lambodiecast

When Audi acquired Automobili Lamborghini SpA in 1998, things were going to change for the Italian exotic car manufacturer, we all knew that, and while some may argue that the ‘Italian flair’ went missing over time, back in 1999 the Lamborghini Diablo swansong was a marvelous one, for one there was a one-year only MY99 version of the Diablo VT and Diablo SV, but also the impressive Diablo GTR was introduced, as a replacement for the Diablo SVR, the one-make championship race car from Sant’Agata.

Did you actually know that already back in 1993 Lamborghini wanted to get a Diablo into racing, that is why they created the Diablo SE Jota back then, the Jota upgrade was intended to create a race car from the DIablo, but it didn’t quite work out as planned, and it took until 1996, with the Diablo SVR, before a V12 Lamborghini went racing ... officially.

In a partnership with Philippe Charriol, Automobili Lamborghini SpA raced in what was called the SuperSport Trophy, between 1996 and 1999, with a total of 31 Diablo SVR., After that, the Diablo SV-R was replaced by the Diablo GT-R, also made in just 30 units, all numbered, and it is the latter which AUTOart now re-released in 2025, in five different colors, from black over yellow and orange, to blue and this amazing looking white we see here.

Keep in mind that the Lamborghini Diablo GTR is almost entirely made from lightweight carbon fiber. Only the roof was made of steel for torsional rigidity, while the doors were made of aluminum to comply with safety regulations. Lamborghini also built 80 (which is an official number, but in the end, 82 units were built) of the Diablo GT, the street-legal version of the GTR. AUTOart never made the Diablo GT.

The Lamborghini Diablo GTR also comes with a race-tuned exhaust fitted, add in some other modifications to the V12 engine, and you end up with 590 hp from the 6-Liter powerplant, 25 hp more than the Diablo GT and a massive 100 hp increase compared to the original Lamborghini Diablo, all this power was thanks to some serious modifications, like a multi-throttle intake manifold combined with an individual intake system, a variable intake valve timing system, dynamic air inlet duct system, and last but not least, titanium connecting rods with a lightened crankshaft, all kept in check with a bespoke engine management system.

The Diablo GTR wasn’t just a tricked-out Diablo GT either, the modifications went very far to create a race car out of the GT. The chassis now had an integrated roll bar, while the massive carbon fiber rear wing got bolted directly to the chassis. A bespoke racing suspension was fitted with fully adjustable shock absorbers and anti-roll bars making the GTR ride a lot lower compared to the GT. Full racing-spec Brembo brakes were fitted, while the Lucas ABS system was still active. Stunning 18-inch lightweight magnesium Speedline wheels with a central locking nut got installed while a race-grade fuel tank with obligatory fast filling system was installed.

The Diablo GTR didn’t come with a fancy sequential gearbox, instead an open-gate five-speed manual gearbox was found on the carbon fiber central tunnel inside a completely stripped-down interior, just one MOMO racing seat a with a multi-point MOMO racing harness to keep the driver safely strapped down on the track, racing switched replaced the original buttons and a fire extinguisher got fitted, operated by a button on the central console, MOMO also supplied the special Diablo GTR steering wheel.

So how did AUTOart do with this new composite model of what we consider to be the most brutal Lamborghini Diablo ever? In one word, great. The attention to detail on this new 1/18 scale model car is just amazing, AUTOart got most of the details just perfect on this re-release, especially the colors, as this time they were made with actual paint samples at hand, unlike the earlier diecast version, which just got black, orange, and yellow paint that wasn’t really matched to the real cars.

This one is finished in Impact White, a very bright color on this race car, and in fact, a real Lamborghini Diablo GTR, number 22/30, was finished in this color, so it is an existing car in the end, and that’s always a good thing in my mind, and I just love a Lamborghini Diablo in white, especially when it is combined with a lot of black carbon fiber like on this GTR edition.

AUTOart is releasing this new Lamborghini Diablo GTR in five shades, black, orange, yellow, blue, and white, and I have to admit, for now, I love this white one the best, but I have yet to receive the blue one, which is a repainted GTR in real life, now finished in Blu Monterey, and I think it will be a beauty for sure. At the time of writing, only black, yellow, and white have arrived in Europe, orange and blue should arrive in December 2025.

While I absolutely love this new AUTOart Lamborghini Diablo GTR, in my opinion it is a serious step-up from the old diecast version, there are a few small items I have to mention, for one, on my unit of this Impact White Diablo GTR the front brake disc on the right came loose during shipment (I didn’t see it at first, so some photos show the issue), I have set it back in place and it’s fixed, but I had to mention it, it can possibly happen to other units too.

Another thing is the Diablo GTR plaque underneath the side window behind the driver, AUTOart did include it there, but there should be a number mentioned too, as I mentioned, this white Diablo could be a scale model of the real Diablo GTR 22/30, but that isn’t shown on this AUTOart model, and that’s a nice detail that would really make this an amazing scale model.

One final thing I wanted to talk about is the carbon fiber intake over the engine when you open the engine cover, AUTOart nicely finished the top of the cylinders in gold, just as seen on the real Diablo GTR, and that ‘airbox’ on top of the manifolds is finished in carbon fiber, as it is on the real car too, but the pattern AUTOart went for on this model is just terrible. Which I really don’t understand, as there is a lot of carbon fiber all over this model, and it all looks amazing, and nicely to scale, but on this large box in the engine compartment, AUTOart missed the ball, unfortunately.

But other than that, this new Lamborghini Diablo GTR from AUTOart on a 1/18 scale is a serious must-have in my opinion, even if, like me, you already own the older diecast version, just get this new composite release, and specifically one of the two new colors, white or blue, you won’t regret it.

Originally released in November 2025.

our RATING

Exterior		9/10
Interior		8/10
Engine		7/10
Accuracy		8/10
Overall rating		8/10

Original price on November 16, 2025 : € 265