[5] The earliest prototype of the Thesis, called Giubileo,[6] was used in the Great Jubilee, presented to Pope John Paul II, bearing the production version's design yet modified as a landaulet.

In the view of motoring writer Paul Horrell of the United Kingdom's magazine Car, the shape was "controversial, but certainly regenerates an authentic Italian alternative to the po-faced approach" of the competition.

The whole form is plump and carries telling details of bi-xenon headlights and multi-LED blades of tail-lamp – a comfortably fed and well-jewelled car like the folk who'll drive it.

The cabin is truly rich and walks the right side of that line in Italian style dividing the perfectly proportioned minimalism from their bling-bling rap-star Versace vulgarity.

Horrell wrote: "I can't tell you how much more satisfying it is to use a cupholder or ashtray that glides out of solid metal than some clacky plastic lid.

[7] In the words of Horrell, the car was fitted with a "complicated multi-arm aluminium-intensive suspension at both ends, augmented by Mannesmann Sachs 'Skyhook' adaptive dampers", which were used on the Maserati Spyder.

"[7] The main criticism was the steering, which was considered by Horrell to be too light, and the slight tendency to understeer leading to intrusion of the ESP system.

In this view, it would have been better to offer a vehicle in the Ford Mondeo price range rather than the more conservative sector contested by the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class.

"[7] Despite its very comprehensive equipment level and the improved fit and finish, sales remained well behind its predecessor, quite far behind the competition due to reasons such as its odd looks and front-wheel drive layout.