Lancia Thema 8.32
A roomy Lancia executive sedan with a Ferrari-derived V8 under the hood sounds like a car invented for a storybook, but the Thema 8.32 was real. This profile uses the later catalysed Series 2 specification, not the earlier 215-hp car.
1990 Lancia Thema 8.32 · MrWalkr · CC BY-SA 4.0
Research pending
A matching completed auction sale has not been verified for this exact year, body, trim, engine, transmission and market.
Joyride shows this gap instead of substituting an asking price, unsold bid or mismatched special vehicle.
More than a set of wheels.
Lancia unveiled the Thema 8.32 at the 1986 Turin Motor Show and built two series through the early 1990s. The name tells part of the secret: eight cylinders and 32 valves. Ferrari's V8 was reworked for a smooth, front-wheel-drive luxury sedan, then surrounded by leather, wood and wonderfully subtle bodywork. A small electric spoiler rose from the trunk when the driver wanted it.
Look a little closer.
The trunk-lid spoiler could hide almost flat and then rise electrically. It was a quiet visual clue that this square four-door was not an ordinary Thema.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
Why the year changed
The original assignment paired 1987 with Series 2, but period chronology does not support that combination. The 1987 model belongs to the first series; ACI dates Series 2 to 1988 onward, while the catalysed 205-PS specification is associated with the later cars. Joyride therefore identifies this researched vehicle as a representative 1989 Italian Series 2 instead of pretending a 1987 Series 2 existed.
Source: ACI L'Automobile — Sì, sono la Lancia Thema 8.32 ↗Ferrari heart, Lancia manners
Lancia says the 3.0-liter 32-valve V8 was derived from the Ferrari 308 and Mondial Quattrovalvole engines. For the Thema it was tuned for a large luxury sedan and installed transversely for front-wheel drive. The later catalytic version made 205 PS, reached a claimed 235 km/h and used only a five-speed manual gearbox. Larger ventilated front discs helped the chassis manage the extra performance.
Source: Lancia Motor Club — Lancia Thema 8.32 ↗Luxury details that moved
The 8.32 mixed Poltrona Frau leather, briar wood and Ferrari-inspired wheel designs with unusual technology. Its rear spoiler retracted electrically, and Lancia fitted electronically controlled suspension. These details made the car special without replacing the Thema's useful four-door cabin.
Source: Lancia Heritage — A Lancia journey through time in Waterloo ↗Where these facts come from
- Lancia Heritage — A Lancia journey through time in Waterloo
- Stellantis Heritage — FCA at Milano AutoClassica
- ACI L'Automobile — Sì, sono la Lancia Thema 8.32
- Lancia Motor Club — Lancia Thema 8.32
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed September 30, 2026.