From the opening image, you might be thinking, why am I writing an article about a big Italian box from the eighties? What is so special about her that she deserves attention? As much as this sprawling sedan doesn't seem interesting, believe me, especially the heart beating under the hood makes it very remarkable.
The Lancia Thema, Lancia's top flagship, was introduced in 1986 in Turin. Its angular shapes were designed by Giugiaro, while it was perfectly subject to the inconspicuous, more conservative, but all the more elegant concept of design of practically the entire model range. It shared a modern platform with a multi-element rear axle with the Fiat Croma, the Alfa 164, but also the Saab 9000. Lancia is the luxury branch of the Italian trio, so of course it always offered a little more. Discs on all wheels were a matter of course, as well as the possibility of having a self-locking differential, automatic air conditioning, first-class materials in the interior or a sports suspension mode and, in the case of turbocharged versions, an overboost mode. You could mix all this with the many engines on offer, but even the excellent turbocharged 2.0 16VT version, or the naturally aspirated 2.9 liter six-cylinder didn't make Thema as special as the 8.32 version. You can recognize it from the outside perhaps only thanks to the yellow label on the mask and door sills and the double exhaust tip. Not much, you say. Then the door opens and you enter the handcrafted interior, which impresses both with its appearance and quality. Alcantara, wood, leather, moreover, really precisely processed. The space and comfort are simply amazing, when you ask yourself if this is really an Italian car from the eighties.
However, the main thing comes after opening the hood. At first, the massive engine may cause confusion as to whether the Ferrari inscription is just a dozen stickers. Error! The Lancia Thema 8.32 can rightly be proud of its genuine and unadulterated straight eight-cylinder with 32 valves (hence the 8.32) taken from the Ferrari 308 GTB Quattrovalvole. The three-liter sportsman, athlete and racer has really taken up residence at the front transversely in a majestic sedan, where it transfers its power to the front wheels. In Thema, it received Bosch KE3 Jetronic injection, which helped to unquestionable figures of 215 hp at 6,750 rpm and 285 Nm peaking at 4,500 rpm. The 1.4 tonne Thema catapults it from 0 – 100 km/h in 6.8 seconds, with a five-speed manual transmission the acceleration ends at the 240 km/h mark. Imagination. In 1989, it received a catalytic converter, which reduced its beauty by 10 hp and 22 Nm, but it was still an almost perfect "sleeper". Someone who doesn't know this Theme might think it's some kind of tuning rebuild. The roaring passage with the roar of the spinning "ve-eight" Ferrari will not leave anyone cold, even though in 1993 the 8.32 was replaced by the LX version with a turbocharged two-liter from the Delta Integrale, which offered up to 210 horsepower with a more vigorous pull and higher reliability.
Such power had to be matched by a chassis with auto and sport modes, which appropriately adapted the characteristics of the BOGE electronic shock absorbers. The multi-element rear axle tried to moderate the understeer caused by the heavy engine at the front, and a specialty in the form of an extendable rear spoiler then helped to push the rear axle to the road at higher speeds. Ventilated discs with ABS easily tame the spun fifteen-inch 215/55 wheels. The excellently maneuverable Thema is also exceptionally comfortable. The production of Thema with all-wheel drive was even considered, only prototypes and a few examples were created, but mass production did not take place. In 1989 came a slight facelift, blinkers moved under the reduced front lights and the rear lights got newer covers.
Undoubtedly a very interesting youngtimer, what do you say? It is perhaps a pity that it is not widely distributed, although with a little diligence it is still obtainable. If you look, at a price of around 200,000 crowns, you could come across a more decent piece. However, remember that he is Italian with all the pluses and minuses. Something goes away here and there, and quality parts are starting to become scarce. But everything will be compensated by the unique combination from the long-term collaboration between Lancia and Ferrari, which gave birth to this Ferrari Sedan, actually the Lancia Thema 8.32.
