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The Thema was available as a [[sedan (car)|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.<ref name="pininfarina.it">{{Cite web|url=http://www.pininfarina.it/repository/Gruppo/Produzionecomplessiva.pdf|format=PDF|title=PRODUZIONE COMPLESSIVA|accessdate=2007-08-03|work=pininfarina.it}}</ref>
The Thema was available as a [[sedan (car)|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.<ref name="pininfarina.it">{{Cite web|url=http://www.pininfarina.it/repository/Gruppo/Produzionecomplessiva.pdf|format=PDF|title=PRODUZIONE COMPLESSIVA|accessdate=2007-08-03|work=pininfarina.it}}</ref>


The Thema re-established Lancia as a high-quality luxury manufacturer in response to the problems the marque had experienced with the [[Lancia Beta#Legacy|Lancia Beta]], which was heavily mauled by the [[United Kingdom|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.
The Thema re-established Lancia as a high-quality luxury manufacturer in response to the problems the marque had experienced with the [[Lancia Beta#Legacy|Lancia Beta]], which was heavily mauled by the [[United Kingdom|British]] [[tabloid]] [[Daily Mirror]] and [[BBC]] TV show ''[[That's Life!]]'' in 1980, 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.
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.

Revision as of 10:43, 19 May 2009

Lancia Thema
UK-spec Lancia Thema 8.32
UK-spec Lancia Thema 8.32
Overview
ManufacturerLancia
Production1984-1994
AssemblyMirafiori plant, Turin, Italy
Borgo San Paolo, Turin, Italy
DesignerGiorgetto Giugiaro's Italdesign
Pininfarina (Station Wagon)
Body and chassis
ClassExecutive car
Body style4-door sedan
5-door station wagon
LayoutFF layout
PlatformType Four
RelatedSaab 9000
Alfa Romeo 164
Fiat Croma
Powertrain
EnginePetrol:
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
Transmission5-speed manual
3-speed automatic[1]
Dimensions
Wheelbase2660 mm (104.7 in.)
Length4590 mm (180.7 in.)
Width1755 mm (69.1 in.)
Height1440 mm (56.7 in.)
Curb weight1150-1300 kg (2535-2866 lb)
Chronology
PredecessorLancia Gamma
SuccessorLancia Kappa
File:Thema 02.jpg
UK-spec Lancia Thema IE Turbo 1990
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lancia Thema.

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.[2]

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 BBC TV show That's Life! in 1980, 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' ("8" standing for the number of cylinders and "32" for the number of valves) was assembled at Lancia's S. Paolo plant in Turin.[3] It used a 2927 cc Ferrari V8. This engine was based on the unit used in the Ferrari 308 qv and some of the componentry was assembled by Ducati[4] from castings made at Maranello. The engine differed from other Ferrari V8s of the time in that it was equipped with a 90 degree crankpin type crankshaft rather than the usual 180 degree type, smaller valves and different firing order. All this to make the engine characteristics more suitable in a 4-door luxury saloon. Both Series 1 and 2 cars in non catalysed form produced 215 bhp (158 kW) and were capable of 0-100 km/h in 6.8 sec and 149 mph (240 km/h) whilst catalysed versions were slightly detuned to 205 bhp (151 kW) which gave 0-100 km/h in 7.2 sec and 145 mph (235 km/h).

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 hand made wood-and-leather interior by Poltrona Frau complete with the same luxury equipment as LX versions of the Thema. 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. Even 64 numbered editions where made,32 series 1 and 32 series 2. These where only delivered in Ferrari-red and should be sought after examples in the future.

Five non catalyst Thema 8.32s were 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.

Model Displacement Power Torque Note Top Speed/0-100 km/h/s
2.0 8V 1995 cc Template:Auto PS @5250 rpm Template:Auto Nm @3300 rpm 1985-1989 Template:Auto km/h /9.7
2.0 8V 1995 cc Template:Auto PS @5600 rpm Template:Auto Nm @4000 rpm 1987-1989 Template:Auto km/h /10.4
2.0 8V 1995 cc Template:Auto PS @5600 rpm Template:Auto Nm @4000 rpm 1989-1995 Template:Auto km/h /11.4
2.0 16V 1995 cc Template:Auto PS @6000 rpm Template:Auto Nm @4000 rpm 1989-1992 Template:Auto km/h /10.4
2.0 16V 1995 cc Template:Auto PS @6500 rpm Template:Auto Nm @3500 rpm 1992-1995 Template:Auto km/h /10.1
2.0 Turbo 8V 1995 cc Template:Auto PS @5500 rpm Template:Auto Nm @2750 rpm 1985-1988 Template:Auto km/h /7.2
2.0 Turbo 8V 1995 cc Template:Auto PS @5500 rpm Template:Auto Nm @2700 rpm 1988-1989 Template:Auto km/h/7.9
2.0 Turbo 16V 1995 cc Template:Auto PS @5500 rpm Template:Auto Nm @2500 rpm 1989-1992 Template:Auto km/h /8.0
2.0 Turbo 16V 1995 cc Template:Auto PS @5750 rpm Template:Auto Nm @3750 rpm 1992-1995 Template:Auto km/h /7.2
2.9 V6 12V 2849 cc Template:Auto PS @5250 rpm Template:Auto Nm @2700 rpm 1985-1989 Template:Auto km/h /8.2
2.9 V6 12V 2849 cc Template:Auto PS @5000 rpm Template:Auto Nm @3500 rpm 1989-1992 Template:Auto km/h /8.4
3.0 V6 12V 2959 cc Template:Auto PS @5500 rpm Template:Auto Nm @4500 rpm 1992-1995 Template:Auto km/h /8.1
3.0 V8 32V 2927 cc Template:Auto PS @6750 rpm Template:Auto Nm @4500 rpm 1987-1989 Template:Auto km/h/6.8
3.0 V8 32V 2927 cc Template:Auto PS @6750 rpm Template:Auto Nm @5000 rpm 1989-1992 Template:Auto km/h /6.8
2.5 TD 2445 cc Template:Auto PS @4100 rpm Template:Auto Nm @2300 rpm 1985-1989 Template:Auto km/h /11.9
2.5 TD 2499 cc Template:Auto PS @3900 rpm Template:Auto Nm @2200 rpm 1989-1992 Template:Auto km/h /11.0
2.5 TD 2499 cc Template:Auto PS @4100 rpm Template:Auto Nm @2400 rpm 1992-1995 Template:Auto km/h /11.5

References

  1. ^ "Lancia/Models/Lancia Thema". carsfromitaly.net. Retrieved 2007-08-03.
  2. ^ "PRODUZIONE COMPLESSIVA" (PDF). pininfarina.it. Retrieved 2007-08-03.
  3. ^ "Lancia Thema 832". geocities.com/clublanciathema. Retrieved 2007-08-03.
  4. ^ "Heritage Features and News". ducati.com. Retrieved 2007-08-03.
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