Featured Auction - 1997 Lamborghini Diablo SV Coupé

Estimate (£): £180,000 - 220,000.

*Delivered new to the UK

*Right-hand drive

*Circa 50,605 kilometres (approximately 31,446 miles) from new

*Full service history

After 17 years in production, the legendary Countach was replaced by the Diablo, which on its arrival was the fastest, most advanced and most expensive Lamborghini ever built. First exhibited publicly at Monaco in January 1990, the Diablo improved on its illustrious predecessor in every way, setting a new benchmark in supercar design. Nobody can have been surprised to learn that it had been styled by Marcello Gandini, the man responsible for the Lamborghini Miura and Countach, for the family resemblance was obvious.

Beneath the skin there was a steel spaceframe chassis, developed from the Countach's, but constructed of square-section rather than round tubing and incorporating 'crumple zones' at front and rear. The use of carbon-fibre composite panels, first seen in the Countach 'Evoluzione' model, was extended in the Diablo, which also featured revised suspension capable of accommodating the envisaged future developments of four-wheel drive and active suspension. Stretched to 5.7 litres for the Diablo, Lamborghini's 48-valve V12 engine gained fuel injection for the first time and producing a maximum of 492bhp. Of equal, if not greater significance, maximum torque went up to 428lb/ft, an improvement of 55% over the Countach. Catalytic converters were standard, enabling the reworked V12 to meet emissions requirements worldwide.

With more power and a lower drag coefficient than the Countach, the Lamborghini Diablo easily eclipsed its forebear, exceeding 200mph (322km/h) on test. More importantly, its acceleration and top speed figures were marginally better than those of the Ferrari F40. The Diablo though, was not a limited edition model like the latter, but a series production car with a luxuriously appointed interior reflecting its designers' intention to produce a civilised Gran Turismo as suited to city streets and motorways as the racetrack. Its UK launch price was pitched at just under £153,000, making the Diablo one the world's most expensive cars. Four-wheel drive Diablo VT and Targa-style open roadster versions soon followed and then came the Diablo SE (Special Edition) only 150 examples of which were built to celebrate Lamborghini's 30 years as a car manufacturer.

Designed to appeal more to the enthusiast driver, a simpler and lighter two-wheel drive Diablo SV (Super Veloce) was introduced in 1995 and came with a 510bhp engine despite being cheaper that the standard Diablo. Other SV changes included an adjustable rear spoiler, different lighting, a ducted engine lid and larger diameter front brakes.

Find out more about the car up for auction here: gaukmotors.co.uk/post/featured-auction---1997-lamborghini-diablo-sv-coup