530 hp Diablo performances

[Dotson]

Hello,
Here are some interesting things about the '98/'99 Model Diablos:

Both '98 and '99 Diablos were available with 530 hp (but '98 Diablos still had the old closed headlight). These 530 hp Diablos had the option of three gear ratios (like the 6.0 and GT): short, medium, and long. Long gear ratio can do 68 mph @ 7500 rpm in 1st, medium can do 62 mph @ 7500 rpm in 1st, short can do 56 mph @ 7500 rpm in 1st. The old 492 hp Diablos (as well as the SE30) were only avialiable with medium gear ratio.

Here is the Quattroruotte (an Italian Magazine) test of short gear ratio Diablo SV (400 meter = 1/4 mile 1000 meter = 1 kilometer):

0-400m: 12.0s @ 122 mph
0-1000m: 21.35s
Top speed: 195 mph

Here is Autocar test of long gear ratio Diablo SV:

0-400m: 12.4s
0-1000m: na (approx 22.0s)
Top speed: na (approx. 208 mph)

You can see from the 1/4 mile that Diablo short ratio has better acceleration than the long gear ratio (12.0 seconds vs. 12.4 seconds). A Medium Gear ratio Diablo SV would do 1/4 mile in approx. 12.2s.

A Diablo VT is a little heavier than an SV, but they are very similar. In fact, the VT has much better times because it has 4WD and more grip at the start (if you use the 4WD properly). I have no good tests of 530 hp Diablo VT, but a short gear ratio VT would do approximately:

0-400m: 11.65s
0-1000m: 21.0s

A medium gear ratio Diablo VT would do 0-400m in approx. 11.8s, and a long gear ratio VT would do 0-400m in app. 12.0s. A VT is actually NOT faster than an SV, but the difference in traction at the start would give the VT much better times. But If you look at the 400-1000m times (where traction is no longer so important), you see that VT and SV are the same: the short gear ratio VT and SV for instance both do 400-1000m in 9.35s.

If you want to know the performance of any other model Diablo (6.0, GT, SE30, 492 hp Diablos, etc.), I can probably tell you.. I have many tests of Diablos from Italian magazines (like Quattroroute, Auto, Automobilismo), etc. Also tests of the new Murcielago.

[jsb88]

Thank you... very interesting!

[Dotson]

Your welcome!

P.S. Does anyone here own a Diablo VT with short ratio? I have only seen few VT with the short ratio. For some reason, most people chose long or medium ratio for VT, and most people chose short ratio for SV.

I know this was the case before 1998, because 492 hp VT was only avilable with medium gears, and 510 hp SV was only available with short gears... but all 530 hp models were available with the same gears.

[jsb88]

Do you get to try out the different types when you buy the car? So you are sure you are making the right choice? Maybe they just expect oyu to make your own mind up....

Maybe they recommend certain types.

[allanf]

actually you are wrong on some of your points. 1st off, an Sv is substantially lighter than a Vt. 3366pds to over 3700pds. The Sv is very tricky to launch off the line, lots of wheel spin, while the Vt will get none. Learn to launch an Sv properly, and youll get off the line just as quickly as on the Vt. Also, 1-2 launches on a vt, and bye-bye clutch. Roll on acceration is where the Sv really shines, and will literally walk away from a Vt. Dont forget the Sv, has the ram air system, which really helps at higher speeds, which the Vt does not. Again, not trying to insult you, but ive had plenty of experience racing my Sv with more than one Vt. Ive also had a few run ins with a 6.0 Vt, and that is pretty close, with the Sv still having a slight edge.

[jsb88]

How many clutches have you been through?

[allanf]

me? none.

[Menu dei Motori]

thanks,too thats really good information

[Dotson]

Originally posted by allanf
actually you are wrong on some of your points. 1st off, an Sv is substantially lighter than a Vt. 3366pds to over 3700pds. The Sv is very tricky to launch off the line, lots of wheel spin, while the Vt will get none. Learn to launch an Sv properly, and youll get off the line just as quickly as on the Vt. Also, 1-2 launches on a vt, and bye-bye clutch. Roll on acceration is where the Sv really shines, and will literally walk away from a Vt. Dont forget the Sv, has the ram air system, which really helps at higher speeds, which the Vt does not. Again, not trying to insult you, but ive had plenty of experience racing my Sv with more than one Vt. Ive also had a few run ins with a 6.0 Vt, and that is pretty close, with the Sv still having a slight edge.

Well, what VT did you race? I know that any Diablo SV is faster than a 492 hp VT.


And if you race a 530 hp VT, like I said before, the VT is available with different gear ratios.. if you pull ahead of a 530 hp VT in an SV, that may not be only because the SV is lighter, but because of th gears. But a VT and SV, both with 530 hp and the same gear ratios are not so different.

And the difference in weight is actually not so big... Lamborghini claims can not be trusted. Quattroruoute weighed Diablo SV with water, oil, feul and driver and it was 1680 kg (3700 lb.)... they weighed VT with water, oil, feul and driver and it was 1730 kg (3805 lb.)... a difference of 50 kg. So if you have a small child in the passenger seat of an SV, then the VT and SV would have the same hp/weight ratio.. that is how small the difference is between SV and VT. You are right that SV would be a little quicker, but not much.

And BTW, a 6.0 is not much faster if at all than a 530 hp VT. It has 20 more hp, but on a bigger weight! Lamborghini claims it is the same as VT, but it is heavier.. nearly 1800 kg! I know that an SV is a little faster than a 6.0, and you race with a 6.0 and confirm this to be true... but also a 530 hp VT with the same gear ratios is very similar to the 6.0.

[Dotson]

Another thing... It is pretty impossible for a 2WD Diablo with the same specifications to match a 4WD Diablo at the start. Look at these other tests by Quattroruoute of Diablo VT and Diablo 2WD (both 492 hp):


Diablo 2WD road test by Quattroruote 8/1991

0-400m 12.7s @ 118 mph
0-1000m 22.4s


Diablo VT test by Quattroruote (Italy) 4/1993


0-400m: 12.29s @ 119.0 mph
0-1000m 21.96s


The VT system transfers power to the road much more efficiently at the start. If you look at the 400m, VT was 0.4s ahead of 2WD. But they are the same fast after the start.. Both did 400-1000m in app. 9.7s. So at the 1000m, VT was still ahead of 2WD by 0.4s.

As for the clutch.. Lamborghini test driver Mario Fasanetto showed Car and Driver how to use the "drop clutch" technique for 4WD Diablos (where you can get a lot of wheel spin), and said if you do it badly twice, you will destroy the clutch. But if you do it right, while it's still not good for the car, the clutch should still be fine.

But if you are talking about cars with different specs... A 510 hp Diablo SV probably can start as fast as a 492 hp Diablo VT, and a 530 hp SV with short gear ratio did a better start than the old VT in tests by Quattroruote.

And I've never bought a Diablo, so I don't know how Lamborghini presents the option of gear ratios to the customers. AllanF or someone else who has bought them can probably tell you.

[allanf]

Dotson, as you are obviously a Lambo enthusuiast, so i will not flame you, but ill let you know a few facts.

1st off, i weighed my Sv on a 4 point scale, and the car with fuel, oil and after market exhaust weighed just over 3320pds. I saved approximately 100pds with the exhaust, so at 3420pds, minus fuel, and oil, would put you right on the factorys claimed 3366pds.

2. If you ever saw the diablos 4 wheel drive system removed, youd realize how rediculous your claim of only 50kg difference really is.

3.The Vt's i raced were both 99's, and both were geared similarly to mine, as none of us could hit 60 in 1st gear.

4.A 6.0 is substantially faster than a Vt, due not to its 20 more hp, but its wider and broader torque curve.

Dont put all your faith in magazine results, testing temps, drivers, unforseen variables make huge differences.

[Dotson]

Well, yes.. please do not flame me... I don't need that. And I don't think there is any need for that either. Thank you.

"1st off, i weighed my Sv on a 4 point scale, and the car with fuel, oil and after market exhaust weighed just over 3320pds. I saved approximately 100pds with the exhaust, so at 3420pds, minus fuel, and oil, would put you right on the factorys claimed 3366pds."


When I say weight at full, I mean, water, oil, feul AND driver. A dry weight of 1550 kg is probably right... but with water, oil, feul and driver weigh app. 1680 kg! Your data doesn't even seem to be incompatible with mine anyways.

"2. If you ever saw the diablos 4 wheel drive system removed, youd realize how rediculous your claim of only 50kg difference really is."

Lamborghini claims VT system weighs 42 kg. Quattroruote weighed a Diablo 2WD and VT and there was a 48 kg difference.. the cars are the same, only difference is the VT system... and it was under a 50 kg difference!

The VT quattroruote weighed was an old VT.. a '99 VT maybe weigh more because of a new interior, etc... then maybe the difference between an SV and '99 VT is more than 50 kg.. maybe 60/70 kg?

"3.The Vt's i raced were both 99's, and both were geared similarly to mine, as none of us could hit 60 in 1st gear."

Well, you just told me your SV has a racing exhaust. Have you tried VT '99 with short gear ratio and seen if it felt similar to your SV when it was stock? I know an SV is a little faster.. I don't doubt that an SV will pull a little ahead of a VT in the straits... but what I am saying is that there is not such a big difference in performance between these models.

"4.A 6.0 is substantially faster than a Vt, due not to its 20 more hp, but its wider and broader torque curve."

Both '99 VT and 6.0 have VVT... and not only that, even if 6.0 has more torque at low rpms, this does not make a huge difference when in the 5000-7500 rpm range. For instance, a 530 hp SV with VVT has a broader torque curve than an SE30, but an SE30 is faster than an SV with the same medium gear ratio, because it has a little better hp/weight ratio.

A 492 hp Diablo VT did 1/4 mile in 12.29s.. a 6.0 with the same gear ratio did 11.8s... 530 hp VT with VVT like the 6.0, but on lighter weight than the 6.0 would do similar.. at most 11.9s! the difference is not so big.

"Dont put all your faith in magazine results, testing temps, drivers, unforseen variables make huge differences. [/b][/quote]"

My friend in Italy owns exotic car show room... he tries many Diablos often (VT, SV, 6.0, GT, SE), and many other cars... I get most of my information from him. He has tried 6.0 and VT.. he said there was not a huge difference in acceleration.

Look, you own a Diablo and I respect you.. if you think there is something wrong with what I say, I don't mind you tell me. But all the data I have seen so far tells me that a VT is not so different from a 6.0 or even an SV. Yes, SV is a little faster than a VT, and even a 6.0... I have said that since the begining. But they are the same car, and the difference is not big.

[allanf]

The Diablo Vt was weighed on the same scales as my car, and also had the same exhasut as mine fitted. It weighed over 3700 pds, after losing almost 100 pds from the exhaust change.

One difference in the cars we're comparing is your using Euro specs while im using U.S. specs.

When i was at the factory in April, according to Valentino Balboni, the fastest Diablos, other than the 6.0 Diablo Gt, are the Diablo Sv and the Se, followed by the 6.0 VT.

Isnt there an Sv in Europe that has no power steering, abs, radio etc? Im sure that would be even faster.

The Diablo Roadster Vt is the slowest Diablo.

The Sv's ram air system makes a huge difference at highway speeds, remember this is a version of a system that was bolted on a SE originally, making it a Jota, with quoted power in the 600 hp range. The Sv's engine is the exact same engine as the other 530hp motors, but with a version of this Jota system, although not quite as extreme.

[jsb88]

Ahh the delights of not living in luxury demandind societys like america... we can live with no car radios... who needs ABS... who said I cared about airbags and emissions...!:finger:

[allanf]

jsb88, how do you like your lotus? I have a 2000 TT V8.