Lancia Thema Zagato Plus

Vehicle Overview

The Lancia Thema Zagato Plus stands as a fascinating testament to the intersection of Giugiaro’s creativity, Pininfarina and Zagato’s expertise, and Lancia’s distinctive vision in the automotive market. Born under Giugiaro’s guidance, the original Thema sought to expand its market presence through a family-oriented version. To achieve this, Pininfarina and Zagato were tasked with creating a station wagon version of the Thema. While Pininfarina’s proposal ultimately prevailed, the collaboration with Zagato was not in vain, as a single speciment of the Thema SW remained as a testament to their ideas. The Thema Zagato Plus, although similar to Pininfarina’s SW version, features distinctive stylistic solutions that foreshadow future trends in automotive design. A notable example is the use of black coloring on the tailgate pillars, a design element that imparts visual lightness to the line and was subsequently adopted by many cars. Today, the Lancia Thema Zagato Plus has found a prominent place in Corrado Lopresto’s collection, preserving its historical and aesthetic significance. This unique specimen represents a significant chapter in the history of the Italian automotive industry, where collaborations between automakers and prestigious coachbuilders gave rise to unique and iconic creations.