Just outside Stresa, near Milan, we found a fast, sweeping, empty road on which to test the Lancia's mettle and it certainly didn't disgrace itself. You'd expect a 215bhp front-driver to shred tyres, but a series of second and third- gear bends revealed good traction and an admirable resistance to understeer, even with TC off. Better still, Skyhook ensures that lurch and wallow are kept in check. Predictably, the nose eventually runs wide but lift off a tad and balance is restored. Meanwhile the 3-litre V6 makes all the right noises though performance is only adequate.

Dynamically it's no 5-series, but then the Thesis is all about refinement, equipment and sophistication. The fact that it hangs together pretty well when pushed won't trouble most of its buyers, and certainly not in the UK because the Thesis isn't coming here. However, it does show that the Fiat group can channel the power of its fantastic V6 engines through the front wheels with composure and poise.

And that bodes well for one car we will get - the Alfa 156 GTA.