Lamborghini understands that you miss the Diablo, but it's not possible for them to return to it.

      www.thedrive.com

      Subscribe to The Drive’s daily newsletter

      Stay updated with the latest automotive news, reviews, and features.

      So, you're feeling nostalgic about the Diablo. I can relate. I once had a poster of it on my wall alongside a couple of Vipers, Ferris Bueller, and depending on the space, at least one Boondock Saint. If you’re part of Generation X or an older Millennial, you might understand. And if you’re a well-off member of either group, you might be looking to acquire a performance machine that matches those classic vibes. But what is the equivalent today?

      We spoke with Lamborghini's Chief Technology Officer, Rouven Mohr, and design head, Mitja Borket, to get their insights. Their response? It's straightforward. The answer is right in the showroom.

      “Sometimes within the automotive community, there’s this belief that new technology is undesirable and dull, while older models are more thrilling. That’s not actually the case,” Mohr stated.

      The iconic supercars from the 1980s and ’90s might seem outdated and analog in comparison to today's vehicles, but during their era, they represented the pinnacle of automotive performance technology.

      “When the Diablo was cutting-edge, it felt like a spaceship,” Mohr remarked. “Our task is to define the next generation of spaceships.”

      This doesn’t mean that nostalgia is ignored at Lamborghini or that references to classic design elements won’t appear in modern models, but we can expect the focus to be on homage rather than direct recreation.

      “I often liken our design language or our cars to songs, similar to an artist who has maintained their presence at the top of the music industry for 62 years,” Borket shared. “Because I love music and enjoy attending concerts, I appreciate when a performance starts with an introductory song that builds the mood, followed by a second song. By the third song, the mood shifts, creating a continuous buildup to a climax at the end, leaving you thinking, ‘Wow, that was a great show.’”

      “But I’m always playing a different song from the one before,” Borket explained. “Artists who stick to the same sound may last for two, five, or seven songs, but then they fade away into obscurity. I prefer artists who stay relevant for decades.”

      “I’m a product of the eighties,” Borket continued. “My band is Depeche Mode. To me, they exemplify an act that has maintained their core identity over 40 years while consistently delivering new interpretations. They have continually reinvented themselves.”

      Mohr and Borket believe the Fenomeno reflects this approach.

      “Those older cars represented the height of technology in their time,” Mohr noted. “Thus, for us to appreciate them, today’s models must strive for that peak, allowing future generations to look back in 50 years and recognize their significance.”

      “While I personally enjoy older cars and own several myself, technology and the world are evolving,” Mohr stated. “It’s a dynamic environment where we’re currently playing at the forefront, perhaps even at the cutting edge.”

      “But have faith in the engineers,” he added, “because there are truly exciting developments on the horizon.”

      Have a tip? Reach out to us at [email protected].