Russia has been subject to sanctions over its aggression in Ukraine, and multinational corporations are leaving the country. Lada Going back to the future with its production plan.
The automaker announced last weekend that it has resumed car production with a special edition of its Granta sedan, hatch and wagon models.
Known as the Classic ’22, this model has 14-inch steel wheels with electric power steering, daytime running light, central locking, an “on-board computer”, ISOFIX mounting point and plastic cover.
Four speakers wired up, but no head unit attached. Buyers are likely to call everyone who looks appropriate, if there are only a few.
The classic ’22 is driven by a naturally ambitious 1.6-liter petrol engine Ready 66 kW Of power and 143Nm Of torque, and is connected to the front wheels via a five-speed manual transmission.
Before the war the Granta was available with a slightly more powerful 72kW and 78kW versions of the 1.6-liter engine, as well as a four-speed automatic version.
There is no mention of ABS, brake assist, passenger-side airbags, air-conditioning and keyless entry which were all standard in pre-war classic trim.
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Pre-war granta interior
The absence of previously available 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment systems with support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as well as the Lada Connect app that allows drivers to remotely detect their cars and control doors, boots and lights, is evident in their absence.
They’ve probably been removed in such a way that Granta can be made – or, at the very least, of foreign-derived ingredients, primarily without advanced microprocessors.
To partially makeup for it, the Classic ’22 has some extra standard features compared to the old Classics, including a color-coded door strip, a power front window and a heater.
For now, the only alternative to the grant is a 15-inch alloy wheel No price has yet been announced for the Classic ’22, but the old Classic model sold for 761,500 rubles ($ 16,400).
Launched in 2011, Granta actually traces its roots back to Kalina, which went into production in 2004.
As of mid-May, Renault owned 67.69 percent of Lada’s parent company, AutoVAZ. Due to pressure both inside and outside Russia, Renault sells its facilities in the world’s largest country for a symbolic ruble.
Shares of AutoVAZ’s Renault were awarded to NAMI, Russia’s Central Research and Development Institute (NAMI), while a French-branded factory in Moscow was handed over to local authorities, who could use the revived Muskvich brand to make revived vehicles.
Although many automakers have stopped working in Russia, Renault has suffered the most from retaliatory sanctions against the country and its elites for calling Russia a “special military operation” in Ukraine.
Last year, the company sold 385,000 Lada cars worldwide, representing 14.3 percent of the Renault Group’s total volume. Collectively, Lada and Renault controlled about 30 percent of the Russian new car market in 2021.
It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post.