If you have a love of Lamborghini and appreciate a touch of nostalgia, then you’ll enjoy learning about Eccentrica – the bold new supercar restomod brand that’s taking the world by storm.

Created by Emanuel Colombini (a successful entrepreneur, President of the Colombini Group, a Lamborghini collector, and an amateur racecar driver), this exciting new company is igniting the desire of supercar collectors who want to own an updated piece of Italian history while giving them a thrill about going back to the future.

When I think about the early 1990’s Lamborghini Diablo, my mind stirs up an entrancing scene, reminiscent of a Miami Vice episode. I imagine a scintillating vision of a sultry summer night in South Beach – the stereo bumping a rocking Billy Idol song, vibrant neon lights casting a luminous glow on the art deco-inspired buildings, and of course,  sexy supercars dashing down Ocean Drive.

Granted, in 1990, I was only an elementary school kid living in Pebble Beach, California, so this was the extent of my fantasy world at that age. Nonetheless, the Diablo was one of the first supercars I ever fell in love with, and for two primary reasons – it screamed “ultra-cool” and was brazenly eye-catching, to say the least. Because of that vivid memory that’s etched into my mind, when I first heard about how Eccentrica was reviving this iconic supercar while transforming it into a modern-day marvel, I was naturally curious to learn more.

Eccentrica V12 Makes Its Debut at Monterey Car Week

Today we’ll take you behind the scenes to a private event hosted by Eccentrica on Thursday, August 15th at a private estate in Pebble Beach to celebrate the company’s debut at Monterey Car Week, which gave us an exclusive preview of this refashioned supercar and introduced us to Eccentrica’s visionary leader and supercharged team.

In this in-depth discussion with the company’s Founder, Emanuel Colombini, you’ll discover the inspiration behind this dynamic new company and learn why this risk-taking entrepreneur shifted gears from leading the world of luxury interior design manufacturing to embarking on a daring venture that’s paving the way for a contemporary spin on the popular Lamborghini Diablo that exudes high-octane style.

About Eccentrica V12

Revealed to the public on Friday, August 16th at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering in Carmel, California, the Eccentrica V12 features a 5.7-liter V12 engine that produces 550 HP and 600 Nm of torque. The new custom-made 6-speed transmission comes with updated gear ratios and a new power steering system that is designed for optimal performance. In addition to these modifications, new camshafts, electronic throttle body, and an optimized flywheel enable the Eccentrica V12 to increase its maximum speed to reach an estimated top speed of 335kph (208mph). The restomod supercar also includes advanced technology that offers enhanced safety through superior braking performance, as well as Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tires and new custom-made 19-inch rims forged with aluminum alloy, to give the customer a better and safer driving experience.

The Eccentrica V12’s interior reimagines classic elegance with cutting-edge innovation. While retaining the Diablo’s signature retro-futuristic vibe, the redesigned cockpit features modern technological enhancements, including a re-engineered steering wheel, advanced dashboard displays, a sleek new digital infotainment system, and a rear camera integrated into the rearview mirror and control panels. These updates ensure that the driving experience is both immersive and equipped with the latest automotive technology.

Enhancing the overall sensory experience, the Eccentrica V12 boasts a fully bespoke Marantz audio system. Crafted with precision, this premium sound system utilizes top-tier materials, expertly positioned speakers, and high-performance components, perfectly complementing the car’s design. This integration turns every drive into a remarkable and richly immersive journey.

To ensure exclusivity and rarity for each valued customer, the San Marino-based company has shared that only 19 models will be produced, enabling customers to customize each vehicle to their specifications, with first deliveries beginning in the summer of 2025.

Interview with Eccentrica Founder Emanuel Colombini

CLP: Your journey from leading the Colombini Group and now starting Eccentrica is fascinating. What inspired you to transition from the world of luxury interior design to the realm of supercars and hypercars?

EC: “The primary driver was my passion for a certain type of supercar, particularly those that are more connected to the racing world and demonstrate the highest levels of performance. This passion was the impetus that brought me closer to Eccentrica.”

CLP: During my interview with Lamborghini’s Head Designer (Mitja Borkert) during Monterey Car Week, he said that many Lamborghini customers are “bold, risk-taking entrepreneurs”, and you seem to exemplify this description. How has your daring and dynamic approach to entering the auto industry influenced the creation and vision behind Eccentrica?

EC: “If you’re not dynamic and don’t like taking risks, you would probably never buy a Lamborghini, especially the sportier models like the Diablo or the Huracán. For me, it has always been about combining my personal passions with my business ventures. I decided to create a collection of cars not just as an investment but as valuable assets over time. This eventually led to the idea and vision for Eccentrica. I believe I have a skill for interpreting market trends, not only in the furniture industry but also in the automotive world, which has evolved over time.”

CLP: How has your experience in luxury furniture influenced your perspective on Eccentrica’s restomod supercars?

EC: “The world of furniture design has trained me not just to create single, complex objects, but also to manage systemic complexity, ensuring harmonious combinations in an entire home or villa. This complexity translates well to the automotive world, where I deal with similar systemic challenges. Working on a luxury product with intricate details and high interaction is very similar to creating a piece of furniture.”

CLP: You’re not only a Lamborghini collector, but also a racer. Can you share the origins of your passion for Lamborghini (as a brand), in addition to your enthusiasm for auto racing? How has it driven your entrepreneurial ventures? 

EC: “My passion for this world began with racing when I was young, first with motorcycles and then rally cars. My competitive approach to life and business started on the track. Supercars came into the picture later. There’s a common thread between racing, entrepreneurship, and challenging projects like Eccentrica. It’s about courage, method, and daily attention to detail. Just like in racing, where success comes from mastering every turn and brake, the approach to a project like Eccentrica is similar to that on the track and in business.”

CLP: Why did you choose the 1990s Lamborghini Diablo as the first model to restomod under Eccentrica? What unique aspects of this car resonate with you, and why?

EC: “We chose the Diablo model as the first car for Eccentrica’s restomod primarily because I’ve always had an emotional connection to this model, but also because restomodding is based on certain balances and aspects that need to be considered. This model provided all the answers we were looking for. It was a model born during a time of somewhat turbulent management at Lamborghini, with different hands shaping it—from Gandini to the Chrysler design center. In our view at Eccentrica, the Diablo had all the characteristics to be improved, particularly in its lines. By working on the first series, specifically the very first from 1990-91, we are refining the model that most needed both aesthetic and functional restyling, especially functional.”

These are the rational reasons, but they also connect to the fact that for me, the Diablo was one of the first supercars I dreamed of as a kid. At that time, such a car was unattainable for a young person.”

CLP: What are the key design elements and innovations that set Eccentrica’s restomod supercars apart from other vehicles on the market?

EC: “The points of uniqueness for Eccentrica, compared to other cars on the market that are designed from a blank sheet of paper as entirely new vehicles, lie in the fact that we need to position ourselves within the restomod world, because that’s what we are. Compared to other restomods on the market, our distinctive points are definitely related to the fact that we work on the only V12 car within the youngtimer category—cars that aren’t vintage yet but can be termed youngtimers. Additionally, we are doing the first restomod on a Lamborghini.

Our distinctive points include a very powerful powertrain, including the engine, transmission, and drivetrain. The vibration and sound of the V12 are recognizable from a distance and create a first-class emotional experience for the customer and the enthusiast. Moreover, the restomod was based on a highly detailed and structured engineering and design study, leading to the replacement of a large portion of the car’s components. We have extensively used carbon fiber and lightweight materials, reinforced the chassis with carbon parts, and completely refitted the engine, replacing many components and lightening them to allow for higher revs.

We’ve integrated a modern electronic system as well. Without delving into all the details, this project in the restomod field is not just about aesthetics, which is a matter of personal taste. Of course, we’ve introduced a very beautiful car with meticulous attention to detail, but above all, it’s about deep engineering work.”

CLP: How is the company modernizing the supercar, while still maintaining the timeless design and iconic styling of the car?

EC: “We focused extensively on maintaining the iconic look of the Diablo, preserving its key details and design cues that always hark back to the original model while simultaneously managing its evolution. In collaboration with Borromeo de Silva, we did a tremendous amount of work, first by drawing inspiration from the various Diablo models produced over the ten years of its production. We incorporated elements that were featured in different versions over time, thus preserving the DNA of the entire Diablo lineup.

At the same time, there is a modern design touch, our own touch, which ensures that the iconic continuous line typical of Gandini is maintained—there are no interruptions from the front to the back of the car, keeping a sense of linearity. We avoided adding a rear spoiler that would have given it too much of a racing look, instead retaining the overall elegance typical of the early Lamborghini models, like the original Countach and the first Diablo. We also added a touch of modernity with the use of modern materials, extensively using carbon fiber on the exterior, along with a series of details clearly inspired by aeronautics.”

CLP: What is your long-term vision for Eccentrica, and how do you plan to disrupt the supercar and hypercar industry with your innovative designs?

EC: “Yes, exactly, we want to create a long-term project where we can basically think about giving continuity to our customers not only with a product like the Diablo restomod but also future versions of the same model and even new models, perhaps also thinking about other Lamborghinis to consider as a Donor car. Ours is an initiative that looks to the future. We don’t want to just make a small series and complete our releases on the market, our entry into this world with a few cars, with a project that opens and closes, but (rather), we think of structuring a company that has solid foundations and that can think, of a broad and consistent product life.

I think that this type of market segment has precisely the awareness, that is, the customer himself has the desire to have in his collection, in his garage a product, a car that can excite and amaze him beyond what it can be – a series product today, perhaps a hybrid, perhaps with electrification which has other characteristics. They are perfect products, products that have super performance, but let’s say that they don’t give you the same feeling, the same vibrations behind the wheel or manual gearbox that a car from the nineties can give you. I believe this is the theme of the rest of the fashion and of the somewhat disruption that can be done not only by always moving forward but also by sometimes taking a step back and then taking it one step forward again.”

CLP: How do you ensure that Eccentrica’s designs meet the high expectations of discerning customers who seek both luxury and performance in their supercars?

EC: “We think that our customer is a person who loves a certain style of design and style in general. The eccentric style certainly cannot be defined as a minimal sporty style at the same time, however, the luxury is given by a set of details and the design touches on the infinitesimal aspects of the product. So for us, this is precisely the concept of sports luxury and therefore we say that we are certainly going, as I said at the beginning, to touch on the satisfaction levers of customers who love this approach.”

CLP: As an entrepreneur, what advice would you give to others looking to pursue their passions and take risks in their careers? How do you stay motivated and inspired?

EC: “Yes, I believe that the theme of passion in one’s professional career is obviously absolutely fundamental and central. To this, however, we must also be very concrete, sometimes taking one step at a time in an area that involves a lot of personal passion for a sector, for a product, to follow the path in business which also coincides with strong personal people. I believe that in any case, a good dose of methodology helps to avoid making mistakes because it is obviously known that following only passion could on the one hand also be dangerous and can lead to under-calculating the risks that exist in an entrepreneurial activity. So that’s why I think a mix of balance where the driving force is the passion behind it and the motivation that this can give is very high.”

As evidenced by Emanuel’s determination to go full throttle forward with his passion-fueled new business that exudes ’90s soul with a modern beat, it’s clear that Eccentrica’s team is driven by the desire to set a new higher standard in the realm of restomod supercars.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing insightful interviews with several notable industry leaders (including C-level executives and head designers at renowned supercar and hypercar brands) who are navigating the road to success while being in the driver’s seat of prestigious global auto brands. Stay connected on MSN or subscribe to Inspirations & Celebrations to discover trailblazing stories and in-depth conversations from Monterey Car Week 2024 that will motivate, empower, and inspire you to fuel your dreams, while turning them into reality.