Difference between revisions of "Lancia Thema"

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The '''[[Lancia]] Thema''' was a model of [[Italy|Italian]] [[automobile]] produced in the [[1980s]].  The [[1985]] Thema was one of four cars which shared the "[[Type Four chassis|Type Four]]" chassis; the others were [[Alfa Romeo 164]], [[Fiat Croma]] and [[Saab 9000]].
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{{X}}
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{| border=1 cellspacing=3 cellpadding=4 style="float:right; margin:0 0 .5em 1em; width:250px; background:#505050; border-collapse:collapse; border:1px solid #999; font-size:83%; line-height:1.5; " summary="Infobox Automobile"
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|- style="text-align:center; background:#505050;"
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| colspan=2 style="padding:0; background:#333333; color:#fff; border-bottom:1px solid #999;" |[[Image:P1040307_800.JPG|280px|UK-spec Lancia Thema 8.32]]
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|- style="color:#fff; background:darkred; font-size:larger;"
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! colspan=2 |'''Lancia Thema'''
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|-
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|production:||[[1985]]-[[1994]]
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|-
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|Manufacturer:||[[Lancia]]
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|-
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|Body Styles:||4-door [[sedan]]<br>4-door [[station wagon]]<br>5-door [[hatchback]]
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|-
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|Class:||[[Executive car]]
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|-
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|Successor:||[[Lancia Kappa]]
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|-
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|Platform:||[[FF layout|FF]] [[Type Four chassis|Type Four]]
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|-
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|Related:||[[Saab 9000]]<br>[[Alfa Romeo 164]]<br>[[Fiat Croma]]
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|-
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| colspan=2 style="padding:0; background:#333333; color:#fff; border-bottom:1px solid #999;" |<videoflash>7QH_3ftHmbk|280|200</videoflash>
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|}
  
The Thema was one of the most spacious and comfortable European cars of its time. Its 2.0&nbsp;L four-cylinder engine, available in both normally-aspirated and [[turbo]] versions, was very popular, refined, and offered good performance.  These engines originated from a [[Fiat]] series designed by [[Aurelio Lampredi]], famed engine designer formerly of [[Ferrari]] and [[Alfa Romeo]].  The earlier car was also delivered with the 2.8&nbsp;L ''[[PRV engine|PRV]]'' V6 engine developed in cooperation with the French PSA group and Volvo.  This engine was replaced in 1992 with a 3.0&nbsp;L V6 Alfa Romeo engine, regarded by many as one of the best V6 engines ever made.
 
  
The Thema reestabliched Lancia as a high quality luxury producer after the problems the marque experienced with the earlier [[Lancia Beta]] in the [[1970s]]. When Fiat sold one of their factories to Russia, they made a barter deal, getting poor-quality steel instead of cash.  This steel went into many of the Fiat products in the 1970s and 1980s and nearly ruined the company.  The Thema reversed this trend with a galvanized steel chassis.  Build quality was higher than the Croma and at par with Saab 9000. However, the sales organisation in many markets was poor, and the secondhand value suffered.
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The '''Lancia Thema''' is an [[executive car]] produced by the [[Italy|Italian]] [[automaker]] [[Lancia]] between [[1985]] and [[1994]].  The Thema was one of four cars which shared the "[[Type Four chassis|Type Four]]" chassis; the others were [[Alfa Romeo 164]], [[Fiat Croma]] and [[Saab 9000]].
  
The car was also delivered as a [[station wagon]] (SW) designed by [[Pininfarina]]. The LX versions had same luxury equipment as the top of the range car Thema 8.32.
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==Overview==
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The Thema was available as a [[sedan]] and as a [[station wagon]] designed by [[Pininfarina]]. The Thema was one of the most spacious and comfortable European cars of its time.
  
The Lancia Thema survived until [[1994]], when the marque withdrew from right hand drive markets (including Britain) because of a fall in popularity. But Lancia continued to be one of the most popular manufacturers on the Italian market and the Thema's replacement, [[Lancia Kappa]], helped the marque sell its products well. It seems possible that Lancia may start to import to Britain again.
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The Thema re-established Lancia as a high quality luxury producer after the problems the marque experienced with the earlier [[Lancia Beta]] in the [[1970s]]. When [[Fiat]] sold one of their factories to Russia, they made a barter deal, getting poor-quality steel instead of money.  This steel went into many Fiat products in the 1970s and 1980s and nearly ruined the company.  The Thema reversed this trend with a galvanized steel chassis.  Building quality was higher than the Croma and at par with Saab 9000. However, the sales organisation in many markets was poor, and the secondhand value suffered.
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[[Image:Thema_02.jpg|thumb|left|250px|UK-spec Lancia Thema IE Turbo 1990]]
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The Lancia Thema was dropped in [[1994]], when the marque withdrew from [[right-hand drive]] markets (including the [[United Kingdom]]) because of a fall in popularity. But Lancia continued to be one of the most popular manufacturers in the Italian market and the Thema's replacement, the [[Lancia Kappa]], helped the marque sell its products well.
  
Today the 8.32 -- and to lesser extent the Alfa engined V6 -- are real Classics.  
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==Engines==
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The engines originated from a [[Fiat]] series designed by [[Aurelio Lampredi]], famed engine designer formerly of [[Ferrari]] and [[Alfa Romeo]]. The [[straight-4]] 2.0&nbsp;L [[petrol engine]], available in both naturally-aspirated and [[turbocharged]] versions, was refined and offered good performance. Earlier Themas were also delivered with the 2.8&nbsp;L ''[[PRV engine|PRV]]'' V6 engine, developed in cooperation with [[Peugeot]], [[Renault]], and [[Volvo]].  This engine was replaced in 1992 with a 3.0&nbsp;L V6 Alfa Romeo engine, regarded by many as one of the best V6 engines ever made.
  
==Thema 8.32==
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===Thema 8.32===
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The ultimate Thema, the '''8.32''', used a 3.0&nbsp;L [[Ferrari]] ''[[Ferrari Dino engine|Dino]]'' [[V8]].  This engine was based on that of the [[Ferrari 308 GTB|Ferrari 308 qv]] with some being assembled by [[Ducati]] from castings made at Maranello and featured a traditional V8 split-plane crankshaft rather than the flat-plane used in Ferrari cars.  It produced 215&nbsp;bhp (160&nbsp;kW) and was capable of 149 mph (240 km/h) in its Series 1 incarnation. The Series 2 engine was slightly detuned to 205&nbsp;bhp (153&nbsp;kW) and was slighty slower.
  
The ultimate Thema, the '''8.32''', used a 3.0&nbsp;L [[Ferrari]] ''[[Ferrari Dino engine|Dino]]'' [[V8]].  This engine was based on that of the [[Ferrari 308 GTB|Ferrari 308 qv]] with some being assembled by [[Ducati]] from castings made at Maranello and featured a traditional V8 split-plane crankshaft rather than the flat-plane used in Ferrari cars.  It produced 215&nbsp;bhp (160&nbsp;kW) and was capable of 149 mph (240 km/h) in its Series 1 incarnation. The series 2 was slightly detuned to 205&nbsp;bhp (153&nbsp;kW) and was slighty slower.
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[[Image:892251.jpg|300px||right|thumb]]
  
It had good performance (though the Turbo version was quicker than the series 2 from 0 to 100 km/h) and excellent refinement including a luxurious wood-and-leather interior by Poltrona Frau. But a £40,000+ price tag in Britain, and the fact that only left hand drive models were produced, limited its appeal, with only 9 being officially sold there. It was even a rare sight on Italian roads, with just 3537 built between [[1986]] and [[1991]].
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It had good performance (though the Turbo version was quicker than the Series 2 from 0 to 100 km/h) and excellent refinement, including a luxurious wood-and-leather interior by [[Poltrona Frau]]; it had the same luxury equipment as the LX versions. But a £40,000+ price tag in Britain, and the fact that only left hand drive models were produced, limited its appeal, with only 9 being officially sold there. It was even a rare sight on Italian roads, with just 3,537 built between [[1986]] and [[1991]].
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{{Lancia modern timeline}}
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{{Lancia}}
  
[[es:Lancia Thema]]
 
[[sv:Lancia Thema]]
 
  
 
[[Category:Lancia vehicles|Thema]]
 
[[Category:Lancia vehicles|Thema]]
 
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[[Category:Front wheel drive vehicles]]
{{Lancia}}
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[[Category:Executive cars]]
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[[Category:Hatchbacks]]
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[[Category:Sedans]]

Latest revision as of 18:48, 3 December 2009

UK-spec Lancia Thema 8.32
Lancia Thema
production: 1985-1994
Manufacturer: Lancia
Body Styles: 4-door sedan
4-door station wagon
5-door hatchback
Class: Executive car
Successor: Lancia Kappa
Platform: FF Type Four
Related: Saab 9000
Alfa Romeo 164
Fiat Croma


The Lancia Thema is an executive car produced by the Italian automaker Lancia between 1985 and 1994. The Thema was one of four cars which shared the "Type Four" chassis; the others were Alfa Romeo 164, Fiat Croma and Saab 9000.

Overview

The Thema was available as a sedan and as a station wagon designed by Pininfarina. The Thema was one of the most spacious and comfortable European cars of its time.

The Thema re-established Lancia as a high quality luxury producer after the problems the marque experienced with the earlier Lancia Beta in the 1970s. When Fiat sold one of their factories to Russia, they made a barter deal, getting poor-quality steel instead of money. This steel went into many Fiat products in the 1970s and 1980s and nearly ruined the company. The Thema reversed this trend with a galvanized steel chassis. Building quality was higher than the Croma and at par with Saab 9000. However, the sales organisation in many markets was poor, and the secondhand value suffered.

File:Thema 02.jpg
UK-spec Lancia Thema IE Turbo 1990

The Lancia Thema was dropped in 1994, when the marque withdrew from right-hand drive markets (including the United Kingdom) because of a fall in popularity. But Lancia continued to be one of the most popular manufacturers in the Italian market and the Thema's replacement, the Lancia Kappa, helped the marque sell its products well.

Engines

The engines originated from a Fiat series designed by Aurelio Lampredi, 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 delivered with the 2.8 L PRV V6 engine, developed in cooperation with Peugeot, Renault, and Volvo. This engine was replaced in 1992 with a 3.0 L V6 Alfa Romeo engine, regarded by many as one of the best V6 engines ever made.

Thema 8.32

The ultimate Thema, the 8.32, used a 3.0 L Ferrari Dino V8. This engine was based on that of the Ferrari 308 qv with some being assembled by Ducati from castings made at Maranello and featured a traditional V8 split-plane crankshaft rather than the flat-plane used in Ferrari cars. It produced 215 bhp (160 kW) and was capable of 149 mph (240 km/h) in its Series 1 incarnation. The Series 2 engine was slightly detuned to 205 bhp (153 kW) and was slighty slower.

It had good performance (though the Turbo version was quicker than the Series 2 from 0 to 100 km/h) and excellent refinement, including a luxurious wood-and-leather interior by Poltrona Frau; it had the same luxury equipment as the LX versions. But a £40,000+ price tag in Britain, and the fact that only left hand drive models were produced, limited its appeal, with only 9 being officially sold there. It was even a rare sight on Italian roads, with just 3,537 built between 1986 and 1991.


1980s-Present Lancia Modern Timeline
« Previous Lancia car timeline, 1980s-present -- Lancia modern timeline
Type 1980s 1990s 2000s
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
City car Autobianchi Y10 or Lancia Y 10
Supermini Ypsilon
Small family car Delta Delta
Large family car Beta Prisma Dedra Lybra
Executive car Gamma Thema Kappa Thesis
Mini MPV Musa
Large MPV Zeta Phedra
Racing car Lancia 037 Delta S4
LANCIA

1907-1918: Alfa-12HP · Alfa-24HP · Dialfa-18HP · Beta-15/20HP · Delta-20/30HP · Epsilon · Eta-30/50HP · Gamma-20HP · Theta-35HP · Zeta-12/15HP
1918-1945: Aprilia · Ardea · Ardennes · Artena · Astura · Augusta · Belna · Dilambda · Kappa · Lambda · Trikappa
1945-1980: Appia · Aurelia · Beta · D20 · D23 · D24 · D25 · D50 · Flaminia · Flavia · Fulvia · Gamma · Montecarlo · Stratos HF
1980-2000: Dedra · Delta · Delta S4 · Kappa · LC1 · LC2 · Lybra · Prisma · Thema · Trevi · Y10 · Ypsilon · Zeta · 037 (Group B)
Current models: Musa · Phedra · Thesis · Ypsilon
Concept models: Marcia · Medusa · Megagamma · Orca · Sibilo


Vincenzo Lancia · Corporate website · A brand of the Fiat group