lamborghini Diablo.
The Lamborghini Diablo arrived in an era when supercars were loud, intimidating, and perfectly content to punish careless drivers. It offered no power steering until 1993 and no ABS until 1999, handing drivers the keys with little electronic safety net. That raw, uncompromising personality helped make it a bedroom-wall hero, and it remains a fascinating candidate for reinvention. San Marino-based Eccentrica has spent recent years re-engineering that exact car starting with its 19-unit coupe in 2023, creating a vehicle that feels far too modern to be built on a 1990s foundation.
Engineering the Open-Air Diablo With Maurizio Reggiani and Borromeo De Silva
Building an open-top version of a low-slung exotic car takes far more than reaching for a saw. Eccentrica’s technical team is led by Maurizio Reggiani, the former Lamborghini chief technical officer who directed development for factory flagships like the Murciélago, Gallardo, Aventador, and Huracán. Alongside Milan-based design studio Borromeo De Silva, the team set out to ensure the Roadster matched the coupe’s performance without sacrificing structural integrity.
To compensate for the missing roof, engineers reinforced the original steel spaceframe with carbon fiber. Every donor Diablo is completely torn down and rebuilt using more than 3,500 bespoke components. The resulting carbon fiber bodywork rides on a widened front and rear track, giving the car a more planted stance while retaining the unmistakable wedge proportions of the original model. Furthermore, the development team ran a dedicated aerodynamic study to ensure that deleting the roof would properly manage airflow around the open cabin and maintain necessary engine cooling.
“An icon with ’90s soul and modern precision.”
Eccentrica, via Car and Driver
Naturally Aspirated V12 Power and Gated Manual Dynamics
Behind the cockpit sits a thoroughly reworked version of the Diablo’s 5.7-liter naturally aspirated 60-degree V12. Unburdened by turbochargers or hybrid assistance, the powerplant benefits from a recalibrated ECU, better thermal management, and optimized airflow. These updates push output from the original 485 horsepower up to 550 horsepower at 7,000 rpm, with torque peaking at 443 lb-ft at 6,500 rpm according to technical specifications released by the company.
Power routes exclusively to the rear wheels through a close-ratio six-speed gated manual transmission featuring three driver-selectable modes. The car weighs in at approximately 3,395 pounds, helping it accelerate from zero to 62 mph in 3.8 seconds. Eccentrica claims a top speed of 208 mph, matching the performance of its fixed-roof sibling.
The Eccentrica V12 was our opening statement. The Roadster is the next chapter
Emanuel Colombini, Founder, via Motor1
Bespoke Cabins, Production Limits, and Monterey Debut
Inside the cabin, the Roadster blends analog nostalgia with contemporary craftsmanship. Connolly leather, Alcantara microfiber, anodized metal, and exposed carbon fiber surround a white ball-topped shifter and a retro amber digital gauge cluster.
Production of the V12 Roadster will be strictly limited to 19 units worldwide, mirroring the production run of the coupe.
