this is the final nail in the coffin....

[cramorra]

http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/fotostrecke-7427...

Lancia THEMA - and I had one of those i run out of distressed smilies.....

[anonymous-user]

cramorra said:

http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/fotostrecke-7427...

Lancia THEMA - and I had one of those i run out of distressed smilies.....

Over here it will be badged as the Chrysler 300c

[cramorra]

Better that, than a Lacia Bagde on a car that goes back a long way its still got old E-class genes (possibly better than the Chrysler ones...)
Still what a shame for a once great and respected marque

[heisthegaffer]

i thought the latest 300c had an entirely new platform? it gets good write ups from what i've seen.

[Fulvisti]

Yeah it's got new running gear apparently.

I'm not so happy about it, but if it means we get right hand drive Lancia's again it can't be bad, and these are only the first few, the next lot should all new models, maybe the 2003 Fulvia concept. Not so keen on the new Flavia.

[Esseesse]

I wouldn't mind so much the 300c platform, but why why why couldn't they try to make it look more like Lancia/it's own thing. That literally looks like a face-lifted 300c.

[Nigel_O]

Coming from an oldie that had a couple of Deltas in the early 90s, I can say with some conviction that this new Thema appears to have precisely zero Lancia genes.

Its no more Lancia than most of Rover's offerings from the 90s were genuine Rovers

Sad to waste such a heritage on crappy badge engineering.

[crostonian]

Arguably the last Lancia with Lancia genes was the Gamma and most Lancia traditionalists will argue its the Fulvia/Flavia. The original Thema was part of the Type 4 quartet with Fiat/Alfa/PSV engines, oh and doors off a Saab/Fiat! The Delta was a rebodied Fiat Strada, the Dedra a Fiat Tempra and so on and on. Personally I think there is simple choice - you either have Chrysler-Lancias or no Lancias.

[MarkwG]

crostonian said:

. Personally I think there is simple choice - you either have Chrysler-Lancias or no Lancias.

yep, stark choice I'm afraid - if it gets cash in the tills, & the badge on peoples drives, it'll be worth it, longer term...