Tarzan returns? Test drive all-wheel drive Lada Kalina XXL

New crossover Kalina

Passenger cars with all-wheel drive have been rapidly gaining popularity recently. This is largely due to the fact that alternative crossovers began to be content with front-wheel drive, and their purpose as off-road vehicles became more than blurred. By equipping a passenger car with all-wheel drive and adding several off-road accessories, you can significantly increase the capabilities of the car without overpaying for status.

Many global companies have taken the path of equipping their passenger models with all-wheel drive. AvtoVAZ is also trying to keep up in this direction, offering customers the all-wheel drive Kalina. What abilities did the car acquire with such equipment and has the functionality of the car really increased? It's worth looking into this.

Technical features of Kalina

Even during experiments with all-wheel drive for the VAZ 2110, an ordinary “classic,” significant changes were made to the car that could increase its cost by 100%.

Technical characteristics of different modifications of the crossover

The engine installed on the 2013 model is decent. At first glance, the engine has the same volume of 1.6 liters. But it has undergone major changes, it has become turbocharged, and the Garrett GT25 turbine has taken its place. There is a remarkable inscription on the head cover - LADA Sport.

With this combination, the engine is capable of delivering 197 hp. With. But a single turbine could not increase power so significantly. The air filter has a large area, the engine has lightweight pistons and connecting rods. The engine cooling system has become more efficient, and the lubrication system has received an additional oil cooling radiator.

The main advantage that the Kalina 2013 all-wheel drive has is that it is permanent, without any redistribution of torque. The design of the scheme looks like this: the connection of the front and rear axles occurs due to the center differential. The wheels of the front and rear axles are combined by blocking a viscous coupling and a limited slip differential in the rear axle. Thus, the Lada 2013 does not have the classic scheme that implies all-wheel drive, but it does not look like an electronic simulation of the rotation of all four wheels.

Taking into account the design changes in the VAZ 2013 transmission, as well as the excellent capabilities of the modernized engine, the suspension could not but undergo significant changes. The rear one received a new independent scheme called diagonal. Such a suspension should provide excellent handling. This will not hurt the car, given its dynamic characteristics.

The new engine allows you to spin up to an unusual 7-8 thousand rpm. With excellent tires in combination with suspension settings, the car will not only feel confident on a straight line, but also corner sharply. Whatever one may say, the 4x4 formula simply cannot allow the 2013 Kalina to behave differently.

The car engine is quite powerful

The designers also took care of decent noise insulation. It is claimed that for this purpose the car received an additional 35 kg of “subcutaneous fat” necessary to take care of the ears of the driver and passengers. But this is unlikely to make the car any less loud from the outside.

Conclusion on the topic

The Lada Kalina Cross 4x4 turned out to be a good car. The appearance corresponds to the latest trends in automotive fashion. As a result, for a low price, some shortcomings can be forgiven by the developers. After all, no manufacturer was able to create a 100% ideal car whose technical characteristics meet all modern requirements.

Particularly increased demand for this model was observed among people who regularly travel to the country and transport large loads.

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Next Details about the design of the Lada Kalina car

Tags: appearance, equipment, Cross 4x4, review, technical specifications

SUV based on LADA Granta. Is such a budget employee needed?

A new four-seater SUV based on the Lada Granta has been developed in Togliatti. The creators of the new product want to offer Russians a lightweight off-road vehicle, distinguished by its bright design, sporty characteristics and low price.

The development of a new SUV based on the LADA Granta platform was undertaken by a group of engineers from Togliatti under the leadership of independent designer Vitaly Ivanov. The main idea of ​​the project is to create a “people's Russian sports car”, which is designed for off-road use. Moreover, the authors are confident that the competencies and technologies necessary for the production of such cars already exist in Tolyatti. Autograd has long become famous for a large number of companies that produce tuning parts for LADA cars. As the authors of the project are sure, the new SUV based on LADA Granta will be of interest not only to active drivers, but also to business structures: farms, country clubs, hotels.

The developers chose the Granta platform for an off-road sports car because of its accessibility, prevalence and maintainability. The new car has not yet received its own name. Nevertheless, the first prototype of the SUV has already been assembled. Moreover, the project provides that the new product will have several body design options. Everything will depend on the purpose of the car. They decided to make the prototype in the lightest version - a beach all-terrain vehicle. On the same base you can make a small farm truck.

To create a prototype of a beach all-terrain vehicle, the Granta platform was made 200 mm shorter. The developers borrowed the engine, gearbox, brakes, and electrics from the production model. Thanks to this, the cost of the car, as the authors of the project expect, will be quite affordable. This platform was supplemented with external panels made of composite materials. The panels are completely new and can be replaced with others if they fail. The curb weight of the SUV is about 700 kg. Due to the low weight of the car, a standard engine (98-106 hp) can develop a specific power of almost 150 hp. per ton. If the new product is equipped with a forced engine up to 170-185 hp. from Granta Sport - then the specific power of a sports SUV will be from 250 hp. per ton.

The creators do not provide all-wheel drive for the people's cross-country sports car. At the same time, the car will receive independent suspension on all wheels with original subframes, which will be borrowed from rally LADAs. The creators plan to compensate for the insufficiency of the single-wheel drive off-road with a “short” main pair (4.1-4.3), a self-locking cross-axle differential and toothy off-road tires.

The price of the new SUV can be comparable to the price of the LADA Granta. But this will be possible if at least 1000 such cars are produced per year, and vehicle kits for the sky are purchased at AVTOVAZ.

So far, only the first prototype of the people's sports car has been assembled. The car moves under its own power. However, his appearance is still being worked on. Currently, the project has been paused: the developers are considering possible options for the further development of the car and its production. It is assumed that the appearance, equipment and purpose of the SUV will depend on the requests of potential buyers. They also want to involve representatives of the Russian auto design community in the project. But the developers cite the lack of funding as the main problem in implementing the project. Either big business or government participation can help here.

Priora is front-wheel drive: pros and cons

AvtoVAZ did not immediately comprehend all the secrets of installing front-wheel drive in its cars, however, it bore fruit: the cars became lighter, fuel consumption decreased, the “tail” does not skid, and if it does, it is very easy to get out of the skid. But all-wheel drive has moved further. There are even systems that synchronize the operation of all wheels in order to get out of a skid, drift, or avoid slipping on an incline.

Installing 4wd will not turn the Priora into a Lada 2121 Niva, but, one way or another, it will make passing mud obstacles easier. In winter, it will be easier to get out of the “parking” snowdrift, but the front drive wheels still won’t save you from hitting the bottom of the snowdrift. All-wheel drive will take the load off the driver and will help in many driving situations.

There is no single correct answer to the question of which wheel arrangement will be best for this car. But you will have to listen to the designers and manufacturers of the Volzhsky Automobile Plant and leave only the front drive wheels: the entire car is made just for it. Craftsmen, wanting to make a Priora 4x4, almost completely remake it, leaving the car only with its original body.

How the differential and wheel drives work

Due to the fact that the Lada Kalina is a front-wheel drive car, unlike all-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive, the differential here is located in the gearbox and is called cross-axle because it acts on the front wheels of the car. There are three types of differentials:

• conical;
• cylindrical;
• worm.

The Kalina is equipped with a bevel two-satellite differential. There are also four-satellite differentials, they are installed on more powerful cars. All types of differentials consist of:

• axle gear;
• satellites;
• main gear;
• differential housings (differential cups).

This interacts in such a way that the differential housing receives torque from the main gear and, in turn, through the satellite gears, transmits it to the axle gears, which then direct the torque to the drive wheel drives. Let's look at the design of the drives themselves. They consist of CV joints (constant velocity joints), or, as they are popularly called, “grenades,” and a shaft connecting the joints.

Exterior and interior of the crossover

And yet the Lada Kalina 4x4 stands out. It’s worth mentioning right away that this is still a piece product. But at least the car can already be assessed from the photo. If it appears on the assembly line, it will have many competitors. After all, among all-wheel drive passenger cars there are several charged hatchbacks. Similar cars are also in the arsenal of such manufacturers as Opel, Ranault, Subaru and other companies. Moreover, Subaru is the clear favorite here, having long and glorious traditions. New photos of Lada can be found on various sites.

Vehicle interior

At first glance at the photo of the all-wheel drive Kalina 2013, you can understand that this is a charged car. The low bumper skirt, even with a larger width, barely covers the wide front wheels. The hood is distinguished by an open air intake. The front part looks laconic, without frills. Everything is clear, functional and smart.

In profile, the 2013 car in the photo appears to be pressed to the ground. Large wheels (size R17) with low-profile tires fit slightly into the wheel arches. The lower spoiler gives the car even more speed.

Inside, the all-wheel drive version is distinguished by greater functionality of the driver's seat, as can be seen in photo 3. Several additional round instruments have been added, but there is no multimedia installation screen. The center console contains a tachometer, an indicator of air boost pressure, as well as the temperature of the power unit. It seems that these devices will not be superfluous for such an active car.

The approach is absolutely correct, because when using a car for driving on country roads, additional means of ensuring comfort are not needed. If only the seats were comfortable and the engine did not let us down. The chairs, by the way, look very good, judging by the photo.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=W6HkGg05T9k

What can you buy now?

Everyone knows that the Lada Kalina Cross never received all-wheel drive. Here we are talking about a crossover, officially supplied to LADA car dealerships. There is another similar model, a cross-country hatchback from Avtoprodukt. So, this car can be equipped with all-wheel drive, but only “on order”. It is stated that there are two branches of the project: 2WD and 4WD. But no reviews have yet been received from buyers of the all-wheel drive cross-hatch.

Autoproduct, Kalina Cross 2WD

It should be noted that AvtoVAZ has nothing to do with the project. SUVs produced by Avtoproduct were not certified. But we know about VAZ Kalina crossovers that they fully comply with the safety requirements of modern cars.

Appearance and harmony

The car turned out to be beautiful and quite modern. On the bumper, the developers added metal inserts that look stylish. This gives the car a more off-road look. The car is equipped with 15-inch wheels. Now, even in the basic configuration, engine underbody protection is installed. Special plastic linings are glued to the thresholds. The noise level has decreased significantly. Harmony has appeared in the four-by-four Lada Kalina Cross. One could argue that this is what a modern, inexpensive SUV should look like.

The best all-wheel drive cars. Lada 4×4 was included in the ZR rating

Specialists from the magazine “Behind the Wheel” decided to find out the strengths and weaknesses of all-wheel drive transmissions of various car models. To do this, they used special platforms (micro-overpass with rotating rollers). Over the entire period, we managed to test more than 30 cars, among which was the Lada 4×4 Urban SUV.

All-wheel drive vehicle testing was carried out in four stages:

1. "One axis." Installation of two platforms under the wheels of the main drive axle (or under the front axle if the all-wheel drive is permanent). We try to move forward and backward. 10 points maximum.
2. "Diagonal". Installation of two platforms diagonally (under the right front and left rear wheels). An exit with noticeable slipping will result in a penalty point. Activation of any transmission functions is required (including connection of a second axle) - two penalty points. 10 points maximum.
3. "Two/one." Installing three casters (only one rear wheel remains on the ground). Turning on auxiliary electronics is a penalty point. 10 points maximum.
4. "One two". Installation of three platforms (only one front wheel remains free). 5 points maximum.

Overall rating of all-wheel drive vehicles according to Za Rulem magazine

Lada 4×4 has permanent all-wheel drive. Additional transmission features include reduction gear and center differential lock.

Such tests allow us to determine not the best all-terrain vehicle, but the most advanced all-wheel drive system.

Let us remind you that earlier another publication tested the cross-country ability of the Kia Sportage 2022, Chevrolet Niva and Lada 4x4 Urban. The Lada 4×4 performed the worst in the tests. Biased tests or harsh reality?

Key words: Lada 4x4 urban

Find out: is 4x4 drive possible in a Priora car?

What would the Priora be like if it had a 4x4 drive - would it have increased cross-country ability, the dynamics of the Lada Priora's engine would be enough for two drives, that's the question! Or rather, it would remain as dynamic as it is now, or the acceleration would become even worse. The chassis would be more expensive, there would be a transfer case, perhaps it would be like on the Niva. And this is not a reliable unit on the VAZ 2121. Of course, in nature there is a car with a 4wd drive, but it would be easier to say: the entire suspension has been redone - there is no other way to make an all-wheel drive Priora - it was designed that way.

Lada Priora is a standard city car with easy handling that even an inexperienced driver can handle in bad weather. What kind of drive is economical and safe in the city - front-wheel drive is correct. The Lada Priora, like all AvtoVAZ cars after 2107, has a front drive. But even such a car can be made even more manageable, but this operation will have the opposite, negative “side of the coin”.

The Lada Priora has always been produced by AvtoVAZ as a front-wheel drive car, but a car enthusiast could never dream of an all-wheel drive Priora. Someone may shake their head skeptically, but someone will say that this 4x4 drive formula for a Priora car is just right for Russian roads! Yes, we are not only talking about rural areas: in the city, on the slopes, a good roll of ice is created.

Lada Kalina Cross 4x4

On the roads of the country you can find an unusual car: in appearance it looks like Kalina, but its body is located too high, and it moves on wheels whose diameter is much larger than those on standard models.

People interested in the world of cars will probably immediately come to mind with the Tarzan project - a development with which AvtoVAZ made a lot of noise at one time, but has sunk into oblivion. As it turned out, there are many craftsmen living in Russia who are capable of making a fundamentally new car out of the most ordinary Kalina.

Why was all-wheel drive needed?

All-wheel drive transmission of the new Kalina
When starting to get acquainted with the all-wheel drive Kalina, you involuntarily notice that there was no official information on this matter. The classic all-wheel drive for a passenger model is clearly not suitable in this case.

AvtoVAZ has not used all-wheel drive before, and most likely does not have its own developments. Fragmentary information dates back only to 2006.

Using a simplified version with a locking clutch does not pose a big problem for implementation. But the use of various electronic systems as a 4x4 pseudo-drive requires serious development, so it could not appear like that, right away.

And yet, the Lada Kalina 4x4 was created at one of the Tolyatti enterprises. In this case, three conclusions immediately arise:

• work on an alternative all-wheel drive is still underway at the plant;
• AvtoVAZ plans to expand the market by conquering new niches;
• New faces appeared in the company, for example, a Swedish specialist in the place of director and marketer.

These three components allow us to look into the future. Firstly, all-wheel drive is no longer seen as the only reason that gives the car the opportunity to increase cross-country ability. In the developments of all-wheel drive on a passenger car, you can see the more confident behavior of an active hatchback on the highway. Secondly, do not forget the announced appearance of the Lada XRay in 2022.

Prospects for an all-wheel drive car

If we talk about the potential use of a car with all-wheel drive, then it should be noted that this car has a target category. Active young people who like a quick start from a traffic light, who use cars in everyday life, and those who like easy, quick country walks.

Important improvements to the chassis system

The popularity of the 2013 model with the 4x4 index will largely depend on the cost. To the starting price of the AvtoVAZ hatchback, which is about 250 thousand, it is worth adding the costs associated with installing a more powerful engine. The permanent all-wheel drive system should also be taken into account. This may require another 200-220 thousand. Thus, the car is unlikely to cost less than 470 thousand. But additional costs need to be added to the list, taking into account the sporty nature of the car.

If you take into account the installation of wide wheels on alloy wheels, leather interior trim, installation of a modern high-quality music installation, then you can add another 130 thousand to the initial cost. And the transformation of the external appearance, which suits this car very well, will raise the price bar to more than 700 thousand. Of course, the price, at first glance, is rather high. For that kind of money you can buy a new foreign car with good equipment. But it’s the heart and sparkling eyes that always vote for a car like this, not the wallet.

The use of an all-wheel drive Lada Kalina should not be assessed only from the point of view of how charged the car is. Attempts to create a car with all-wheel drive were made from the very beginning of the model's release. With the start of mass production, lovers of forays into nature or to the countryside will certainly be able to order a car with a similar design. This will allow you to more confidently overcome puddles and clayey crossroads after the rain.

Until recently, the only all-wheel drive VAZs were Niva cars. After them, prototypes of the “ten” appeared, but never reached production, and now there is “Kalina”.

The design looked like this. A bevel gear with a gear ratio of 1:1 was implanted into the standard gearbox by welding to the clutch housing, which removed the torque after the main gear. A cardan transmission was pulled from it to the rear axle, ending with another rear angular gearbox with a differential. A viscous coupling was built in front of it to connect the rear wheels. The gearbox was attached to the body on a subframe. An independent suspension was mounted on the same subframe. The fuel tank, in order to make room for the driveshaft, took the place of the spare wheel, and the spare tire itself was transferred to the trunk.

Gti, but not golf

The Lada prototype with the unusual name GTI 2.0 4x4 first became known in 1999. It was built by the AvtoVAZ Scientific and Technical Center on the basis of the serial station wagon VAZ-21113. Initially, the car received a 150-horsepower 2-liter engine and a 5-speed manual transmission from Opel, as well as a rear suspension, gearbox and GKN viscous coupling from the Volkswagen Golf Syncro. The remaining components were already developed in-house, including the power take-off.

Externally, in addition to the GTI nameplate, which had nothing to do with Volkswagen, the all-wheel drive Lada 111 station wagon was distinguished by larger diameter wheels, increased ground clearance to 185 mm and a protective plastic skirt around the perimeter. Everything about it was good, except for the price, which in this configuration of the car with components and assemblies borrowed from foreign cars was about $15,000, that is, almost three times more expensive than a regular Lada 111!

AvtoVAZ solved this problem by developing and installing its own rear gearbox and double wishbone suspension on a subframe. And also by replacing the Opel engine with a 1.5-liter Tolyatti eight-valve engine. Such measures made it possible to reduce the cost of the Lada GTI 2.0 4×4 to $8,500, which turned out to be only 30% more expensive than a serial single-wheel drive station wagon. But the model never went into production; only about 10 such prototypes were built.

Lada Priora all-wheel drive

What type of drive should you choose for your car - front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive? Heated debates on this topic have been going on, perhaps, since the invention of the car itself (by the way, Nicola Cugno’s steam cart, the distant ancestor of the car, was front-wheel drive). There have been countless debates about this in garages, over beer, on Internet forums. Of course, each drive type has advantages and disadvantages. The layout with a front engine and rear wheel drive is considered classic. However, now even AvtoVAZ does not make cars with such a design (the classics were discontinued several years ago).

Only automakers like BMW and Mercedes (and even then, not in all models) remain true to tradition. Porsche and several other manufacturers have been improving the rear-engine layout for many decades (respectively, the drive is also rear-wheel drive).

Most car manufacturers have adopted front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive with a front engine as a basis. It’s easier, cheaper, and most importantly, the car weighs less, which promises more modest fuel consumption. With the current “brutal” prices for fuel, this is very important.

So, let's talk about the pros and cons of all-wheel drive. But first, a little history. The first car with permanent all-wheel drive is our Niva. It appeared in 1977 and is still produced to this day, along with the new generation - Chevrolet Niva.

Apart from them, VAZ all-wheel drive vehicles are not currently produced - for example, the Lada Priora will not receive all-wheel drive at all. If we talk about purely road all-wheel drive, then the championship here belongs to Audi, which released the famous Quattro car in 1980.

It used to be that all-wheel drive was a privilege of SUVs. Indeed, the presence of an additional drive on the second axle promises a significant improvement in the off-road characteristics of the car, especially in combination with the other attributes of an all-terrain vehicle - “toothy” tires, low-range gearing, high ground clearance, etc.

However, as you know, you shouldn’t turn off your head when storming obstacles - otherwise you’ll have to run after the tractor.

There are also many cars in which all-wheel drive is installed solely to improve the reliability of control, and not at all for off-road use. Modern intelligent systems can constantly redistribute torque between the wheels using signals from sensors.

There are also “auto-kulibins” that independently install additional drive on the rear axle where there was none in the first place - for example, all-wheel drive on the Priora.

But, of course, all-wheel drive also has its disadvantages. The first and main thing is to make the structure heavier. This leads to increased fuel consumption, which is very important now. In addition, the car is complicated by additional components and assemblies. When purchasing, you need to pay a hefty sum for them, and later you will have to maintain and repair them. The Lada Priora has drive only on the front axle.

Don’t forget that you need to be able to drive a four-wheel drive vehicle. For example, in a Priora car, all-wheel drive greatly changes the character of the car - you need to train and be able to cope with the car in an unexpected situation.

What's included?

The creators made sure that the Lada was comfortable inside the cabin. At the same time, they did not forget about safety. Here are some options that are installed in the car:

1. The car is equipped with two airbags for the driver and passenger.
2. ABS braking system.
3. Already built-in alarm system with central locking and remote control.
4. Air conditioner.
5. Heated front car seats.
6. Electric windows.

Since the engineers significantly raised the car's center of gravity, it was necessary to seriously think about handling. And this was reflected in reinforced mounting of the steering racks and a powerful rear engine mount. As a result, on a flat road at high speeds, the car is stable and responds to rapid swings of the steering wheel (does not shift from side to side).

If you look at the appearance of the Kalina Cross 4x4, you will notice that it resembles the Kalina Universal, with only one significant feature. The developers have increased the clearance much more.

Note that ground clearance is the distance from the bottom point of the body to the road. In normal condition it is 208 mm. And this is quite a lot, even if you compare it with similar models. When the car is loaded, the ground clearance will decrease to 188 mm. This will especially please fans of off-road driving.

A test drive in Kazakhstan showed that the car copes well with off-road conditions. Also, the increased ground clearance has almost no effect on the stability of the car when driving fast on a flat road.

During development, engineers were able to slightly increase ground clearance due to:

• use of gas-filled shock absorbers;
• the spring supports have been changed;
• Some elements in the suspension have been improved.

The salon has been greatly transformed. It has become brighter, more spacious and now looks fresher. This impression is due to the bright interior finishes. Decorative colored inserts on the steering column give the car a sporty look.

Experienced 4x4 in an old body

There was one Kalino owner in Tolyatti who did not want to wait for the completion of the project and ordered all-wheel drive for his car right now, immediately. This minute. I saw the final work on this Kalina, the units were already mounted and adjusted, all that remained was to disassemble it all, paint it with protective paint and assemble it completely.

Front suspension on subframe

Original angular gearbox that takes power from the gearbox

New Lada: All body colors Lada Kalina: colors, photo

Intermediate CV joints and propeller shaft support

As you can see, the amount of alterations is not that small. I had to completely sacrifice the spare wheel niche:

Convert the gas tank to the rear driveshaft:

Naturally, the configuration of the exhaust system has also changed:

The shafts are original, but the CV joints are serial, “eight” and “Nivov”.

The clutch here is interlocked with the rear gearbox:

The unit itself is taken from a Volkswagen Golf 4 Syncro. The next cars, apparently, will also be built on other units.

Here's what the assembled rear suspension looks like (without wheel drives for now):

When can I expect a test drive? For mono-drive – soon. Baburin bought a Kalina in a new body and is waiting for the installation of custom suspensions. And this will be a “finished” design, suitable for displays and test drives. Showcase car. Vitaly Ivanov is currently changing the design. When it is completed, the economics of the project will become clear: what is the cost, how many of these vehicle kits can be made by Avtoprodukt, and how much they will sell.

The front-wheel drive CUV promises to be relatively inexpensive, despite a significant number of custom parts. At the same time, the car will not only receive increased ground clearance, but also improve handling. It should, in any case. We will find out how this will actually happen in the near future. I’ll make a special trip to Togliatti to ride Baburina’s Kalina. And Cross 4WD…. She'll be there later. For about six months. But clearly earlier than VAZ itself.

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"VAZ-1119 Bimoto", design features

Two identical 16-valve 11194 engines are combined with two manual gearboxes. The first motor, installed under the hood, rotates only the front wheels, the second – the rear ones. Of course, two clutch units are also used. The cables from them are connected to one pedal.

Design features of the twin-engine Lada Kalina

The gearboxes are “synchronized” with each other. Moreover, synchronization is achieved simply: two scenes are connected to one lever. In the same way, or something like this, synchronization of engine speeds is achieved - one gas pedal “pulls” two cables at once. There are no cardan shafts or differentials in Kalina Bimoto. However, the presence of all-wheel drive is an obvious fact. But the front and rear axles may not always rotate at the same speed.

Technical characteristics of the twin-engine Kalina:

• Gross weight – 1339 kg (before tuning it was 1080 kg);
• Weight distribution along the axles – 52%/48% (front/rear axle);
• Power plant power – 178 hp. at 5600 rpm;
• Maximum torque – 2 x 127 N*m at 4200-4800 rpm;
• Maximum speed – 205 km/h;
• Acceleration time to 50 km/h – 2.9 s;
• Acceleration to 100 km/h takes exactly 8 seconds;
• Braking distance (100 – 0 km/h) – 51.6 m.

Baburin

Alexander Baburin

I have already briefly mentioned Alexander Baburin. This is a former VAZ designer who at one time even managed to work as the director of SeAZ (for a short time). At VAZ he worked on suspensions and all-wheel drive; he worked under Vladimir Guba, including in the sports car department. He rose to the rank of lead designer.

Now Baburin, within the framework of Autoproduct, develops and produces various tuning hardware for VAZ cars - stretchers, subframes, brackets, levers... But this is all momentary, but the maximum task is to develop an SUV of our own design with a plastic body (in collaboration with Togliatti designer Vitaly Ivanov) .

The guys from Autoproduct have prepared a full range of solutions that will allow you to convert a standard Kalina into a CUV with relatively modest efforts. These are new front and rear suspensions plus an all-wheel drive design. This is what the hanging solution looks like in metal. The design of both suspensions is McPherson.

Front suspension on subframe:

This is how Alexander himself talks about it.

By making the front suspension a single module on the subframe, we increase the rigidity of the entire structure, which improves handling. Even with such an archaic steering rack mounting as in Kalina. If it were possible to move the steering to a subframe, the accuracy of the reactions would increase revolutionarily. But - alas...

The front subframe adds a little more than 15 kg of weight to Kalina. For the 4x4 version this is even a benefit, as it compensates for the weight of the rear gearbox.

Rear suspension on subframe:

This is a unified design and can be used for both types of drive. Unless for a 4x4 there will be room to hang the rear gearbox. Let's listen to Baburin:

Springs and shock absorbers will also be “their own”. I put this word in quotation marks, since Avtoproduct does not have the capacity to produce such parts; you will have to order from a third-party supplier, but according to your own specifications. In principle, the St. Petersburg Plaza is already making a number of original single-tube sports struts for Avtoprodukt, but for the Kalina CUV the order will most likely be placed at another plant.