Chrysler 300 Puts on Lancia Thema Frock for Venice Film Festival

Sponsoring or providing official cars for an big event, like a film festival or national celebration is big business, and nobody knows this better than Fiat Group. We’re not here to talk about their collaboration with the festivities for Italy’s 150th birthday, but about Lancia’s involvement with the 68th Venice International Film Festival.

According to an official statement, the Italian premium firm’s new Thema sedan, which is actually the new Chrysler 300 in an Italian frock, will be used to chauffeur the numerous celebrities and film stars to the red carpet and around the Lido area.

This is just the latest in a long list off Lancia-film industry collaborations, which saw their cars appearing in some famous flicks from across the ages, including “Big Deal on Madonna Street” (I soliti ignoti) in 1958, “The Easy Life” (Il sorpasso) in 1962, “A Man and a Woman” (Un uomo, una donna) in 1966, “Deep red” (Profondo rosso) in 1975 and “Pour la peau d’un flic” in 1981.

The Thema will also make one last appearing at the upcoming Frankfurt Auto Show before it goes on sale across Europe in October. On the Old Continent, the four-door luxury model will be offered in three trim levels - Gold, Platinum and Executive.

The choice of engines will include a 3.6-liter V6 with 286 horsepower, but there will also be a more sensible 3.0-liter V6 diesel offering either 190 or 239 horsepower.