Lancia Thema

Infobox Automobile
name = Lancia Thema


production = 1984-1994
manufacturer = Lancia
parent_company = Fiat Group
assembly = Mirafiori plant, Turin, Italy
Borgo San Paolo, Turin, Italy
body_style = 4-door sedan
5-door station wagon
class = Executive car
predecessor = Lancia Gamma
successor = Lancia Kappa
transmission = 5-speed manual
3-speed automaticCite web|url=http://www.carsfromitaly.net|title=Lancia/Models/Lancia Thema|accessdate=2007-08-03|work=carsfromitaly.net]
engine = Petrol:
2.0 L straight-4
2.0 L straight-4 turbo
2.8 L V6
3.0 L V6
3.0 L V8
Diesel:
2.5 L straight-4 turbodiesel
platform = Type Four
layout = FF layout
wheelbase = 2660 mm (104.7 in.)
length = 4590 mm (180.7 in.)
width = 1755 mm (69.1 in.)
height = 1440 mm (56.7 in.)
weight = 1150-1300 kg (2535-2866 lb)
related = Saab 9000
Alfa Romeo 164
Fiat Croma
similar =Renault Safrane
Rover 800
designer = Giorgetto Giugiaro's Italdesign
Pininfarina (Station Wagon)

The Lancia Thema is an executive car produced by the Italian automaker Lancia between 1984 and 1994, and was one of four cars to share the "Type Four" chassis alongside the Alfa Romeo 164, Fiat Croma and Saab 9000. The Thema was first shown in Turin Motor Show in 1984.

Overview

The Thema was available as a sedan and as a station wagon designed by Pininfarina, and was considered one of the most spacious and comfortable European cars of its time. In addition to the sedans, 21,074 Thema station wagons were built by Pininfarina between 1986-1994 in their Borgo San Paolo plant.Cite web|url=http://www.pininfarina.it/repository/Gruppo/Produzionecomplessiva.pdf|title=PRODUZIONE COMPLESSIVA|accessdate=2007-08-03|work=pininfarina.it]

The Thema re-established Lancia as a high-quality luxury manufacturer in response to the problems the marque had experienced with the Lancia Beta, which was heavily mauled by the British tabloid Daily Mirror and Esther Rantzen, presenter of the BBC TV show "That's Life!", for being excessively and dangerously rust-prone; this defamation and defacing campaign, which was based on exaggeration and distortion of facts, pretty much ruined the company's commercial standing and reputation. The Thema reversed this trend with a galvanized steel chassis and rust protection that equaled or bettered that of its competitors. Build quality was higher than the Fiat Croma's and on par with the Saab 9000's. The sales organisation, however, was poor in many markets and secondhand values for the car suffered.

Production of the Thema ceased in 1994 when Lancia withdrew from right-hand drive markets (including the United Kingdom) in response to dwindling popularity and sales. (The station wagon version was never offered in right-hand drive.) Lancia continued, however, to be one of the most popular manufacturers in the Italian market and the Thema's replacement, the Lancia Kappa, sold well.

Thema 8.32

The ultimate Thema, the 8.32 was built Lancia's S. Paolo plant in Turin,Cite web|url=http://www.geocities.com/clublanciathema/832.html|title=Lancia Thema 832|accessdate=2007-08-03|work=geocities.com/clublanciathema] it used a 3.0 L Ferrari "Dino" V8. This engine was based on that of the Ferrari 308 qv with some being assembled by DucatiCite web|url=http://www.ducati.com/heritage/news/quattro_ruote2.jhtml;jsessionid=5L20AUXHEJBPSCRNCB2SFFAKFUIHUIV4|title=Heritage Features and News|accessdate=2007-08-03|work=ducati.com] from castings made at Maranello and featured a traditional V8 with 90 degree crankpin type crankshaft rather than the 180 degree crankpin type used in Ferrari V8 engined cars . It produced 215 bhp (158 kW) and was capable of 149 mph (240 km/h) in the Series 1 and Series 2 incarnation non catylist form. The Series 1 and Series 2 engine in catalyst form was slightly detuned to 205 bhp (151 kW) and was correspondingly slightly slower.

The car offered good performance (though the Turbo version was quicker than the catalytic version from 0 to 100 km/h) and excellent refinement, including a luxurious wood-and-leather interior by Poltrona Frau complete with the same luxury equipment as LX versions of the model. Unfortunately, a price tag of £40,000 (or more) in Britain, and the fact that only left hand drive versions were produced, limited its appeal, with only 9 being officially sold there. It was even a rare sight on Italian roads, with just 2370 Series 1 built between 1986 and 1988 and 1601 Series 2 built between 1989 and 1992 including 32 numbered special Rosso red versions.

(Five Thema 8.32s (215HP) exported to Taiwan and 2 of them still survive today.)

Engines

Thema powerplants originated from the Fiat engine series designed by Aurelio Lampredi, the famed engine designer formerly of Ferrari and Alfa Romeo. The straight-4 2.0 L petrol engine, available in both naturally-aspirated and turbocharged versions, was refined and offered good performance. Earlier Themas were also offered with a 2.8 L "PRV" V6 engine, developed in cooperation with Peugeot, Renault, and Volvo. This unit was replaced in 1992 with a 3.0 L Alfa Romeo V6 engine.

External links

* [http://www.lancisti.net/ Lancisti.net - An Information Exchange and Support Community for Lancia Owners and Enthusiasts]

Notes