04.10.2004 Lancia's upmarket, stylish stand at the 2004 Paris Mondial de l'Automobile, sees the first preview of the 'Unique Edition' Thesis, finished in a two-tone colour scheme

Lancia's upmarket, stylish stand at the 2004 Paris Mondial de l'Automobile, sees the first preview of a Thesis finished in a two-tone colour scheme.

Three models are being presented by Lancia in France: the Musa, Ypsilon and Thesis. The new feature of Lancia's line-up at the show is the use of two-tone colours. The Ypsilon 'bi-colore', first seen last December in Bologna, is now presented as a production model, while a second model on show in this new style, the Thesis, offers insight into into the brand's future thinking.

Known as the 'Unique Edition', this as yet non-production Thesis, seeks to exude further style and prestige from what is the luxury firm's executive flagship vehicle.

The car is painted in Mink, while Dark Brown being used to create the 'bi-colore' effect. This secondary colour has been applied to the bonnet, A-pillars, roof and boot lid as well as running to a finish on the front and rear bumpers. The strong natural design highlights of the Thesis's bonnet and boot allows the colours to find clear areas of division, while the standard-model's chrome finishing strips around the side windows work neatly to further create the sense of contrasting areas.

The Thesis 'Unique Edition' is displayed in 'Emblema' specification, fitted with the 175bhp 2.4-litre JTD engine. Lancia feel that the luxury cabin with its use of leather, wood and chrome, further enhances the principles that the two-tone colour scheme seeks to imply.

by Edd Ellison