July 31, 2020 Lada.Online 5 201 0
LADA Largus is a licensed high-capacity station wagon on the platform of the Renault-Nissan B0 Alliance (“Be-zero”), the prototype is Renault Logan MCV. The car is presented in passenger (seven- and five-seater station wagon) and cargo (van) versions. LADA Largus is a bright representative of the fast-growing market segment of multi-purpose utility vehicles (MPV) and is designed to meet the growing needs of customers.
When the strategic partnership between AVTOVAZ and Renault began, the task arose of choosing the platform on which joint projects would develop. The B0 platform (“Be-zero”) has proven its success in Eastern Europe and Russia; to develop it, it was necessary to purchase the rights to the base car. Sedans on the B0 platform were already produced in Russia, the decision to produce hatchbacks in Moscow had already been made, the high-capacity station wagon remained undeveloped. This model interested AVTOVAZ, and an assessment began of the potential of the car, the degree of its adaptation to Russia and the possibility of production at AVTOVAZ in Tolyatti. The test results were positive - since the car was adapted for Eastern Europe, it fully complies with AVTOVAZ standards.
The design as a whole was approved, but special attention had to be paid to the configuration of the car - a station wagon on the B0 platform is sold in different countries, there are different versions of this car, adapted for different climatic conditions. For example, in cars for Turkey and Africa there is no system for heating and cleaning the rear window, there are no air ducts for the 2nd and 3rd rows of seats... For production at AVTOVAZ, those versions of the car and components that best correspond to the climatic conditions of Russia were selected. And given the state of our road network, it was necessary to use front and rear brakes of the maximum size possible for 15-inch wheels.
There were also design and technological innovations. Work was carried out to change the anti-corrosion protection of the body. In particular, linings appeared on the arches of the front and rear wheels of LADA Largus cars, which were not on the Renault Logan MCV prototype car. To provide increased anti-corrosion and anti-gravel protection, the thickness was changed and the areas for applying mastic on the underbody were increased. Renault engineers have developed new engine control calibrations that make the car fully adapted to Russian gasoline. New solutions to increase the reliability and durability of LADA Largus have become platform solutions.
In accordance with the licensing agreement, AVTOVAZ specialists changed the style of the exterior and interior of the car. VAZ designers and constructors, together with Renault specialists, have developed a new front bumper and radiator grille. Thanks to these minimal changes to the external appearance of the car, a new harmonious and solid image was created, which reflects the corporate style of the LADA brand.
Some innovations have also appeared in the interior: the central console of the instrument panel has changed, and a new visor has been applied over the instrument cluster.
The AVTOVAZ engineering service was also involved in the localization of auto components - VAZ employees searched and nominated local suppliers, and assessed enterprises using the Alliance’s methods. Alliance standards were also implemented at suppliers and quality control was constantly carried out. The timing of preparatory work from the “pre-contract” point (beginning of 2010, when the design was “frozen”) to the start of production of LADA Largus (spring 2012) corresponds to the best international standards.
PRESIDENTIAL RACE
We are driving the Largus again, but now under the wheels is not the concrete of the track, but the asphalt of the Samara highway. This is the car of project director Mikhail Ryabov, and he himself is driving, hurrying to the AVTOVAZ training ground - tomorrow the Presidential race will be held here, that is, the leaders will fight for the prize of the head of AVTOVAZ.
We pass a railway crossing, and I remember with pleasure the Logan with its wonderful, simply royal pendants. "Largus", despite being able to carry seven, inherited the smoothness, comfort, and controllability of its progenitor. I remember the words of Monsieur Schweitzer, the head of Renault and the father of Logan: “Our car is modern, affordable, reliable.” It is a real art to combine three of these qualities in one car. But I digress. And the other crew members fell silent, planning to take a nap in the warmth on the spacious middle sofa and in the third row (there are five of us in the cabin, plus luggage).
ABOUT 140 THOUSAND
What kind of mysterious Renault models are AVTOVAZ planning to produce in the amount of about 140 thousand per year? Here is my personal version: these are the Logans and Sanderos of the current generation. Since the appearance of “Logan-2” is already predetermined (the premiere will be in Paris in the fall, and the Geneva “Lodge” showed what it will be like), and the capacities for the first one are still quite capable - why not give it to Tolyatti, and maybe to Izhevsk? The Moscow Avtoframos will concentrate on the Duster, Fluence and other models, fortunately demand allows. Suppliers are ready, technologically this step is justified - we will soon find out whether I got it right or not.
History of the creation of Lada Largus
Lada Largus was first introduced to customers in 2010. Mass production began in the spring of 2012, and the car went on sale in July. More than seventy percent of the components for the new model are produced in our country. This has become one of the reasons for the popularity of the car, since the presence of domestic parts makes it affordable both for purchase and maintenance.
According to surveys, Lada Largus is one of the best models offered by AvtoVAZ since the 80s, and the first car that can be called relevant without exaggeration. All equipment meets modern European standards. Based on the road realities of our country, the design of the suspension arms and front brake mechanisms have been strengthened.
Models [edit | edit code]
Largus R90 [edit | edit code]
The passenger station wagon is offered in 5- and 7-seater versions.
The trunk volume of the five-seater version of Largus is 560 liters. For a seven-seater car it is only 135 hp.
Largus F90 [edit | edit code]
Cargo van, unlike Largus R90, model F90
has solid back and side panels.
Largus Cross [edit | edit code]
Like the regular Largus, it is offered in 5 and 7-seater versions. [6] In 2016, in honor of its 50th anniversary, AvtoVAZ introduced the Largus Cross Black Edition. It differs from the standard version in new black wheels, roof and side mirrors. [7]
Largus CNG [edit | edit code]
A version of the car with LPG was launched into production in January 2019. [8]
Technical features of Lada Largus
The car can be purchased with one of two 1.6-liter engines with 87 and 105 hp. (both engines are from Renault Logan). One of the engines is eight-valve, the second has two camshafts and sixteen valves. The Renaul Logan platform on which the car is produced was developed as a budget one, and its capabilities have already been repeatedly tested in practice. What matters for car owners is that the engines have already shown their best performance in practical use.
The car is equipped with a simple and reliable five-speed gearbox assembled from French parts. Springs and shock absorbers are specially selected taking into account the load capacity and poor quality of roads.
The Lada Largus design uses a front subframe. The engine is installed on it, and it also serves as a mounting location for the power steering rack. The rear suspension uses a torsion beam, allowing separate configuration of the spring and shock absorber. This design makes it possible to increase the distance between the arches of the rear wheels, which makes it possible to make the volume of the luggage compartment as large as possible, and its bottom flat, since there are no “cups” of racks at the rear, which take up space in the trunks of cars with independent suspension.
The shape and type of body provide a large volume of not only the trunk, but also the interior. The car is offered to buyers in cargo-passenger and passenger configurations, designed to carry 5 or 7 passengers. Even if you are tall, you can sit comfortably in the second row and not rest against the back of the driver’s seat. Thanks to the high roof and square opening, you can easily get to the third row without bending over. The third row can comfortably accommodate two people 180 cm tall.
The trunk is striking in its size; in a seven-seater car it is smaller if the third row seats are not folded. In addition, the rear doors have special latches with which you can change the angle of their opening: they can be opened fully or halfway. This adjustment is of no small importance when loading large cargo.
Advantages and disadvantages of Lada Largus
The main advantage of the Lada Largus is practicality and spaciousness. Proper placement of seats ensures comfort for the driver and front passenger. The dashboard is easy to use, the instrument cluster is easy to read. The tailgates are equipped with pockets for small items.
Among the shortcomings are poor sound insulation, the location of the spare tire under the bottom, which reduces ground clearance, a limited set of functions as standard - no ABC, no front electric windows. The signal button is located “in the French style” on the steering column lever, which is unusual for Russian drivers. The view from the driver's seat is slightly impaired by the right front pillar, which covers part of the exterior mirror.
Foreign media call Lada Largus the new flagship of AvtoVAZ. It took about four years to achieve such success. During this time, the company was able to modernize even production to meet the needs of Russian-assembled foreign cars. Today, the level of localization of auto components has been increased to 50%, and in the future this figure is planned to be increased to 80%.
ZR - PRO "LOGAN MCV"
From its very appearance, it aroused great interest, and we waited to answer the question: will there be a car in Russia? - someday there will be an affirmative answer. Unable to bear it, we undertook an expedition to France to get acquainted with the new product ( ZR, 2007, No. 7 ). They noted the impressive capacity, practicality, efficiency, and were amazed at the unusual seat belt design for the fifth passenger. And then a reader unexpectedly called: “I bought a Logan MCV, would you like to do a test?” “Dacia” then easily defeated its classmates - “Fiat-Doblo” and “Peugeot-Partner”, disappointing only with its brilliant absence on the Russian market and not quite intelligible brakes ( ZR, 2007, No. 12 ).
The next was material about Largus, made after its first display at an exhibition in the Moscow Manege dedicated to the 45th anniversary of AVTOVAZ ( ZR, 2011, No. 10 ).
MANY DAYS AGO
It all started... “It all started in 2008, when Renault bought 25% plus one share of AVTOVAZ,” picks up Sergei Korzhenovsky, deputy head of the RF90 project. This is how the factory documents designate the current Largus, that is, a station wagon (R90) and a van (F90) on the B0 platform of the Renault concern (it served as the base for Logan and Sandero, and several more models will be built on it).
We began to look for common ground, to choose cars that could be produced at AVTOVAZ. We considered the whole range, but quickly settled on the B0 platform: these machines have already shown themselves well, primarily in Eastern Europe. But Logan was already being made in Moscow, Sandero was also planned to be produced at Avtoframos, so the choice was actually predetermined: the Logan-MCV station wagon. It had a successful start in the markets of the Old World and, according to our expectations, would also come in very handy in Russia, complementing the AvtoVAZ range.”
