At the end of the 1980s, Italian engineering was still in its golden age. Cars signed LanciaAlfa Romeo and Ferrari embodied an era when technology flirted with passion. And in the midst of it all, a discreet, elegant yet fearsomely innovative sedan became, without anyone realizing it at the time, the first production-approved car to incorporate active aerodynamics. Its name: Lancia Thema 8.32.
A Ferrari engine under the hood of a Lancia sedan
Introduced in 1986, the Thema 8.32, for 8 cylinders and 32 valves, is the most prestigious version of Lancia's flagship Thema sedan. Under its front hood, a 2.9-liter V8 derived directly from the Ferrari 308 Quattrovalvole, slightly modified to suit a more flexible and civilized use. The result: 215 hp at 6,750 rpm, a bewitching sound and a typically Italian revving.
This exceptional powertrain transformed the Thema into a kind of bourgeois sedan with the heart of a sports car. Its handling, gentler than that of a Ferrari, did nothing to detract from its character: 0-100 km/h acceleration in 6.8 seconds and a top speed approaching 240 km/h. Not bad for a front-wheel-drive car from 1986!
The real innovation: an active fin before the others
But what few people know is that the Thema 8.32 introduced a technology that other automakers would later perfect: active aerodynamics. On the rear trunk, a small electrically retractable spoiler could be deployed at the driver's request via a button on the steering column.
What does it do? To improve stability at high speeds by increasing the pressure on the rear axle. Once the speed was reduced, or on a simple command, the spoiler retracted into the trunk, regaining its elegant, perfectly integrated lines.
This simple but innovative device made the Thema 8.32 the world's first road car with a mobile aerodynamic element. A few months later, the Porsche 959 would make history with its pilot-controlled suspension, and a few years later, Mistubishi with two automatic active fins on the 3000GT, but Lancia had already paved the way.
The legacy of Thema 8.32
Today, when most modern supercars use sophisticated active aerodynamic systems, it's fascinating to remember that it all began with a four-door Lancia from 1986. The Thema 8.32's active aerodynamics may seem primitive today, but its founding idea was revolutionary for its time: adapt the bodywork to speed to optimize stability and performance.
Only 3,500 examples of the Lancia Thema 8.32 were ever produced, and many are still unaware that they're holding a piece of technological history in their hands. Today, its singing V8, Poltrona Frau leather interior and retractable spoiler make it a sought-after collector's item.
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L'alfa 90 aveva uno spoiler mobile all'anteriore e nasceva ben prima della thema 8.32.
I almost bought one 11 years ago, but the only model I found in red was suspect on the engine level. Given its relative fragility and astronomical cost, I passed. Otherwise, I loved this car
si ai ragione mi sembre del 1984
Die Entwicklung dieser Modelle war doch eine gemeinsame Entwicklung von Fiat und SAAB...auf der Bidengruppe basierten doch 4 Fahrzeuge wenn ich mich recht entsinne Fiat Croma, Saab 9000 Alfa 156 und Lancia Thema....schön was da draus alles geworden ist