It is difficult to say which car at the Moscow International Auto Show will be most popular among buyers, but now it is clear which brand was able to attract the most attention of journalists.
Against the backdrop of the pragmatic Opel Astra Sedan, the bright Mazda 6 and the new-budget car for Russia Nissan Almera, the truly Russian car looked like a real star. It is not surprising that all week the journalists took turns talking about the new Lada Xray crossover from the Russian concern, and the motorists discussed the real chances of its serial launch. What to say, the latter is with difficulty, but the VAZ showed that he knows how to create world -class cars, albeit in experimental form.
As it turned out, in Russia there is still no designer who could draw a new beautiful Lada and have to contact foreign specialists. The author of the external appearance of Lada Xray was a world-class artist-Steve Mattin, former Volvo and Mercedes-Benz car designer. The truth is to assure that XRAY is not a foreign car completely. Journalists were able to find out that Mattin is the new chief designer of the Volga automobile plant, or rather the head of the car design studio, which includes both specialists from Europe and domestic artists. All in homeland there are craftsmen. For example, the bright appearance of the new crossover was developed according to the sketches of Evgeny Tkachev, and the author of the interior project is Nikolai Suslov working in the design of the vase from the moment of its foundation.
Perhaps precisely thanks to their efforts, in the new, truly revolutionary concept for the Russian market, Lada Xray, all the features of the old-like “Lada” are noticeable. For example, we know the “classic” field of the turns of the turns over the headlights, and the hood is very similar to this model. There is something from the body and from the VAZ-2108. But this is good, because the recognition of models is a sign of a real car breed, and we are shy about we should not be kinship with the «classic» and «Samara». By the way, at one time it was the best -selling cars in the country for a long time. Because of the price? Yes, but still traditions must be observed.
I would like to believe that on the ground for now the only concept frame of the car line will follow a series of serial models, and the price will be appropriate. Still, despite the growth of cars in the premium and middle class segment in Russia, a truly mass car cannot cost more than 400-500 thousand rubles. For this, Steve Mattin was invited to Russia, as it seems, for a pretty good amount according to the «best» traditions of Russia. In fact, looking at the Lada Xray, I want to believe that it will be just like that in 3-5 years we can all be proud of our domestic auto industry and monitor the growth of the volume of vehicles in Europe and Asia.
It’s hard to believe, but Lada Xray is built on a new generation Lada Priora platform.
The car’s interior is covered with leather, steering and brakes are again a new generation for LADA cars. Surprisingly, Xray can move with a small electric motor and 8 batteries. Of course, this car was not a serial example, because the plant itself and technology in Russia are not yet able to establish mass production of cars of this level. Moreover, competitive in the price ratio. And he looks frankly pivon and impractical. But now it is clear that aggressive design, attractive lines will become traditional for the ruler.
Xray rather a landfill for new solutions. For example, the X-shaped «muzzle», chrome boomerangs and a large logo, at the request of the company’s management, will now become a branded under the concern. As is observed in the style of BMW, Mercedes-Benz or Volvo.
Note that in 2015, the VAZ promises to release the first crossover on the market, capable of replacing the long -moral outdated model “Lada 4 × 4” (despite all its characteristics and merits). It is possible that Lada Xray will become the prototype of the new serial model.