clarinews@clarinet.com (JAN A. ZVERINA, UPI Auto Writer) (02/10/90)
CHICAGO (UPI) -- Chrysler Corp., which bought Lamborghini in 1987, Friday introduced the Diablo, the successor to the Italian carmaker's legendary Countach that first bowed 19 years ago. It's capable of just about quadrupling the national speed limit. It zooms from zero to 60 mph in a shade over 4 seconds. And it costs just about $190,000. That's $95,000 a seat; $53 a pound. Making its North American debut at the 82nd annual Chicago Auto Show, the Diablo is more powerful than the Countach, which now costs just $145,000 but can muster a top speed of only 180 mph. Still, Chrysler says the Diablo's production run, expected eventually to rise to 650 a year at Lamborghini's Sant'Agata Bolognese factory, is virtually sold out through 1991, meaning no guaranteed rebates, distress sales or blaring television ads will be needed to sell these cars. Its U.S. sales should range between 110 units and 350 units a year. Chrysler Vice Chairman Gerald Greenwald called the Diablo ``the fastest production car on the planet'' and ``the most audacious new vehicle to enter the new car market.'' The Diablo retains the ``scissor door'' design used in the Countach. Behind its two seats lies a 5.7-liter, 48-valve V12 engine rated at 485 horsepower and able to rocket this car to a top speed of 202 mph. Chrysler is billing the Diablo as ``the ultimate fantasy machine.'' Yet the nation's No. 3 carmaker, known more for selling family minivans than low slung, exotic ``driving machines,'' had little to do with the Diablo other than help Lamborghini financially to get it to market. That may be good news, after Chrysler's failure with the TC by Maserati, a $33,000 roadster designed under a joint venture between those two carmakers and loosely based on Chrysler's LeBaron convertible that costs about half the TC's price. ``The Diablo is fully built by Lamborghini,'' Chrysler spokesman Tom Kowaleski said. ``But we lent our engineering and design expertise to the project.'' Translated, that means Chrysler aided Lamborghini by allowing it use of its supercomputers at its Highland Park, Mich., headquarters, and helped Lamborghini develop the Diablo's electronic engine management system. Chrysler's designers also had a hand in fine-tuning the Diablo's final shape to make it what Kowaleski called ``more producable.'' Despite the Diablo's G-force handling characteristics and its blinding speed, early versions will be equipped with motorized seat belts instead of air bags. Air bags now are standard on all Chrysler cars built in North America. While the latest Lamborghini is sure to turn a head or two at auto shows, what about those folks who have trouble doling out $200,000 for a new set of wheels? And what about industry observers who say Chrysler should be concentrating on filling its product line with more affordable cars to boost its sagging profits and stock price? ``All I can say is that we have major refinements in engines, suspensions and steering for 1991,'' Kowaleski said, adding that Chrysler's capital spending is pegged at $15 billion during the next five years.