The story
The SV arrived at Geneva in 1995 with extra brake ducts in the nose, an adjustable rear wing, its name painted along the flanks in enormous script and a clear message about who it was for. Lamborghini pulled the Diablo VT's viscous coupling, front driveshafts and electronically adjustable dampers, raised the 5.7-liter V12 to 510 metric hp and charged less for it than for any other Diablo. It was no lighter than the standard car, at 1,576 kg (3,474 lb) dry, and it did not need to be.
Inside, it is loud at idle, heavy in the clutch and nearly blind to the rear, and the dog-leg gearbox demands deliberate hands. Yet the power steering is sharp, the ride surprisingly supple, and Motor Trend's figures put 60 mph 3.6 to 3.8 seconds away. Short gearing traded top speed for acceleration, and period testers warned that braking hard in a bend could bring the tail around. Built in Lamborghini's leanest years, it is the last SV to send its power to the rear wheels alone, and for many the most rewarding Diablo of all.
