A large (4888mm long) four door luxury saloon, it
is aimed to emphasise the brand as the luxury arm of the Fiat Group, a
move already started with the Lybra. As such it features a substantial
'high-tech' content, a trend shown in the Nea concept car. This is based
around the CONNECT system and a 7 inch TFT colour dispay in the dashboard
and includes voice recognition, hands-free phone, a navigation system,
a stereo, an optional TV and access to the contact centre. Other 'high-tech'
systems include an optional radar cruise control, an optional sunroof with
solar cells (which power the aircon fan when the vehicle is parked in the
sun), a multizone
climate control system which on some models has a separate zone for
the rear passengers, front and rear parking sensor, a rain sensor, an automatic
windscreen wiper system, automatic headlamps, LED tail-lights (with 30
LEDs per unit), optional variable power steering, bi-xenon headlights (with
an automatic ride corrector which functions with both static and dynamic
pitch changes) and more.
Continuing
the relaunch of the Lancia brand and taking up position at the pinnacle
of the Fiat Groups automotive portfolio, the new Thesis (internally, Project
841) was officially released at the Geneva Motorshow at the beginning of
March 2001. The interior was first seen at the Frankfurt show later that
year, although sales did not start until much later.
To
emphasise the comfort factor there is also power assistance when opening
the doors, the seat and steering wheel move back and up to aid entrance
when the door is opened, and the entire process of opening and starting
the car is keyless, using a transponder in the drivers pocket. Some interior
details can be seen here.
An automatic handbrake (EPB or Electronic Parking Brake) is applied whenever
the car is stopped and also features a button on the centre console for manual operation.
As with all modern cars, passive
safety is an area emphasised in the press release, the Thesis featuring
eight airbags, comprising two multistage front bags, four sidebags and
two window-bags, seatbelts with pre-tensioners, adjustable headrests, ISOFIX
attachment points, a fire protection system and a carefully designed structure
including crumple zones and reinforced doors.
Active safety includes an ESP (Electronic Stability
program) which monitors various parameters to determine the yaw and corrects
any excessive motion by braking individual wheels or reducing engine power.
Traction control (ASR) reacts to both wheels spinning or just one wheel
spinning (in the latter case the result is similar to a limited-slip differential),
ABS and EBD (Electronic Brake Distribution) which controls the amount of
braking to the rear wheels all reduce the possibility of the driver losing
control of the car.
The design follows closely that of the
Dialogos
Concept car, and even moreso the example presented to the Pope. It is currently
available as a four door saloon, a five door station wagon is expected
to be released later. The official press release describes it as "hallmarked
- in terms of styling - by exciting elegance going far beyond rational
utility to leave space for the imagination, the Lancia Thesis matches retro
sensations - such as the high front, the long bonnet and the profile resembling
an upside-down wedge - with an entirely new stylistic language." It replaces
the Kappa in production, but Fiat hopes that its
success will follow that of the Thema rather than the Kappa....
The
suspension utilises multilink layouts both front
and rear.
The front suspension is a development of the traditional double-wishbone
layout, using five links to control the movement of the wheel, whilst at
the rear various arms in aluminium, steel and cast iron also provides a
small level of passive rear wheel steering. The damping features a semi-active
system known as 'Skyhook' which significantly improves the ride quality.
Developed by Mannesmann-Sachs it uses numerous sensors to monitor the relative
motion between the wheels and the body then controlling the level of damping
provided by each individual damper.
Powerplants
start with two versions of the well know 20 valve 5 cylinder in-line unit,
a 2.0-litre turbocharged example (185bhp), and a 2.4-litre aspirated model
(170bhp). The latter also features variable valve timing and a variable
length induction system. A V6 derived from the Alfa
Romeo 3-litre unit tops the range (215bhp), whilst a 2.4JTD (the 5-cylinder
in-line family again, 150bhp) complete with variable geometry turbocharger
and intercooler provides the oil-burning option. Rumours suggest that the
latter will be joined later by a larger capacity GM sourced V6 diesel unit.
The five cylinder engines use a six-speed manual gearbox, whilst the V6
gets a five speed automatic unit (with a sequential shift mode).
CarsfromItaly was at the Geneva Motorshow, see our Lancia page for pictures of the Thesis launch.
CarsfromItaly was at the Frankfurt Motorshow, see our Lancia page for more pictures of the Thesis.
Screensavers of the Lancia Thesis available to download (free).
Technical Details
| Driveline | transverse engine at front with front wheel drive |
| Engines | 1998cc (82x75.65mm) 5 cylinder 20V turbo with 185bhp
2446cc (83x90.4mm) 5 cylinder 20V with 170bhp 2959cc (93x72.6mm) 24V V6 with 215bhp 2387cc (82x90.4mm) 5 cylinder JTD diesel with 150bhp |
| Suspension | front
: Multilink with telescopic dampers and coil springs plus anti-roll bar
rear : Multilink with telescopic dampers and coil springs plus anti-roll bar semi-active 'Skyhook' system wheelbase : 2803mm track (front/rear) : 1569mm/1541mm |
| Brakes | front : discs, ventilated, diameter 305mm
rear : discs, ventilated, diameter 281mm ABS EBD (electronic brake-force distribution) |
| Gearbox | 6 speed manual (cable operated)
5 speed automatic (with sequential shift mode) |
| Steering | Rack and pinion with power assistance |
| Kerb weight | 2.0 20V turbo : 1695kg
2.4 20V : 1680bhp 3.0 24V V6 : 1750kg 2.4 JTD : 1715kg |
Click here for a cutaway of the Lancia Thesis
Performance
| model | max speed | 0-100km/h | standing km |
| 2.0 20V turbo | 224 km/h | 8.9 sec | 28.9 sec |
| 2.4 20V | 217 km/h | 9.5 sec | 30.2 sec |
| 3.0 24V V6 | 234 km/h | 9.2 sec | 29.8 sec |
| 2.4 JTD | 206 km/h | 10.1 sec | 31.4 sec |
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Thesis comment form
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Your Comments
Wonderful! True Lancia's tradition
in contemporary design terms.(PAB)
Wonderfull car, returning to the old Italian style.
Thema obviously can't be replaced with
a car with that will have the same carisma.I had hard times accepting Kappa
but this is to much.(Srdan,Croatia)
This will be the absolute best car
Lancia has ever made.I thought the Lybra was great, but this is awesome.
What do those headlamps look like.
Lancia should be looking into the future instead of back at their past,
we need a car that is advanced, not retro. I think we need another Beta or Gamma.
The Thesis is a very beautiful car
but the only thing I saw is that the Thesis does not have a V8 engine version
like other luxury cars (Lexus, BMW, Mercedes and Audi).
I have been waiting this car for a lot of time. Not because I will buy it
(at the moment I have a Lancia Ypsilon 1.2), but because it can represent
the definitive recovery of a mythical brand in the world of automobile.
The shape is excessively classic, (I miss the Gamma), maybe they want to
assure the sales, although the front is powerful and beautiful. If the
interior is such as they had promised, I don't believe that the new Thesis
has rival in this aspect. I hope the engines and the chassis will be at
the level of what is expected from a Lancia, mainly in this category. I
wish the Lancia Thesis has long life, a lot of sales, and meanwhile I will
wait for the new Delta... (Juan, a lancista from Spain)
Quite a nice car, the design is quite
good, although in my opinion the rear could've been more like the Dialogos
concept car. What I would like to know is WHY Lancia put an American as
the director of the Centro Stile when Italy has some of the best designers
in the world? We are giving our best designers to the competition!! (ex.
Walter De' Silva, the genius behind the Alfa 156 and 147, is now at Seat).
I also hope the Thesis will have some more competitive engines than those
rumoured/ announced. The photos of the interiors look promising though,
this car seems a step in the right direction as far as quality is concerned.
Let's hope that the guys at FIAT/Lancia do a good job this time, otherwise
in my opinion the Thesis will be yet another missed opportunity of seriously
threatening the competition from Germany. I hope that Lancia Thesis will
live up to expectations
Hey this design is absolutely fabulous,
PLEASE PLEASE right hand drive versions for the rest of the world (Dave T, Australia)
Finally, a real Lancia again. I hope
Fiat will work hard with Thesis and there will be a real atractive range
with engines good enough to struggle against German manufacturers, instead
of having only the limited offer of the Lybra, which best engine outputs
just 155 hp. Design is great, and everybody will know they are looking
at an Italian car. Thesis make the rest old fashioned and styleless at
the same time. If you really like stilish cars, there will only be an option
for you: LANCIA THESIS. (David, Spain)
Being a two Lancia owner, Thema Turbo 16V LX and Y 1.2 16V, I welcome this new
Lancia, absolutely wonderful in its design and technology. I just wish
it was a little sportier. Caio. (Miguel M, Portugal)
For books on Lancia see our Online Bookstore
There is also a list of all our picture galleries (including museums, motorshows and various events).
See also our Lancia advertisements gallery, where several old adverts can be seen.
Screensavers of the Lancia Thesis available to download (free).
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