You know we're always ragging on modern-day Lancia for mostly being just rebadged Chryslers? That may end up being a good thing for us Americans next year, as it's possible the diesel version of the Lancia Thema — basically the Chrysler 300 — may hit our shores.
As Gas2 notes, most of Europe already gets Themas with two available diesel engines. Both are 3.0-liter V6s good for 190 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque or 239 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque. Each can hit over 30 mpg combined, which really ain't bad considering all the torque you get.
Remember also that the Jeep Grand Cherokee is also getting a diesel V6, presumably the latter one above. It would be pretty great to see that engine report for duty in the 300 as well.
If it does come over here, it's more like it's coming back here since it was American to begin with, just with a different engine. Right? It's like when you send your college sophomore daughter to study abroad in France for a semester and she comes back with crazy ideas about socialism and a French boyfriend you can't stand. Kind of. I think.
My guess is they won't call it the 300D though, because that name is already, um, taken, and Chrysler probably doesn't want to be reminded of the bad relationship they just got out of.
Any interest in a 300 diesel?