“Lynx” is not for everyone

For anyone who is truly a fan of off-road driving, the Niva Lynx can become an indispensable assistant and a means of satisfying personal ambitions.

Today it is an improved small-scale model, produced on the basis of the Lada 4x4 car. Almost all changes to the basic design were designed to perfect the Lynx's off-road potential. And the manufacturer of this model really succeeded.

Wheel

For off-road use, it is better to have large wheels - here are the Yaroslavl Ya-569 size 235/75R15 instead of the standard 185/70R16. Increasing the outer diameter by an inch gives an increase in ground clearance of 12–13 mm. Wider tread means better cross-country ability, higher profile means better ride quality. Light alloy wheels, from Bryansk "Megalum", with an offset of 15 mm (standard - 58 mm). With these, the inner sidewall of a wide tire remains in the same place, but the wheels protrude from the arches.

Suggested Modifications

Currently, the Bronto Lynx is represented by several modifications; let’s look at the most popular ones. Niva Lynx 1 is a three-door station wagon, produced on the basis of Lada-21214, the length of which is 3740 mm. The five-door station wagon Niva Lynx 2 is produced on an extended Lada-21310 base, its length is 4240 mm.

The full name of these models is as follows:

Lynx 1 - 212140-070-20 "Bronto-Lynx 1";
Lynx 2 - 213100-070-41 “Bronto-Lynx 2”;
Lynx 3 - 213100-770-41 "Bronto-Lynx 3".

The modifications are united by the identical structural design of the transmission, chassis and body described above. Comfortable driving of the Lynx is ensured by power steering and electric windows of the front doors. All models are equipped with a VAZ-21214 gasoline engine with distributed injection and electronic control. The working volume of this engine is 1690 cm3, rated power is 61 (83) kW (hp).

Tuning the Niva model

The curb weight of the three-door station wagon is 1210 kg. Niva Lynx 2 and the same long-wheelbase Lynx 3 have a slightly larger curb weight - 1350 kg. The different weights of the models naturally affect the difference in fuel consumption; on hard surfaces it can fluctuate in the range of 10.8-12 liters per 100 km. The fuel tank volume of Lynx 1 is 42 liters, Lynx 2 and 3 is 65 liters.

Rear axle beam

The rear axle beam is reinforced with a U-shaped box. The suspension linkage brackets and spring cups were transferred to it. In addition to increasing strength, this solution made it possible to raise the body by another 38 mm. Taking into account the large wheels, the total lift at the rear was 50 mm. The main pair (3.9:1) is replaced with a “shorter” one - 4.1:1. Thanks to this, the torque on the wheels and the correctness of the speedometer readings are maintained.

Origins

Spectacular car design

Lynx is produced at the PSA Bronto OJSC enterprise, located in Tolyatti. Since 1993, this subsidiary of AvtoVAZ has been producing special vehicles, the technical characteristics of which differ markedly from the base models. These are vehicles with high cross-country ability, increased comfort and capacity, and even armored vehicles.

An important aspect of Bronto's activities is the serial production of all manufactured models. The entire line of models of the enterprise must be tested for compliance with the requirements of state standards. The excellent operational capabilities of the special equipment produced by Bronto remain invariably in demand in the automotive market.

Bronto Lynx was presented as a small-scale model in 2009. Its main difference from the basic Lada 4x4 prototype is considered to be improved cross-country ability. Since it is very often made to order, its configuration can be significantly expanded with additional equipment. The most popular of them are: air conditioning, winch and roof rack.

A CAT WALKS BY ITSELF

Such cars are bought mainly by passionate people - fishermen, hunters - and those for whom off-roading is a forced hobby: oil and gas workers, employees of administrations of remote areas and the Ministry of Emergency Situations. The car is produced in several versions.

"Lynx-1" is made on the basis of the short "Lada 4x4" model 21214 (about two-thirds of the production volume, that is, 30-35 units per month).
“Lynx-2” is made from the five-door Lada-2131.
These cars can also be obtained with an increased roof height. The Lynx's emphasis is shifted towards improving all-terrain qualities. On the highway, the front suspension seems too stiff, and the steering wheel has a very wide “zero” - this is due to the high, pliable sidewalls of the tires. The toothy tread hums loudly, the car yaws on uneven surfaces, and in order to hold it you have to constantly steer.

Off-road, this Niva is somewhat reminiscent of a UAZ in terms of its smooth ride and bumpiness on bumps. But in terms of traction capabilities and geometric cross-country ability, the short “Lynx” will probably give it a head start! The tires confidently cling to the ground, and even if one of the wheels hangs out, the car confidently continues to move - the self-locking differentials will not leave the three remaining on the ground without traction. Even an intentional stop with a wheel hanging in the air passes without consequences - you can start moving without any stress.

We drive onto a deserted beach - all four wheels grind the loose sand, pushing the car forward. An ordinary Niva would probably be buried up to its belly here. And we not only “walked” along the sandy shore, but also climbed the hill. You didn't even need to lower the tires! The price of such confidence is 90,000 rubles.

The serial “Lada 4×4” costs 304,900 rubles, and the “Lynx” - from 398,700. In the five-door version, the difference is similar: the regular model 2131 can be bought for 339,900, and for the “Lynx-2” the price starts at 429,600 rubles.

“Lynx” is not for everyone

Price of factory Niva Bronto Lynx

There are 3 modifications:

Niva Bronto Lynx in three-door version;
Niva Bronto Lynx in a five-door version;
Niva Bronto Lynx is a five-door with a large trunk, popularly known as VAZ 2131.

The Niva Bronto Lynx was first introduced in 2009. The name is so unusual - Lynx came from a competition held for fans of off-road riding. Many voted and decided to name this off-road modification Lynx.

At the Niva Bronto Lynx plant, all tests were carried out, which is why the full-fledged factory SUV is certified and mass-produced. The basis, of course, is the Niva 4x4.

The Lynx is specially modified specifically for driving on severe off-road conditions. The car was tested by many organizations and came to the conclusion that the LADA NIVA 4×4 “Lynx” is one of the best production cars in the world.

This modified SUV is equipped with R-15 wheels with an additional 4 cm of offset outward, which means that the track increases by 8 cm.

Tires may be different, but the best fit are YaShZ Ya-569 235/75/R15 29″ and Cordiant off-road 235/75/R15 29″ tires.

The starting price of the Niva Bronto Lynx in the first modification without additional options is 644,400 rubles. If the car is painted in camouflage, its price will increase to 708,200 rubles;
the cost of the 2nd modification of the Niva Bronto Lynx starts from 688,000 rubles, in camouflage - 767,600 rubles;
The 3rd modification costs 723,000 rubles without additional options, in camouflage - 802,600 rubles.

If we take the top one with the maximum number of options, then the price of such a Niva will be 950,000 rubles.

As you can see, the price is simply astronomical, and for the emptiest version of the Niva Lynx. If we take into account that the new Niva 3D costs 439,900 rubles, then the difference is 204,500 rubles. We decided to calculate how much it would cost to make a 3D Niva from a standard Niva - Niva Lynx 1 in a two-door version.

Having tuned Niva 3D we will get Niva Lynx 1, for this you will need to buy the following parts:

Flexible Kit arch extensions - 4,000 rubles;
locks 2 pieces - 22,000 rubles;
main pair 4.1 - 6200 RUR;
elevator kit 11,000 RUR;
tires Cordiant Off Road 235/75 R15 - 18,800 rub.
KiK Angara wheels 6.5x15 - 12,800 rub.

Cost of work done:

replacement of the main pair - 8000 rubles;
installation of locks - 4000 rubles;
reinforcement of the rear axle - 9000 rubles;
installation and configuration of lift kit 7000;
cutting arches and installing extensions - 6000 rub.

The price of converting a standard new Niva 3D into a Niva Lynx 1 economy option is 108,800 rubles, totaling with the price of the car is 549,000 rubles. Of course, it won’t be possible to make them exactly one to one, but the characteristics will be approximately the same. The cost of the alteration is approximate, taking into account all work performed in the service center. Installing spare parts yourself will significantly reduce the price.

If you take a good used Niva 3D from 2007 with an injection engine and power steering, for about 200,000 rubles, then the total price of reworking the car will be 310,000 rubles. And this is no longer as expensive as for an irreplaceable SUV.

And also interesting: Chevrolet Niva fuses with a description of the block diagrams. Niva cigarette lighter fuse.

The price of cars and tuning may vary slightly depending on the region, but we managed to get an approximate amount of costs.

Driving a car

Bronto does not belong to the class of high-speed cars, however, it holds the road well, although roll in corners is noticeable. The noise from the transfer case and gearbox has decreased compared to the Soviet Niva, but when driving over 80 km/h it is still clearly noticeable.

On the highway, the VAZ car feels quite cheerful: overall it accelerates well and drives without failures.

The lack of dynamics begins to be felt only at speeds closer to one hundred, but we must not forget that the Lada 4x4 is not a city sedan or hatchback, or even a crossover, but a classic SUV with a monocoque body.

It also needs to be said that Bronto, unlike a regular Lada, has a higher center of gravity, and accordingly, the likelihood of a rollover on such a car increases.

And it’s not worth driving on the highway for a long time on “toothy” tires (the tread will wear out quickly), so it’s a good idea to have a set of standard wheels in stock.

Additional equipment

Upon individual order, PSA Bronto OJSC is ready to include various additional equipment in its models and carry out tuning of any car.

Available as additional equipment:

body painting with three-color camouflage enamel;
installation of a hatch with a removable metal cover;
painting mirrors in body color;
body painting with enamel of a non-standard color;
installation of the Bronto emblem on the radiator lining;
arc with additional headlights;
removable front or rear electric winches;
installation of car air conditioning;
front and rear driveshafts (CV joint);
expeditionary trunk with flooring;
cargo rack on the roof;
spare wheel bracket for trunk;
additional and fog lights;
lining of the ceiling and floor tunnel from Lada 4x4 “Comfort”;
independent suspension of the front axle gearbox.

Background and start of assembly

The Russian (formerly Soviet) light SUV Niva is considered a legendary brand, well known not only in Russia, but also in many foreign countries; the first VAZ-2121 model in this series began to be produced from the beginning of April 1977.

Although over the many years of production the car has undergone many various modernizations, its appearance has remained well recognizable.

Now the all-terrain vehicle is manufactured under the Lada brand, and the Lada 4x4 Bronto is a tuning version with more “advanced” off-road characteristics and a slightly modified exterior.

The assembly of the LADA 4×4 Bronto model is carried out at a subsidiary of the Volzhsky Automobile Plant called VIS-AVTO, which merged with PJSC PSA Bronto into one company in 2012.

The car modification has been produced since July 2022; it is an improved version of the well-known Lada under the name “Lynx” (2009-2012 production).

Trunk

The trunk door in a Lada 4x4 car opens using a button from the passenger compartment; the handle is located to the left of the driver, immediately behind the doorway.

The rigid, removable luggage rack has side latches in the area of the upper part of the back of the rear sofa, but is not attached to anything else.

On the left side, almost at the bumper itself, there is a rear washer reservoir with a protruding neck, as well as a round socket with a 12-volt power supply.

The plastic in the trunk is made of hard material, but it looks good, and the sound insulation here is also improved compared to the old Niva.

The one-piece backrest of the rear seat is also equipped with side locks and reclines forward quite easily, but this does not result in a flat floor.

To close the trunk, you need to slam the door with some force, overcoming the force of two gas stops.

Clearance

The lowest point of the car is under the rear axle, so in this place the ground clearance is 240 mm. Under the front axle, the ground clearance is 260 mm. So the ground clearance is good enough for off-road driving.

As for the track, it is almost equal on both axles - 1478 mm in the front and 1468 in the rear. For those for whom this is not enough, you can supply additional equipment for additional money.

To keep the car body in good condition longer, a cataphoresis coating can be applied to it. To do this, you need to immerse the body in a special bath with an alkaline solution. After this, chemical processes will begin, thanks to which a special dioxide film will appear on the surface of the body, protecting the body from corrosion. Moreover, this film will even be in hidden crevices, so the protection will be excellent. In general, after this procedure the body will last 5 times longer.

Additional headlights in the front of the car, which will perfectly illuminate the road in the necessary forests.

You can also install a pendulum steering wheel on a Chevrolet Niva; it is on bearings, so the service life of the steering will also increase 5 times. And most importantly, it will be easier to turn the steering wheel, and the wheels will respond more sharply to turning the steering wheel. In general, if you are planning to conquer off-road terrain, then such a pendulum arm is simply necessary. Initially, in a regular Niva, the pendulum works with polygraph bushings, so play will appear over time.

Every VAZ owner secretly dreams of having electric windows on his basin, at least on the front doors. So, such secret dreams can be fulfilled for extra money.

Also among additional options:

removable winch, which can be installed on the front or rear;
additional underbody protection;
air conditioner;
roof rack with additional headlights;
power bumpers;
camouflage paint;
anti-corrosion coating;
hatch with removable metal cover;
instrument panel from LADA 4X4 in COMFORT configuration;
electric mirrors from the same Niva in the “Comfort” configuration;
rear-view mirrors with electric drive and heating;
stylish ashtray and floor tunnel lining from Lada 4x4 “Comfort”;
large spare wheel 7 Jx15H2ET15 ALTAN with 235/75R15 tire, which comes assembled.

The factory even gives a guarantee for such an SUV - 1 year or 35,000 km. Not so much, but considering the conditions in which the jeep will be used, it’s normal.

Read news about the new Niva

The modernized Lada Niva Legend (4x4) 2021 was shown on the Internet
Lada 4×4 Bronto - sales stopped, new details » Lada.Online - all the most interesting and useful about LADA cars
Description of the instrument panel Lada 4×4 (VAZ 2121, 2131) » Lada.Online - all the most interesting and useful about LADA cars
Chevrolet Niva gasoline consumption per 100 km
Buy LADA (VAZ) 2131 (4×4) 2022 in Rostov-on-Don, low price for Lada 2131 (4×4) 2022 on the Avto.ru website
Fuses Niva 21214 injector «
The new large Lada 4×4 Niva “Bigster” 2021-2022 based on the Dacia Bigster was shown for the first time. The SUV has changed beyond recognition
New Niva Chevrolet Lux 2022 - review of GLC equipment

Photos of the salon

The interior of the Niva has not changed dramatically - its appearance almost completely repeats the design of the standard modification. The designers noted that the main emphasis was on improved sound insulation to provide greater comfort when driving off-road. The remaining elements remained familiar.

The large four-spoke steering wheel of the Niva Bronto is cast from rough plastic, and there are buttons on it for sound signal.
The instrument panel is equipped with two analog dials for the tachometer and speedometer, and secondary scales are located along the edges. The information content of the board is not the best due to the small font.
The Niva Bronto is finished with cheap hard plastic and durable seat upholstery fabric. This allows you to reduce the final cost of the SUV.
The chairs themselves received a combined finish and a good profile. But weak lateral support and soft filling will interfere when taking sharp turns or on long trips.
The second row is designed for three passengers - there is a one-piece sofa. But the almost vertical back does not add comfort. Tall companions will not have enough space - if they are over 185 centimeters tall, their knees will rest against the backs of the seats in the first row.
The Niva's small trunk holds 265 liters of luggage. By changing the position of the rear seats, you can increase its useful volume to 585 liters.
The archaic front panel of the Niva with horizontal air deflectors looks primitive. The center console is equipped with a stove with the old control scheme, as well as large buttons for secondary functions.
There are three levers located on the central tunnel of the Niva. Further from the driver is the gearbox selector, closer are the four-wheel drive and downshift control levers.

Interior of a VAZ SUV

The interior of the Lada 4x4 can hardly be called spacious and comfortable, however, over all the years of production it has not changed radically. Even if you move the driver's seat all the way back, it will not be easy for a tall person driving to find a comfortable position, because the steering column is not adjustable and is mounted rigidly.

What else is remarkable about Bronto’s interior:

The gearshift lever is located too close to the instrument panel, and in order to “catch” it the first time, you first need to get used to it;
the four-spoke steering wheel is equipped only with a sound signal, it is not equipped with any additional control buttons;
almost all control keys are located in the center, on the instrument panel and on the console, the ignition switch is installed to the left of the steering wheel, the air conditioner “twist” is on the right;
the interior trim of the side doors is completely made of plastic; the “loaves” and cardboard that were familiar to the old Niva are no longer present;
under the heating system controls and the keys on the dashboard there is a “hole” for the radio, we are not talking about any multimedia system here;
The headliner is still made of cheap soft material, familiar to many drivers from the VAZ classic.

The ceiling light here is of the LED type, but the side interior lights are equipped with conventional 12-volt bulbs. Even in Lada, unfortunately, not all keys are illuminated, and sometimes it is not clear whether the selected function is enabled or not.

Specifications

Modifications	1.7 83 hp petrol MT
Are common
Production year:	2018 —
Brand country	Russia
Country of assembly	Russia
type of drive	4x4
Guarantee	36 months or 50,000 km
Dynamic characteristics:
Acceleration to 100 km/h	18 s
Maximum speed, km/h	137
Fuel consumption (l):
City	—
Route	—
Average	12
Fuel tank volume, liters	42
Engine
Motor type	petrol
Brand	VAZ-21214
Power	83
Torque	129
Compression ratio
Fuel used	AI-95
Boost type	No
Dimensions and weight
Length mm	3740
Width mm	1730
Height mm	1900
Wheelbase mm	2200
Ground clearance, mm	240
Trunk volume, liters	265/585
Vehicle weight, kg	1285

Service maintenance

Inside the car

All products manufactured by PSA Bronto OJSC undergo mandatory certification. A high level of organization of production control allows the company to offer its consumers today reliable and high-quality cars and spare parts for them.

Like the VAZ Niva, produced by AvtoVAZ, the Niva Lynx of any modification, produced by PSA Bronto OJSC, is a serial product. The entire Lynx model range is sold to customers through a dealer network of organizations that is able to ensure high-quality fulfillment of the manufacturer’s warranty obligations. Such organizations carry out repairs of Bronto cars and the entire range of their technical maintenance.

The acquisition of the Lynx will allow any buyer to become the owner of not only the off-road properties of the Niva, but also to significantly increase their capabilities thanks to the small-scale production of PSA Bronto OJSC.

And also interesting: Niva 2121, Niva 2131 and Niva Chevrolet. Let's compare? "