Sadly, we elected to skip the 2026 Monterey Car Week, so we can continue working on a project we’ve been developing for the past year. While that call still leaves a bad taste in my mouth, it is the right one, but it’s hard to ignore what we’re missing.
One of the exciting announcements at The Quail this year is the Eccentrica V12 Roadster. It’s the open-top version of the restomod Lamborghini Diablo introduced as the Eccentrica V12 at The Quail in 2024.
Back then, I interviewed the company’s founder, Emanuel Colombini, a few minutes after the car was officially unveiled. If you missed it, you can read the full interview with Mr. Colombini. So is the new car just an open-top version of the 2024 model? According to the company, the roadster is an evolution of the original. Updates have been made to the aerodynamics, the car’s structure, and the driving experience for that all-important car/driver connection manufacturers always seek to achieve.
Under the hood, the roadster packs a naturally aspirated 5.7-liter V12 which delivers 550 hp at 7,000 rpm and 600 Nm of torque. Transmission duties are assigned to a close-ratio six-speed gated manual gearbox (which should be music to the ears of purists). If you can find the space, you can push the car to its top speed of 208mph. Best of all, it is a Diablo at heart, a fact that is its most significant claim to fame.
The cabin gets the modern Lamborghini treatment too. You have Connolly leather, Alcantara, and exposed carbon fiber (a material that keeps car enthusiasts smiling like they just won the lottery).
Now, I’m not going to tell you that I’m a fan of old cars, and when I say old, I don't mean vintage cars. I’m talking about cars that have been around for more than 4 years. But there are some exceptions to that, and the Diablo is one of them. It's great to see its 'return', even though it’s not by Lamborghini.
But before you dismiss the Eccentrica V12 Roadster because it’s built by a third party, you should know that the project has Maurizio Reggiani, former Chief Technical Officer at Lamborghini, as one of the minds behind it. If you're unfamiliar with the name, he is the architect behind the Murciélago, Gallardo, Aventador, and Huracán.
I have to admit that when I saw the cover come off the Eccentrica V12 at The Quail in 2024, I thought to myself, well, that looks too much like a Diablo. The ‘latest and greatest’ part of my brain was hoping for something a little more modern. However, the roadster, even though I haven’t seen it in person yet, triggers a different emotion.
Here’s a Diablo that looks, dare I say, modern. Maybe I’m betraying myself, but this is a car I could drool over. A wonderful blend of old and new.
The open-top really works for this car and has me excited for all Diablo owners who choose to take the plunge. If I had a Diablo in my garage, I would sign up for the mod without thinking about it. I mean, what is there to think about? Just look at it!
While we received invitations from different manufacturers to attend the 2026 Quail event, I have to say the Eccentrica V12 is the one I regret not seeing the most. We look forward to catching up with Mr Colombini again for a Q&A session about the roadster and the next steps for the Eccentrica V12 project.
