What is general opinion on Thesis?

[Randy Adams]

Whoa there!

We don't need a Lancia Lexus.

Classically, Lancia was a maker of understated but beautiful cars. They were always faster than average but never aggressively fast. They always had chassis fully capable of coping with the speed capabilities of the engine. The money was always put in places that you can't see as well as places that you can. They offered a quintessentially Italian brio uniquely combined with sobriety. They were perfectly BALANCED. Lancias were NEVER designed to appeal to everybody; they only appealed to those who are connoisseurs. That is the target that the current company should aim for. That target should not interfere with Alfa's market.

There should definitely be a Pininfarina Lancia model. For decades, the association between Pininfarina and Lancia was at least as tight as the association between Pininfarina and Ferrari. After all, it is Vincenzo Lancia who encouraged Battista Farina to go into business in the first place.

Since Lancia's narrow-V concept has been validated by more recent automotive designers, the company should go back to that engine architecture. Since people like big engines now, it's time for a new generation narrow-V eight cylinder. Such an engine can be mounted either longitudinally or transversally.

And, from the Fiat era, Lancia should embrace all wheel drive for all of its cars.

And then sell the damn things in the U.S. again.

[Ryan]

Hi Jan,

Can you tell us more about how the Thesis drives, and also about
how it looks in person?

Ryan

[Ryan]

Hi Randy,

I was being sarcastic in my post. My point was that if they don't know
what they are doing, if they have no direction.. just follow Benz or Lexus
(as Lexus followed Benz). This is not what I would like, but jeez.. if they
can't do anything else...

take care,

Ryan

[Thomas Herbsthofer]

Friends, there was displayed a thesis in vienna one week ago , silver metallic,
beige leather, and during this dancing evening in the HOFBURG many
BMW and daimler chrysler drivers placed firm orders to the Lancia stuff!
I saw the thesis , in nature is much more impreessive than on any picture,
and its a really great car again from Lancia! Bravo!

[Huib Geurink]

I saw it in the flesh too on dec 8th 2001 and just 35 km south of where I live, accross the border in Belgium. Theoretically impossible, but in practice very true. Looks quite nice in the flesh and it feels very much a "drivers car" although I haven't driven it.
I hope it is going to make it and help Lancia forward.
The Astura came and went.
The Flaminia was once the successor of the Aurelia as the Thesis is seen by many as inspired by the Aurelia.
The Flaminia was a GREAT car, Some say the greatest car of its time. I agree, But too expensive too make and not enough customers.

[Ryan]

Huib, I hope this Lancia Thesis is what we've all been waiting for! :}
Ah, good luck to Lancia!

ryan

[Philip]

the Thesis looks great in the flesh; much nicer than in the pictures; sitting in it it is a definite class above the L:ybra and the driving posdition far superior; I have a lybra 2.0 SW and love how it drives, it has been totlally reliable over 33000kms and fuel consumption averages about 9.3/100kms...

Where Lancia (Fiat actually) is going wrong with the Lancia brand is branding it as a luxury brand and burying all its sporting heritage which it had built up brilliantly over 50 years; other joke brands like Huyndai are in rallying etc to raiwse thier image and Lancia I think is going only after y0oung ladies with the Y and 50+ men with the Thesis; the Lybra is something in between but I have been begging them for a higher performance version e.g. 2.4 litre petrol or 2litre turbo...but nothing; An HF version of the Lyra SW would look really cool and could really be competition to boring Audi A4s or BMWs...

Wish the Thesis success...it needs it and looks much nicer than all the E-classes and BMWs put together.

cheers!
Philip

[Philip]

if you think the Thesis looks boring the K is totlally balnd...it does not drive too nicely either...I tested the V^ and was not impressed against my old Thema 2.0 Turbo...so I kept the Thema till it was over 225000kms and bought a Lybra 2.0 SW...the Thesis is really gorgeous inside and out but as you correctly state lacks any sportiness in looks...
Shame.
Maybe a Coupe version will correct things!
yia sou apo tin Elvetia!
Philip

[Brian Hilton]

I know this is a Forum and I have watched the agonising going on for weeks, but I do wish everyone knocking the Thesis when they haven't seen it would just wait until they have!

I went to Turin a couple of months ago and had a good look in a Dealers and at a prototype in the Lancia Museum, as well as seeing a couple on the road, It is MAGNIFICENT, and doesn't need putting down before it's hardly arrived on the scene.

It is far nicer in the metal and the people I have spoken to who have had the good fortune to drive it are really impressed, so please gentlemen reserve your comments on how bad, bland, BMW or Mercedes like, Americanised or how it look like a clone of some Japanese Model until you've seen it in the metal.

It is astoundingly good.

Brian Hilton

[Pieter Bergman]

Re-inventing the Limo-Scene.

Anybody viewing the new Lancia Thesis for the first time might be seduced by its presence and beauty and the pleasing shapes that are classical reminders of some of the glorious cars of the 1930’s and 1940’s. That’s not surprising since the chief designer at Lancia is an American. Mike Robinson is in love with cars from that period. The result is the new Lancia Thesis, a fresh and new interpretation of the past, in a modern context. With great presence that truly captures the best heritage of the Aurelia Berlina and finesse and detailing of the Aprilia.

The voyeur should beware, Italians are considered by many people to be the masters of presentation and beauty. Many visitors to Italy over the centuries have been sweetly seduced and intoxicated by its beauty and lifestyle. Among them were Keats, Milton and Lord Byron to name a few. Most of us are mere mortals are unaware of the Italian ability at stunning presentation and style. Probably you were disappointed that it was not like a BMW, a Mercedes or even a Jaguar. Well that’s probably because it’s Italian not Seriously German or even Traditionally English. The Thesis is NOT a limousine in the sense that we know one. It does not communicate conspicuous luxury that we have come to expect of some limousines.

For me personally I like its modesty and understatement, (a core value of a Lancia) which is far more important. There is no big badge that shows a symbol of in-your-face wealth. Many a Dutchman or Frenchman will empathize with the idea that wealth, lets call it financial comfort, should not be flaunted. Therefore they bought a Lancia rather than a BMW or Mercedes. Others like me wanted to have something a little different and bought a Lancia. (One of the best-kept secrets in the UK is a second hand Lancia)

So where does a limosine start and end? What price should you pay? The danger with this car is to find the difference between what is an illusion and the hard cold light of reality. This is something of which Italians are acutely aware, but what about the unsuspecting foreigner? My advice is, drive it, own it for a few days and above all live with the car. Then maybe if you are pleasantly surprised, The cost, how much? About 20 to 25 grand. I believe that Lancia have defined and found a new sector in the market. The question is whether they can they communicate their core values, their aspirations and these refreshingly new cars to the car buying public? Only time will tell.

There you see, we can get back to reality rather quickly but I think I would rather dream a little longer. Grazie mille, Thank you Lancia. Your new thesis for the Limo-Scene nearly seduced me too.

Pieter Bergman 28.05.2002
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