Sports bet. Test drive of LADA Kalina Sport and “charged” Kalina NFR | About cars | Auto | Arguments and Facts

The “hot” hatchback Lada Kalina 2 Sport is one of the key new products of the domestic manufacturer this year. The company also developed the Lada Kalina Cross crossover. The sporty Kalina attracts the attention of many people. It is noteworthy that the exterior design was updated taking into account the requirements of a true professional, Steve Mattin. Let's take a closer look at this new AvtoVAZ product.

Lada kalina nfr – price and specifications, photos and review

In June 2022, at the Moscow Raceway track near Moscow, where the Russian stage of the WTCC championship took place, the presentation of the “hottest Lada” - the five-door hatchback Lada Kalina NFR (the abbreviation stands for “Need For Race”) took place.

A few months later, the car appeared before the public at the international auto show in Moscow. And official sales of the “VAZ lighter” started at the end of 2022.

Externally, the NFR version of the Kalina differs from the “simply Sport” version by 17-inch wheels and “gills” on the hood, which make engine cooling more efficient. The external body dimensions of the cars are completely identical: length – 3943 mm, width – 1700 mm, height – 1450 mm, distance between the axles – 2478 mm.

If you look into the Lada Kalina NFR, it is obvious that the interior here is entirely borrowed from the “Sport” version, and you can recognize it only by the orange stitching of the leather, the “zero” mark on the steering wheel rim, the “NFR” logos, and thicker front chairs with strong support on the sides.

Otherwise, it is in complete parity not only with the “sporty Kalina”, but also with its standard version.

Specifications. The main feature of this “hot” hatchback is hidden under the hood – it is a 1.6-liter petrol engine with four in-line cylinders and distributed fuel injection, generating 136 “horses” of power at 6750 rpm and 165 Nm of torque at 4700 rpm. It was based on the VAZ-21127 unit, boosted by installing a completely modified intake system and new software.

In combination with a sports 5-speed manual transmission with cable drive and a front-wheel drive transmission, the engine accelerates the Lada Kalina NFR to 100 km/h in just 9.2 seconds. The “peak capabilities” of the hatchback is set at 203 km/h.

In terms of design, the “NFR-modification” almost completely replicates the base car, but the front suspension is new: on a separate subframe with unique triangular arms (instead of arms with longitudinal braces). The rear axle is designed with a semi-independent beam. And an electric booster is installed on the steering rack.

Other features of the “pumped up” five-door: stiffer springs and gas-filled shock absorbers; an effective braking system with disc mechanisms “in a circle” is responsible for deceleration (the diameter of the ventilated front discs is 296 mm, the rear ones are 260 mm), and the hubs (on which 17 -inch wheels) have 5 studs.

In addition, from December 2022, the “charged” Kalina NFR received a new option - a mechanical differential lock (which increases the car’s controllability and improves “feedback” with the driver, and also allows for more efficient implementation of torque (especially when driving on slippery roads). coating)).

Equipment and prices. Sales of the Lada Kalina NFR began in December 2022 (initially they wanted to limit its circulation to 50 copies, but due to high demand, it “went into series”).

In 2022, the “NFR hatchback” is offered at a price of 820,000 rubles, for which we get: a 136-horsepower engine, sports front seats, air conditioning, a 7-inch multimedia complex monitor, airbags for those sitting in front, power windows on all doors, 17 -inch rollers and other equipment.

Reviews

Peculiarities

Separately, it is worth noting the presence of a sports body kit along the entire outline of the body and interesting door sill trims. The car has become noticeably lower, which is important for the sports version. It offers consumers two modifications of the vehicle in question in external design. One variation is called “Sport”, the second is called NFR.

However, you should not look for a fundamental difference between these variations. Manufacturers note that the main distinguishing indicators are air intakes on the hood and wheel rims of different sizes.

Ticket to the future

The top of the line was, of course, the LADA Kalina NFR, which is said to have elements of real track cars. Of course, this is an exaggeration, but there is a subframe in the front suspension. It was developed by the sports department and even received a patent. The levers are attached to the subframe. In addition, telescopic shock absorbers, springs, and lower strut supports have been redesigned. And the engine has more horsepower, which improves dynamics.

I get into the car and notice several differences, the main one being the dashboard with rows of additional symbols. The on-board computer readings are displayed between the wells. Out of the corner of your eye you can see the oil temperature, etc.

New Lada: The serial Lada Xray was presented in Tolyatti. Photo – KOLESA.ru – automobile magazine

Engine power was increased to 136 hp. s., due to which acceleration to “hundreds” is now 9.2 seconds. I don’t know what the result is, but the handling of the Kalina NFR has increased noticeably.

I crawl out onto the snake and hit the accelerator. The car revs up its 16-valve engine and rushes into battle. I release the pedal while simultaneously turning the steering wheel. Kalina NFR reacts sharply to the command and rushes to the side. Roll is noticeably less than that of Kalina Sport. And it’s a pleasure to twirl on the snake. True, you still have to turn the steering wheel. The rack pitch remained large.

Interior

In their reviews of the Lada Kalina 2 Sport, consumers indicate that the manufacturers did not bother much about finishing and improving the interior. In the interior, there are minimal differences between the civilian and sports models. Among the updates, only new sports seats are noted, providing a more comfortable fit. They have the corresponding logos.

Otherwise, the interior remained practically the same, which did not come as much of a surprise to experts. In the base generation, the interior, in principle, has reached a high level, as close as possible to European competitors. There are still some shortcomings, and the ergonomics leave much to be desired. However, the equipment is no longer so boring and impractical. It is worth noting that the shortcomings regarding the convenience of seating passengers in both rows have been largely eliminated, which gives another plus to the updated model.

External appearance of lada kalina nfr and lada granta sport

The production version of the Lada Granta Sport was shown at the Moscow Motor Show back in 2022.

Compared to its civilian “brother,” the “sport” version has a more attractive, dynamic appearance. This was achieved through the installation of a different false radiator grille, massive front and rear bumpers, as well as modified sills and huge 16-inch wheels.

The image is completed by a small spoiler on the trunk lid and a pair of exhaust pipes.

External dimensions of Lada Granta Sport:

The ground clearance is 140 mm – not very high, but don’t forget that this is a sports version of the sedan.

The serial Lada Kalina NFR (the abbreviation stands for “Need for Race”) was shown by the company in the summer of 2022. However, official sales of the new product started only in 2020.

As with the Granta Sport, the “charged” Kalina has a more aggressive and attractive appearance. The “face” of the car received tinted head optics, a massive front bumper with effectively designed fog lights and an additional air intake in the hood area.

The profile and rear are distinguished by the presence of sports “skirts”, a small spoiler, a pseudo-diffuser and large 16-inch wheels of a special design. The external dimensions of the hatchback are as follows:

The hatchback's ground clearance is 40 mm lower compared to the regular Kalina and amounts to 145 mm, which is necessary for greater stability when driving at high speeds.

Description

Reviews of Kalina 2 Sport confirm that this hatchback has become one of the most anticipated new products of 2015. I would like to hope that this vehicle will not disappoint fans of the domestic automobile industry in Russia and neighboring countries.

The sports version was based on the second generation of the Lada Kalina. In principle, no one tried to hide this moment. The new product differs significantly from the civilian version. And both in technical terms and in the exterior. Experts clearly agree that the car has become more aggressive; its design has sweeping features that indicate some kind of track affiliation. In terms of its overall dimensions and surroundings, the hatchback would easily be suitable for participation in rally races.

Interior design of lada kalina nfr vs lada granta sport

The interior of the “charged” Lada Granta Sport is not much different from the civilian version, but there are still changes:

1. A large multimedia system display has appeared in the central part of the dashboard.
2. The steering wheel has a leather braid with red stitching, which is also duplicated on the seats and gear knob.

It is also impossible not to note the presence of more comfortable sports seats for the front passengers, which have clearly noticeable lateral support.

The rear sofa has not received any differences - three adult riders can easily fit here, but only two will be truly comfortable.

The trunk volume is 520 liters, and under its raised floor there is a spare wheel and a repair kit. The quality of finishing materials in general is slightly higher than that of the “civilian” modification, but is much inferior in comparison with foreign “opponents”.

The interior design of the Lada Kalina NFR is also not much different from its standard “brother”. The first thing that catches your eye is the orange stitching on the steering wheel, seats, parking brake handle and gearbox. And secondly, there are areas on the steering wheel and thick sports seats with good lateral support.

In all other respects, we have before us the usual “Kalina” with all its advantages and disadvantages.

In the central part of the dashboard there is a color LCD display of the media center, just below there is a music control unit, and even lower there are three control knobs for the climate system.

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The quality of materials is frankly budget-friendly, but the ergonomics are quite decent. The rear sofa, in theory, can accommodate three passengers, but in practice it is more suitable for two riders.

The trunk volume is 260 liters, but by folding the backrests of the rear sofa, you can get as much as 550 liters of loading space.

Salon

As you understand, the interior is no different from the regular version, the only difference you can notice is in the seats. The driver's seat is decorated with a conventional 3-spoke steering wheel with partial leather trim. Behind the steering wheel there is also a well-known dashboard with green backlight, which has an analog tachometer and speedometer, with an on-board computer located between them.

A small multimedia system display was installed in the center console, which looks quite laconic in the dashboard. Below, under the air deflectors, there is a multimedia control unit, which is quite simple and intuitive. A little lower there is already a climate control unit, which has a beautiful backlight and looks good.

The Lada Kalina Sport 2016 tunnel will please you with the presence of 2 cup holders and in the same area there are buttons for turning on and off the separate heated seats. There is a niche for a phone behind the gear selector, but it is unlikely to be convenient and not every modern smartphone will fit there.

The driver and front passenger seats have good lateral support, which should please you when cornering. There is basically enough free space. The back row is also designed for three, but there is much less legroom there, so there is not much comfort in the back and it will be difficult to endure a long train.

The luggage compartment is small, its volume is 240 liters, but if this is not enough for you, you can always fold the rear row of seats and get 550 liters.

The prices are old, because now the production of the series is completely completed due to the release of the new Granta.

The cost of this model is also a very important part. The minimum price is 551,000 rubles , this is the basic package and therefore its equipment is far from encouraging:

• fabric covering;
• climate control;
• cigarette lighter;
• audio system;
• 12V socket;
• heated front seats;
• 16th wheels.

The second version of the Lada Kalina Sport costs a little more, but the equipment is much more interesting. For the second version you will have to pay 599,000 rubles and this is what it will be replenished with:

• ABS;
• full electrical package;
• higher quality audio system;
• USB port;
• Bluetooth;
• light sensor;
• Rain sensor;
• anti-fog optics;
• rear parking sensors.

The NFR version costs much more, namely 850,000 rubles , but as you understand, you pay mainly for the engine, and in terms of equipment you will receive, in addition to everything previous, only:

• low profile tires;
• 17th wheels;
• reinforced brakes.

To say that this is a sports car is too strong a statement, but if you compare it with the regular version, you can say that this is a sports version. So the Lada Kalina Sport 2015 differs only in power, and you will have the same problems as with the regular version. And if you look at the price of this model, you can call this car normal, but you still need to try to get good.

Two sisters

Motorsport is actively developing in Tolyatti. Everyone remembers LADA’s successes in the WTCC international championship last year. I want to imitate such daring. Fortunately, the engineering has developed a line of cars with a sports package. This practice was introduced by partners in the Renault-Nissan alliance and is now being introduced to the Volga banks. The new LADAs have a body kit, chipping and reinforced brakes.

LADA Kalina and LADA Granta are sold in Sport versions, and the top place is reserved for LADA Kalina NFR. It's time to get to know them better. And this meeting took place at the Dmitrovsky training ground.

Driving qualities, price tag and equipment of the Lada Kalina NFR and Lada Granta Sport

Thanks to a lowered and stiffer suspension, both cars demonstrate excellent handling (at least for their price). The cars confidently hold a straight line and practically do not give up when passing high-speed turns, although, of course, they are far from European “lighters”.

In 2022, you could buy a Lada Granta Sport for 609.9 thousand rubles, but today it is almost impossible to find it at a dealer. The reason for this is the fact that the first generation of the model was discontinued, and the appearance of the second generation has not yet been confirmed by anyone. But it is quite possible to find a Lada Kalina NFR, but you will have to say goodbye to at least 830 thousand rubles.

The set of standard vehicle equipment includes:

• frontal airbags;
• air conditioner;
• media center with LCD display;
• light and rain sensors;
• parking assistants;
• heating system for first row seats;
• 16-inch wheels of special design;
• ABS, EBD and BAS systems;
• Isofix fasteners;
• DRL;
• alarm;
• fog lights;
• sports skirts;
• rear spoiler;
• mechanical differential lock (only in Kalina NFR);
• seat belts, etc.

Appearance

The front part of the Kalina 2 Sport (reviews of which we will consider below) attracts attention with its original high-quality optics. It is made on a darkened background, which adds expression. The head light elements, together with the false radiator grille, form a single whole. The car brand can be immediately distinguished by the manufacturer’s nameplate located in the center of the specified element. The impressive front bumper was equipped with aerodynamic elements and foglights built into the sides.

The side part boasts large windows and doors similar to the civilian counterpart. The peculiarity of the body is emphasized by impressive external rear-view mirrors, voluminous wheel arches, and original alloy wheels.

The rear is very practical and goes well with the rest of the sporty exterior elements. In stock:

• volumetric optics;
• specific dimensions;
• spoiler over the luggage compartment;
• convenient access to the rear door;
• plastic trim on the bumper.

Reviews from the owners of Kalina 2 Sport further confirm the fact that in this regard, the designers worked very productively; many did not expect such pleasant changes.

Behind the scenes

The modest and short test drive ended with a race for journalists. True, the “race” turned out to be a high-speed slalom, where the most difficult thing was finishing with a base on slippery Chinese tires. Pavel Karin and I each won in our own category - at the Kalina NFR and regular Sports. As a prize, we first took a ride on the right in the rally Kalina NFR R1 of St. Petersburg pilot Maxim Belyukov: fast, noisy and quite funny, considering that the car was shod with gravel tires. And then we went as guests of the Lada Sport Rosneft team to the stage of the Russian circuit championship in Nizhny Novgorod and were surprised at the scale and beauty of the current battles in the RSKG: as many as 87 participants in five classes!

History of kalina sport pavel karin

The prototype of the sports Kalina appeared in 2006 and was called Kalina GTI. A plastic body kit, 15-inch wheels, disc brakes, a front suspension assembled on a subframe, an original rear beam, electric power steering and a 115-horsepower 16-valve 1.6 with its own intake and exhaust. This car reached a hundred in 10.5 seconds.

The serial Kalina Sport entered the market from AvtoVAZ pilot production in 2008 with two sixteen-valve engines to choose from - 1.4 (89 hp) and 1.6 (98 hp). In the first case, Sport consisted of bumpers, nameplates, a different instrument cluster and hard seats with developed lateral support. And in the second, in addition, there was a sports suspension lowered by 20 mm with original front strut supports, different wheel alignment angles and a gearbox with a 3.9 main gear instead of 3.7. Kalina Sport accelerated to hundreds in 11.5 seconds with a 1.4 engine and in 10.7 seconds with a 1.6 engine. There were no airbags or ABS. With an annual plan of 2,500 cars, 8,251 cars were produced over five years.

Modernization

The car in question is built on the basis of a civilian analogue. However, the characteristics of the Lada Kalina 2 Sport differ in many ways from the prototype. The main changes are the following:

• The steering has been reconfigured;
• adjustments were made to the design of the suspension unit;
• improved braking elements appeared;
• the NFR modification has a separate subframe for the engine;
• Significant changes have been made to the suspension adjustment;
• The brake discs have an increased diameter.

Due to these perturbations, the car turned out to be more sporty, not only in terms of power, but also in the functioning of most of the components and mechanisms that are responsible for the parameters of speed, maneuverability and braking.

Softness is good

I slam the door and slowly roll out to the starting line. The instructor, out of habit, talks about the changes that have befallen the car. I’m concentrating on the first high-speed straight, where I need to evaluate the effectiveness of the disc brakes. Acceleration to “hundreds” of the car takes 9.5 seconds. I pick up the pace, squeeze the clutch and hit the pedal hard.

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Then - several turns with turns and a snake. I go around the first cone at about 40 km/h, and then I start rolling around with the steering wheel shifting. The rack with the amplifier is the same here, so you have to lay the steering wheel firmly on the sides. Sometimes you even intercept it with your palms. There are also rolls. “Kalina” falls a little during sharp rolls and unloads the rear outer wheel.

Prices

Reviews of “Kalina 2 Sport” will be given later. As for the cost of the new product, users indicate a very acceptable figure. This takes into account the fact that in the “Sport” modification the car is offered at a price of 620 thousand rubles. For this amount, the owner receives two front airbags, daytime running lights, ABS, EBD systems, four electric windows, and heating of the corresponding elements.

In addition, for an additional fee, the car is equipped with electric power steering, 16-inch wheels, parking sensors and many other modern options. On the secondary market, this machine is significantly cheaper, but it is not yet widely represented on it, taking into account the start date of mass production.

Passport details

Technical characteristics of Lada Kalina Sport 2

1. The manufacturer installs a 1.8-liter engine here that produces 118 horsepower. This is a familiar 16-valve naturally aspirated engine with a torque of 154 H*m. Now regarding the dynamics, the car accelerates to hundreds in 9.5 seconds, and the maximum speed is 197 km/h. In principle, it consumes little; in the combined cycle it requires almost 8 liters of 95-grade gasoline.
2. The NFR version is also offered, which is visually practically no different, but its main essence is the engine. A 1.6-liter naturally-aspirated unit is also installed here, but now it produces 136 horses. The dynamics have improved a little - 9.2 seconds are required to reach the first hundred, and the maximum speed is 203 km/h. In the city it consumes 9 liters in quiet mode, and on the highway it will consume 6 liters.

Both engines are offered paired with a 5-speed manual transmission, which transmits torque to the front axle. The box was slightly changed to achieve better dynamics.

Also, the manufacturer of the Lada Kalina Sport made a slightly improved suspension and steering compared to the regular version. For the more powerful version, a subframe for the engine is also provided, the brakes have also been improved, and the suspension settings have been changed.

Video

After the new generation Lada Kalina Sport went on public sale, Avtovaz decided not to stop there and will offer fans of the brand an even more powerful Lada Kalina NFR model with an engine of 140 horsepower. The car is built on the basis of the sports version Kalina Sport with a power of 118 horses, but the NFR version has a number of unique features.

For example, the body of the new Lada Kalina NFR is reinforced with a subframe, which is not the case in the regular Sport version. This makes the car more stable when cornering at high speed, since the body is not so susceptible to deformation. Acceleration to hundreds with the new 1.6 petrol engine is only 8.5 seconds, one second faster than the version with an engine of 118 horses. The maximum speed is 207 km/h, which is 10 km/h more than the regular Kalina Sport. More details about the technical features of the car below.

For the general public, the Need for Race was shown at the Moscow Motor Show in late August, early September 2014. The manufacturer especially emphasizes that this car will be the most powerful production Lada.

In the meantime, about the appearance, how can the NFR version of Kalina be distinguished from the regular Sport? Firstly, car wheels have different sizes. Lada Kalina NFR has 17-inch wheels, Kalina Sport 16-inch. The wheels themselves on the more powerful Kalina are mounted with 5 bolts, while on the Sport version they are mounted on 4 bolts. The Need for Race hood has special ventilation holes, which are not present in the Kalina Sport, they help to better cool the engine. Photo of Kalina NFR below.

There are not many differences in the interior; the first thing that catches your eye is the color of the padding on the seats and gearbox cover. The Sport color is red, the NFR color is orange. In addition, the front seats of the Lada Kalina NFR are made of Alcantara leather. Photo of the “charged” Kalina’s interior is below.