Lada Vesta Cross is an all-terrain vehicle, a Lada Vesta station wagon model, which is a pre-production version, which was demonstrated at the exhibition in Moscow, Moscow Off-Road Show 2015. This event took place at the end of August. Such a simple solution allowed us to attract even more attention to the new car, because it looks really impressive.
After all, this modification of the Lada Vesta Cross SV station wagon serves not just as another domestically produced model, whose trump card is in the amount of purchase, but is a full-fledged competitor to many modern foreign cars of the B, and sometimes even the C-class. The entire Lada model range.
Exterior
Photographs and videos that can be found in this article will help you understand what it is like, the appearance of a brand new car, its level of modernity, dynamism and what charisma it has. The appearance of the VAZ has certain similarities with the 2016 Lada X-Ray Concept 2, namely the X-shaped style, because the headlights installed in front were divided into sections, which will give some similarity.
If you are careful, you can see at the bottom of the rear of the bumper installed in front, sections for installing fog lights. If we compare the car with the Lada Vesta sedan, then the bottom was protected with powerful plastic linings, which turned out to be unpainted. It tends to scratch, such a body kit came in very handy; it was able to complement the front and rear bumpers, sills, door areas at the very bottom, as well as wheel arches.
The false radiator grille has divisions, which are represented by a pair of chrome bars. The manufacturer's nameplate also turned out to be massive in size. The side of the new car has interesting stampings that are similar to those installed on the front bumper, but a little more massive.
The wheel arches contain 18-inch wheel rims. The ground clearance was increased, which is indispensable not only for cross-country traffic, but also for “high-quality” roads of the Russian Federation. The concept version has a ground clearance of about 300 mm, one production model will probably have a more modest height, which will make it possible to improve the aerodynamic performance and stability of the car when cornering.
The aft part has a luggage door, the dimensions are not large, and the luggage compartment itself is spacious. Despite the similarity with the sedan version, according to the manufacturers, the similarity in appearance of the cross-version with the standard one ends behind the central pillar of the car - then there is a brand new, stylish, sloping roof, flowing into the “athletic” rear.
It has modern taillights along with original rear pillars, which give the car dynamism. Generally speaking, the appearance of the station wagon, provided that the company can preserve its style, is almost in no way inferior to its classmates, including the Skoda Octavia Scout, Volkswagen Golf Altrac and even in some places the Subaru Forester.
The black insert under the rear spoiler looks very interesting. With this element, it feels as if the roof is not attached to the main body at the rear. In general, about 300 changes were made to the design, which start from the B pillar and go to the luggage compartment.
Interior
Judging by the statements of company representatives, when they created the interior of the new car, they used only high-quality materials. It would not be superfluous to say that the interior turned out to be exactly identical to the standard version. The panel installed in front was made in a very interesting style, in the form of 3 wells. It is complemented by various interesting elements and discreet blue lighting.
The seats installed in front have received increased comfort. According to the manufacturers, thanks to them, the driver will be able to feel very comfortable, despite long trips. They were made from high-quality filler and have full lateral support.
In addition to the main settings, the driver's seat has the option of adjusting the height. The console installed in the center managed to attract the eye. It looks bright, colorful and quite functional. Thanks to the convenient location of the driver, it is quite easy to operate even when driving. With the help of a certain angle of location, the appearance of the panel has become more ergonomic.
Even the basic configuration of the domestic new product has a climate control system, and there is also an information and media complex with a display that supports touch input. Due to the fact that the new car will come in an extended body, it can be assumed that there will be even more free legroom for people sitting in the back.
So far, official representatives are not talking about the stated dimensions of the car due to the fact that the work has not yet been completed and the production model may differ slightly from the concept version. The color of the plastic inserts on the door trim can be matched to the main color of the station wagon, which not only complements the car’s interior, but also connects it with the exterior appearance.
Many motorists will like the updated steering wheel of the Lada Vesta Cross SV, which now has leather upholstery and has become more comfortable in the hands due to its increased thickness. The steering wheel of the car provides an abundance of function keys, including the start option for heating the steering wheel. The upholstery of the seats has the addition of fabric inserts to match the main color scheme of the car.
Metal nameplates with the name “LADA” appeared under the headrests. Thanks to this, the interior of the car becomes not only stylish, but also prevents abrasion of this very contact part of the chair. It is also worth noting that a screen that supports touch control of the infotainment system is provided even in the standard version.
Such solutions can be found very rarely even among automobile manufacturers around the world. It is expected that the trunk will be able to receive as much as 500 liters of usable space, which, if necessary, can be increased by folding the rear seat backs. At the moment, it is not yet clear whether the production model will have an underground luggage compartment, a curtain and special rails for a more comfortable mounting of the trunk, which the concept car was famous for.
Interior features of Lada Vesta SV
According to the Lada Vesta SV, photo characteristics of the interior are not yet available, but the design will certainly trace aspects of the previous generation. For example, the interior will once again be decorated with colored inserts on the seats, doors and front panel. This makes the model of any configuration of the Lada Vesta SV bright, but may affect the cost. According to rough estimates, body kits, trims and other devices will cost more than 50 thousand rubles. But it is possible that such an additional payment will be quite justified.
The trim on the doors and panels and inserts on the seats are in the same tone as the body. A more relaxed interior can be made upon request.
The improvement has also reached the front panel. Now it has smoother shapes and has richer equipment. The instrument panel has improved LED lighting. The location of the controls for the multimedia system with navigation and seven-inch color display, as well as the climate control unit, has not changed.
Specifications
Power unit
It is expected that the domestic station wagon will have power units operating on gasoline. This is a 1.6-liter 106-horsepower engine, produced by Nissan HR16, an engine that develops the same 1.6 liters, but already has 114 horsepower and a volume of 1.8 liters, having 126 horses, a domestic engine.
In addition to the 5-speed manual gearbox, there will be a 5-speed gearbox and a “robot”. The top speed of the Lada Vesta Cross will be 185 km/h, and the first hundred will be reached in 10.5 seconds. The car will consume about 7 liters per 100 km. All power units, together with the environmental and technical characteristics of the engines, meet European Euro-5 standards.
Transmission
If we talk about the transmission, then as standard, the station wagon will come with front-wheel drive, but the installation of a 4x4 all-wheel drive system cannot be ruled out. The car itself was designed on the platform of the already popular 3-volume car, which makes it logical to conclude that it will fully copy it.
The station wagon has independent McPherson struts at the front and semi-independent torsion beam architecture at the rear. Steering is carried out using an electric power steering wheel. The braking system consists of ventilated front disc brakes.
What is AMT (robot)?
A robotic gearbox is essentially a typical manual transmission with an automated clutch. The AMT version is equipped with a special control unit and gear shift and clutch release mechanisms. If a standard automatic transmission transmits torque from the engine to the wheels via a torque converter, then an AMT transmits it using a set of gears.
In 2015, a serial robotic gearbox appeared for the first time for production models of a domestic manufacturer. Work on the project was led by Vladimir Petunin (project manager and initiator of its launch). There were already a lot of rumors about VAZ’s own AMT at that time (among car enthusiasts, mainly on social networks). A typical 5-speed manual transmission was used as a base. The final version of the automated gearbox received the VAZ 2182 index.
Many contradictions arise when operating the Vesta Cross robotic transmission, this is confirmed by professional tests and reviews from car enthusiasts. Below we note the main advantages and disadvantages of a car with this unit.
Advantages
- Reliability of the design (after all, they took a reliable time-tested mechanical transmission as a basis);
- Fuel economy (test results from major automotive communities confirm a reduction in fuel consumption of up to 30%, compared to similar models without a robotic transmission);
- Ease of repair (among the most common breakdowns, it’s all about using base components (manual transmission 2180));
- Increased clutch life by 35-40 percent (which increases economy and driving safety in general).
Flaws
- Reduced gear shift speed and “jerky” shifts (the problem is hidden in the cheapness of the design);
- The impossibility of constantly using the auto mode in the city (the working life is significantly reduced, you have to use the manual mode);
- Lack of ability to reprogram the unit (control unit in particular). This prevents all attempts by car owners to “customize” the operation of the box to suit themselves. However, this drawback is easily mitigated by the expiration of the warranty period (the firmware is simply changed);
- Frequent “opening” of the clutch, due to overheating, when climbing a slope (therefore, “uphill” it is better to use manual mode).
Options and prices
If the Lada Vesta Cross SV can reach mass production, it will happen no earlier than September 2016. First, the car company will launch a standard station wagon into mass production. Based on this, today there are no price tags for this car, but we can assume that the crossover version will cost 50,000 - 150,000 rubles more than the sedan version.
This decision is explained by experts by the fact that a considerable amount of investment was made in the development of the machine, which is equal to about a million Euros. Possible equipment variations are also unknown. Frankly, even the appearance and interior may change a little during production on the assembly line.
You should expect the installation of full climate control. There will also be cruise control, a rear view camera, a multifunction steering wheel, a built-in navigation system, rain and light sensors and a heated windshield. Only foreign cars have such equipment, which made me very happy.
The Lada Vesta Cross station wagon is planned to be produced in 3 trim levels: Classic, Comfort and Luxury. On all three trim levels, Era-Glonass transmitters will be installed, which will make it possible to transmit an emergency signal to traffic police services. Thanks to GPS modules, it will be possible to track the location of the car if it is stolen.
Top trim levels will come with airbags, where there will be 4 of them - front and side.
There will also be EBD, TCS, BAS systems, a system that helps when starting uphill. We didn’t forget to install a standard security system, an immobilizer, an on-board computer and an automatic door lock. Prices and options
| Equipment | Price |
| 1.6 (106 hp) Luxe MT5 | 795 900 |
| 1.8 (122 hp) Luxe MT5 | 820 900 |
| 1.6 (106 hp) Luxe Multimedia MT5 | 823 900 |
| 1.8 (122 hp) Luxe AMT5 | 845 900 |
| 1.8 (122 hp) Luxe Multimedia MT5 | 848 900 |
| 1.8 (122 hp) Luxe Prestige MT5 | 866 900 |
| 1.8 (122 hp) Luxe Multimedia AMT5 | 873 900 |
| 1.8 (122 hp) Luxe Prestige AMT5 | 891 900 |
More spacious!
The back seat is like a sedan. They only slightly changed the upholstery, correcting the seams and joints. Accordingly, the seat folds, like that of a sedan, in a ratio of 2:3 - the back simply rests on the pillow. There is no ideal loading area, but a small hump will be pressed against heavy things and leveled out.
The rear seat is shaped like a sedan. But the upholstery is different. An armrest with two cup holders folds out from the backrest.
The rear seat is shaped like a sedan. But the upholstery is different. An armrest with two cup holders folds out from the backrest.
Let's sum it up
Summing up the results of the new domestically produced Lada Vesta Cross SV, I would like to say that the car has changed a lot. This is noticeable even in its appearance, which has become more modern, sporty, energetic and at the same time stylish. The front part has received excellent equipment; there is a large logo of the manufacturer and stylish headlights.
On the sides there are large wheels with equally massive wheel arches. The rear part is generally almost unrecognizable if you remove the “LADA” logo. The interior, like the exterior, has improved in all respects. There is a good and convenient instrument panel, a touch screen, a comfortable, functional steering wheel, and a stylish center console.
The quality of interior finishing materials has increased. The front seats are quite comfortable and have good lateral support. There is enough free space inside the car. The luggage compartment has a substantial reserve of volume, which, if necessary, can be increased by folding the rear seat backs.
The power units are not the most powerful, but they cope with their direct responsibilities well. I am pleased with the good security system and various assistants that are designed to help the driver on the road. There is a system that will help in case of car theft, showing through a satellite sensor where your car is located.
There is also an “Era-GLONASS” system, which will give a traffic police signal if the crossover gets into an accident. Let's see what kind of car will be in production, but it is clear that the LADA company is determined to win the hearts of drivers. Judging by the concept car version, they have every chance.
We advise you to read the article: History of AvtoVAZ - LADA cars
Lada Vesta SW Cross 2016 photo
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