LANCIA THEMATiming chain or Belt?

The Lancia Thema is an E-segment executive car produced by the Italian manufacturer Lancia. Two generations of the Thema were produced: the first between 1984 and 1994, and the second between 2011 and 2014. However, the second generation was essentially a Chrysler 300 badge-engineered for Europe (except the United Kingdom and Ireland). The Thema replaced the Lancia Gamma and Trevi models in its first generation, and the Lancia Thesis in the second.

The first generation of the Lancia Thema (1984-1994) was built on the Type Four platform shared with the Alfa Romeo 164, Fiat Croma, and Saab 9000. Initially, it offered 4-cylinder 2.0-liter gasoline engines (120 hp naturally aspirated or 165 hp turbo), and a 2.8-liter PRV V6 (150 hp). There was also a 2.5-liter turbodiesel with 100 hp. In 1988, a facelift arrived featuring more powerful 16-valve engines. Later, in 1986, an estate variant designed by Pininfarina was added.

The most prominent version of this model was the Thema 8.32, featuring a Ferrari-derived 2.9-liter V8 with 215 hp, which allowed it to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.8 seconds. The third series from 1992 brought a new range of trim levels and a 3.0-liter Alfa Romeo V6 with 175 hp. Overall, it was quite successful, with over 336,000 units manufactured in total.

The second-generation Lancia Thema (2011-2014) was actually a badge-engineered Chrysler 300, built on the Chrysler LD platform. It was offered with a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 with 286 hp or a 3.0-liter VM Motori V6 turbodiesel with 190 or 239 hp. It shared its platform with the Dodge Charger and Challenger. It was only sold in left-hand-drive markets in Europe, so it was never commercialized in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The Thema is a vehicle full of trivia. In addition to the sedan version, Pininfarina produced 21,074 units of a first-generation Thema station wagon variant between 1986 and 1994. Lancia also offered an exclusive limousine version with a 30 cm longer wheelbase, of which only 24 units were manufactured. The Thema 8.32 was considered a 1980s "sleeper" due to its hidden power, and Enzo Ferrari himself used one as a personal car at the end of his life.

The main rivals of the first-generation Lancia Thema were other fast executive sedans of the late 1980s such as the Audi 100 Quattro, BMW M535i, Ford Sierra RS Cosworth, Saab 9000 Turbo S, and Vauxhall Lotus Carlton / Opel Lotus Omega. In its second generation, the Thema competed with luxury saloons from premium German brands. That is, against vehicles like the Audi A6, the BMW 5 Series, or the Mercedes E-Class.