The Lamborghini Pregunta: The Diablo-Based Prototype You Can Now Own

An exclusive 1998 concept car, born from the Diablo and inspired by the Dassault Rafale fighter jet, will go under the hammer in Belgium for a multimillion-euro sum.

The 1990s were a golden era for prototypes and concept cars. Major manufacturers competed to dazzle with futuristic designs, and one of the most striking creations of the decade was the Lamborghini Pregunta — a car as extravagant as it was fascinating. Unveiled at the 1998 Paris Motor Show, this spectacular model, based on the Lamborghini Diablo, was developed in collaboration with the French coachbuilder Heuliez and designed by Marc Deschamps, a protégé of the legendary Marcello Gandini, creator of icons like the Miura and Countach.

Inspired by fighter jets
Deschamps drew inspiration from the Dassault Rafale fighter jet. The result was a carbon-fiber body finished in the same matte gray paint as the aircraft, a wraparound windshield, and a cabin brimming with advanced technology for its time: Magnetti Marelli digital instrumentation, fiber-optic lighting, rear-view cameras, and a built-in navigation system. Altogether, it looked more like something from an airbase than a racetrack.

Pure Lamborghini performance
Beneath that aerodynamic silhouette, the Pregunta housed the Diablo’s 5.7-liter V12 engine, tuned to deliver 530 hp. All that power was sent to the rear wheels through a five-speed manual transmission, preserving the purist spirit of Lamborghini’s classic supercars. While its design was inspired by military aviation, its character was unmistakably Lamborghini, featuring scissor doors and an ascending beltline that blended elegance with aggression.

The end of an era
The Lamborghini Pregunta debuted just a month after Audi acquired the Italian brand, effectively marking the end of Lamborghini’s most artisanal chapter. After its presentation, Heuliez kept the car and showcased it at several events before selling it to a collector in 2008. In 2021, Lamborghini restored and homologated the car, displaying it in its museum as a symbol of a time when imagination knew no bounds.

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
Now, this one-of-a-kind prototype will be auctioned by Broad Arrow at the Zoute concours in Belgium on October 10th. Estimates place its value between €2.5 and €3.3 million, far higher than any Diablo — but fully justified by its exclusivity. There is only one Lamborghini Pregunta in the world, and whoever acquires it won’t just be buying a car, but a unique piece of automotive history.