What is general opinion on Thesis?

[Stemi]

A friend of mine has tested it and said that it rides better than his Mercedese CLK. Not to mention the extras that it provides...

[Hans]

I was happy to see one in the flesh when on holiday in Italy last week. It just looks lovely to me!!! Consider that no Lancias at all has been sold here since 1988, and then only the Y10...

[Philip]

now that most of you guys have had a chance to see one on the road what do you think?

I think its the most elegant car on the road; have you seen one in black? shame it won't fit my garage....

it has great elgance and grace when you see it on the move.

we have to wish the car more success!

[Randy Adams]

While in Europe in May (Amsterdam and Paris), I saw three Thesis (Thesii?). I found the rear to have nice detailing. However I thought the rest of the car--especially mid section--looked bloated. It made me think of the largest Hyundai model. Needless to say, I was disappointed. I wonder how this design will look when it's ten years old.

By contrast, I thought the Alfa Romeo 166 was a beautiful design.

[Stephen Norton]

Hi Randy

I agree with you about the Alfa 166. Its really like a classic Lancia!! - beautiful but quite restrained. I especially like the long overhang and tiny headlights emphasising the curves of the body - which is why I'm slightly concerned that Alfa is fitting larger lights to the facelifted one - still the grilles look good.

As for the Thesis, I'll make up my mind whenever I see one in the flesh. Interestingly, I didn't rate the appearance of the 166 until I saw it in the flesh (and then I had to buy one).

Because of modern design tools such as CAD, modern car shapes have become much more complex. This means you often don't gain a full appreciation of the shape until you see it in the flesh. 2-dimensional representations are not good at showing 3-dimensional curved surfaces.

I think, however, that most manufacturers have become obsessed with getting a retro look, anything to hearken back to the golden age of the particular manufacturer's history. Alfa Romeo does it brilliantly (and extremely subtly - witness the 156/147). On the other hand look at the Jaguar S-type - obviously signed off by a cigar smoking American corporate bod with dandruff who thinks George Bush is the best president ever and 'knows what a Jag-war is supposed to look like'. I think Lancia may be somewhere in the middle

Sorry to bore the Lancisti with too much non Lancia matters. As I said, don't form an opinion of a car's appearance until you see it in the flesh. I'm sure the Thesis will have as many proponents as opponents.

[Haavard]

I haven't seen one in flesh, but from what I have seen in pictures and TV spot, I think it is a fantastic looking car. I expect it to be even better live, as it is for most lancias.

Viva Lancia

[Pieter Bergman]

Gentlemen,

I have looked at all your comments and as Brian Hilton says, there is a lot more to this car and you are missing the point.

1. The word Lancia Thesis is not just a new car, it also means the car is "a thesis" to re-inventing the brand. Many of the design-queues in the Thesis are starting to appear on other models like the Ypsilon, Stile-nouvo etc.

2. This was a project in defining key Lancia values, such as understated luxury, innovation etc.

3. If you look carefully at the design, the bonnett and wings has hills and valley's.They were trying to move car design to a "more romantic" time. Something that invokes a certain "nostalgia" for the past.
It is true that Mike Robinson the stylist of the car was in love with the Chevies of the 30's.

If you want to know a lot more about concepts and values behind this car you need to go to the
Lancia web site and investigate the ideas more carefully. LANCIA is not a company that follows the
pack. It does innovate and part of that is a certain, subtle understated design.

One example of that is the high bustle-back rear that was poineered on the Thema and Dedra models. Have you taken a look at the Ford Focus saloon and the new BMW series?

To capture more about the Thesis. Take a look a my article posted here called "Thesis -reinventing
the Limo-Scene". Also take a look at the writers- weekly diary of the Autocar-Motor magazine this
week in which he talks about the new Ypsilon he has just driven.

Cheers Pieter

[Brian Hilton]

I've recently been back to Turin and having had a good look at thesis again, I am even further convinced that it is an outstanding Lancia that has fantastic presence in "The Metal". As for being bloated around the middle, I wouldn't agree at all.
Having also seen a number of them on the road around Turin it looks even better than in the showroom.

Bad news is that the salesman reckoned they were only selling about one a month, needs to do better than that.

Brian Hilton
UK

[Phil]

I agree; it looks better every time you see one and specially on the move; I work at Geneva airport (Switzerland) wherethey have recently acquired two for meeting VIPs and First class passengers...I hope that a few of these wealthy customers are impressed enough to go and look at one in a show-room and buy one; so much nicer and elegant than an E-Class or 5 series let alone a boring looking A6.

[wim snoek]

I drive a thesis 20V turbo soft. This car is very fast and it is more like a crossing of a sportscar and luxury sedan. This makes the car special, although If you like more a "luxury" slow drive it is better to buy the 24 20v diesel or the 3.2. benzin with comfortronic.
To make the car complete put 17 inch wheels under this car.
The design:
First It seems to be a strange combination the front and the back side of the car, but the more you look at it the more the design looks perfect.
One thing is true. Everybody looks at it and lots of people like to sit in this car.
but also lots of people do not want to buy this car because the think this car is not "problem free". The assigment for lancia should be. Showing that this car is excelent and problem free.
This is my fourth lancia, before it was alfa and I' m satisfied. The next one will be a thesis again.
thanks
wim