The Classic Lada Granta coming off the assembly line.
Like other sectors, the map of the Russian auto industry has completely changed its appearance after the international rejection and sanctions for the invasion of Ukraine. Y a perfect example is what is happening today with Lada, an icon of that country’s vehicles.
First, the trade bloc restricting imports curbed local production and in March AvtoVAZ, its owner, had to suspend operations at the large Togliatti plant on the banks of the Volga River. Just a few weeks later that was added Renault has made its departure from the country effective and, for the symbolic amount of one ruble – just over one and a half cents of a dollar –it got rid of its entire stake in that company, which amounted to 68% of the shares.
Now, the news is that the company has resumed vehicle production and the first cars of this phase have already begun to take to the streets, with the Moscow government in charge, but with one detail: to make up for the lack of supplies from abroad, on which Russian industry depends heavily, the decision was to give up many elementary components of technology, electronics and, most worryingly, safety.
Lada Granta Classica.
Specific, AvtoVAZ has reduced the production catalog to the only successful Lada Grantain an austere and essential version that they decided to baptize Classic ’22: available only in its sedan bodywork – before it was offered in liftback, hatchback, station wagon versions, among others – alternatives, it is a model that could not be marketed in Argentina because it does not meet the minimum security requirement.
The Granta does not have airbags, ABS brakes, stability control, emergency brake assist or locator and emergency call system with which he counted until before the war.
“Ensuring the employment of factory personnel is one of our priorities. And, of course, we must continue to produce the most popular and affordable cars for the Russian market, which will not be affected by the shortage of foreign components “, justified in this regard the president of AvtoVAZ Maxim Sokolov. And confirmed that they work with the government local for the development of national suppliers to replace all those elements that are missing today.
Lada Niva was produced at the Moscow plant.
The isolation imposed on Russia after the decision to do so invade Ukraine it has generated a socio-economic deterioration that relativizes the comparisons that can be made of the Russian context with the rest of the world. But the differences this car has which is below the basic equipment designation with Europe are very large.
By chance, the European Union Since 2021 it has added a package of 12 safety systems that cars must have, in addition to ABS brakes, ESP and everything else the Lada does not have. These include the intelligent assistant for cruise speed, another for lane keeping, emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection and a reversing camera or, failing that, a detection system and a device that recognizes sleepiness or loss of attention.
This is the Lada Granta Classic ’22
AvtoVAZ’s choice to resume production with this model is not accidental: Based on the first Renault Logan and second generation Clio, the Lada Granta was launched in late 2011 with the aim of being an economical and attractive vehicle for the masses and it was an immediate success, to the point that ten years later it was still one of the best-selling cars in Russia: in 2021 111,430 units were patented country, surpassed only by the Vesta, also from Lada, with 113.698.
The Captur, a model produced in Moscow before the war
The Lada Granta Classic ’22 moves thanks to a 1.6 8-valve petrol engine which, combined with a 5-speed manual gearbox, delivers 90 HP, which represents a further reduction compared to the 16-valve and 110hp it equipped in the past. He is a promoter who already had the Renault Sandero in Argentina 15 years ago.
This change also implies an increase in its polluting emissions, which downgrade the rating from Euro 5 to Euro 2according to European Union regulations to encourage the reduction of the impact of industry on global warming – currently in that continent regulates the Euro 6 standard -.
As for the interior, it no longer offers the infotainment system it had in the past, with a 7-inch touch screen and support for Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and the Lada Connect application, which helps the driver to remotely locate and control the vehicle. and remotely control the lights, door opening and trunk. The contrast is great: the Classic ’22 has four speakers but no stereo.
The current model still has electric steering as standard, power windows (front only), central locking, on-board computer, daytime running lights, Isofix anchors and 14-inch steel wheels with plastic caps, with the option of adding 15-inches alloy.
The Lada Granta costs $ 11,700
It costs 676,000 rubles, the equivalent of $ 11,700 or, translated into pesos (according to this Wednesday’s blue price), 2,585,700. In other words, it’s in the same price range as the more affordable models in Argentina, but with a lack of equipment that puts them far. That is to say: you pay more there for a product that looks more like the 90s than the 21st century.
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Source: Clarin
