Decadence. When I requested the Lancia Thema test car, it was actually clear to me: I can really work my way through the subject of badge engineering and the rape of brand heritage with this “Italo-American bowl”. Just stupid, just 100 meters after I first drove in the topic, my prejudices were already called into question.
Should I have been so wrong?
Around the middle of the test period of two weeks, I then got involved - to dedicate a less stressed driving report to this decadent-sized ship with its many roots and turbulent history.
In the driving report:
Lancia theme V6 Diesel
The Mercedes-Chrysler-Fiat-I-should-now-a-Lancia-be-driving report.
What if the current Lancia theme had not been born as a product of a long-lost relationship between Chrysler and Mercedes-Benz? And you would not be confronted at the sight of the topic constantly with the ulterior motives of a somewhat crude gender surgery from masculine Chrysler, to a feminine Lancia?
"Just imagine - it would be a real Lancia!"
It took a few days and then I drove this Lancia with the Daimler genes, always thinking: "What if ..."?
The lines are significantly more Lancia - than expected.
A modern interpretation of the Lancia theme 8.32
The story of the topic:
Many fathers: The current topic was born as Chrysler 300C and was a child of the failed relationship between Mercedes-Benz and the US car maker Chrysler. Presented in 2004, the 300 C - which was also manufactured by Magna-Steyr in Graz for markets outside the USA - was based on the Mercedes-Benz platform of the W210 series. The W210 - was launched at Mercedes-Benz in 1995. From this history you can already see the enormous leap in time the current topic has to cope with.
Rear-wheel drive: Born as a joint project by Chrysler and Daimler, based on the Mercedes W210, the Chrysler 300 C, unlike its predecessors, was given the Daimler rear-wheel drive and an elaborate multi-link rear axle. Chrysler now calls this platform “LX” and to this day, the Dodge Charger and the US versions of the Thema - the 300 series, are manufactured. Until the refresh there was also a station wagon version of the 300 C, but this form of the 300 C seems to be history since the merger of Chrysler and Fiat.
Technique: If you get into the subject, you can feel the Daimler past and the common platform for the old E-Class. From the foot parking brake to the multi-function wiper turn signal lever and the light switch. Here you still feel very clearly, the Stuttgart-automotive-spirit. That is not bad!
The Lancia Thema is downright outrageously large. Of course, this impression is also due to the fact that its design makes no secret of its intentions. Huge wheels, a steep radiator grille and a sedan shape that couldn't be more classic. A graceful A-pillar, the black B-pillar and the massive C-pillar, in addition to the large smooth surfaces, characterize the side line of the Lancia Thema. The critics of the new topic speak of an improper transformation. They miss the graceful lines, the extravagance of the Lancia design language. But the heritage lovers forget, especially the one last topic (built by 1984-1994) had a very similar design language.
Is it only consistent? The new theme reminds me personally of the massive Topic 8.32 - a Lancia that was put on the road with V8 power by Ferrari. What have we not all lamented and upset about this “betrayal” of the Lancia brand? Personally, I found this badge engineering disrespectful and unworthy. If only one should have let the unsuccessful Lancia brand die in peace, instead of forcing this son-in-law from the USA into the far too narrow and far too feminine corset of the topic.
The interior can convince!
But far from it - the new topic is probably the best thing that has happened to the Lancia brand in the past 20 years!
Decadence the second. In addition to the almost outrageous amount of space, the new theme with a decadently good workmanship and choice of materials for Italian standards ensures a real aha experience in the interior. The operating concept of the topic scores particularly well. Fortunately, few switches cut through the wood of the dashboard trim and only the most important controls were placed in the center console. This makes for a distinctly tidy impression and helps the newcomer to the topic cockpit to concentrate on important things.
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