Lancia Thema

2012 Lancia Thema

2012 Lancia Thema interior

Lancia's newest flagship premium sedan, the Thema, is how you say "Chrysler 300" in Italian because this is essentially a Chrysler 300 in Lancia's clothing, even when this new Thema is imported from Ontario, Canada. Shame on Chrysler for calling the Chrysler 300 "Imported from Detroit", even when this is Chrysler's brand slogan.

The new Thema's exterior design is a fitting trend to the Italian Mafia, making it a perfect car to initiate a mob threat in Amalfi, or at least it could be because both the Lancia Thema and the Chrysler 300 are perfect mob cars, good enough to turn hapless victims into a mob target. Once you face one while you and your family are on a trip to Italy, you'll be a sitting duck while your family's been abducted by the mob and demanding a ransom on you.

Surprisingly if you're the henchman working for the Godfather, you'll be impressed by the Thema's world class interior that pleases your uncle who calls all the shots. What completes the Thema's interior is the Uconnect system and Alpine sound system that delivers the best experience only a true Italian-American premium sedan would get, that is when you have loads of surprise goons waiting.

Unlike the 300, the Lancia Thema doesn't offer a fire-breathing HEMI V8 engine, which sounds disappointing. Here, it is offered in Pentastar 3.6L V6, 3.0L Multijet II 190cv and 3.0L Multijet II 239cv engine. That's one petrol and two diesel engines available for the Chrysler 300's Italian cousin. Okay, a Lancia Thema equipped with Pentastar 3.6L V6 produces 286PS of power and 340Nm of torque, capable of getting 0-100 in 7.9 seconds, 240kph of top speed, and combined fuel economy of 10.6km/L (9.4L/100km). Secondly, the 3.0L Multijet II 190cv engine produces 190PS of power and 440Nm of torque, capable of getting 0-100 in 10.1 seconds, 232kph of top speed, and combined fuel economy of 14.1km/L (7.1L/100km). Finally, the 3.0L Multijet II 239cv engine produces 239PS of power and 550Nm of torque, capable of reaching 0-100 in 9 seconds, 232kph of top speed, and combined fuel economy of 13.9km/L (7.2L/100km). They are all mated with a 5-speed automatic transmission. Sadly, no 8-speed as expected...

The Lancia Thema is available in seven exterior colors; Bright White (Bianco Pastello), Black (Nero), Black berry (Blu scuro), Ivory (avorio Tristrato), Luxury brown (Marrone scuro), Mineral Gray (grigio Scuro), and Silver (grigio Chiaro).

My comment:
Even though it was imported from Ontario, the Lancia Thema, Chrysler 300's Italian cousin, is a fitting role for the Italian Mob, readying their well-orchestrated attack against you, a wealthy businessman, and your family. Watch out because if you seen one, this is not safe for your Italian travel because with this car, there's bound to be a mob threat. If you were in North America, I wonder there's a way to convert the Chrysler 300 into a Lancia Thema.

Photo: Lancia Automobiles - Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A.