Test drive vaz Kalina 1118 sedan since 2004 sedan
Serial copy
The long -awaited event happened. The light was seen by serial viburnum collected at the new AvtoVAZ factory in Togliatti. The test sedan, who will go on sale in the summer, took place in the suburbs of Sochi.Car for the city
The exterior of Kalina is well known. It is a creation of a bio -design that has become fashionable ten years ago. It is true, however, it is worth noting that, unlike other models of AvtoVAZ, thin and neat clearance between panels, reduced to 2 mm are immediately striking. This, according to the developers, has been achieved thanks to computer modeling of the car. The new approach, firstly, significantly reduces the birth time of the machine, and secondly, increases the accuracy of calculations, which ultimately affects the compatibility of the components of the car.
The ergonomics of the salon is a less studied and more worthy attention topic of conversation. Despite small external dimensions (length - 4040 mm, width - 1676), the sedan is very spacious. It is especially convenient for the rear passengers, which have a few centimeters from the knees to the standing chair, which is due to a vertical landing. At the same time, a roof with a height of 1500 mm allows you to ride even in a hat. For the convenience of entering and output, the opening angle of the front doors is increased. The hood and lid of the trunk are thrown back almost at right angles, which greatly facilitates access to the motor and trunk. Simply put, the Vazovites were able to create a machine suitable for operation in a densely populated metropolis.
As for filling the salon, such as instrument panels, there are pros and cons. Of course, everything looks much more modern than in the top ten - this is good. But the quality of finishing materials leaves much to be desired. Buyers of the car will surely appreciate the steering wheel with the possibility of vertical adjustment. In addition, AvtoVAZ engineers managed to find the optimal distance from the driver’s and front passenger seats to all governing bodies. The force that must be attached to switch levers or buttons has decreased. Among other innovations, silent door locks, electric windows of a new design, an original mechanism for closing the trunk.
We also note the magnificent visibility, which was achieved with the help of a high area of \u200b\u200bglazing of a low window sill and large side mirrors.
Motor, steering wheel and box
A 1.6-liter eight-valve engines with a capacity of 77 hp was installed on tested viburnum. For a city car, this is quite enough. In direct areas, acceleration to 100 km/h takes 13 seconds, which can be considered a decent indicator. And the maximum speed of the Russian debutant is 165 km/h. Note that this power unit is very economical: when driving at a speed of 90 km/h, gasoline consumption is 5.8 liters, at 120 km/h - 7.8 liters, in the city cycle - 9.8 liters. The new motor is not only good in technical parameters, but also differs in friendliness to the environment. It complies with the ecological norms of Euro-3, and with a certain modernization, Euro-4 is able to perform.
The most difficult test for the new engine was the rise to Mount Akhun, located in the city line. In our car there were four strong men, the weight of each was at least 90 kg. Despite this, Kalina overcame the rise in second gear without much tension, sometimes even in the third. By the way, after the serial development of Kalin with 8-valve engines, motorists will be offered a more powerful 16-valve engine.
On the mountain serpentine, it turned out that viburnum was equipped with a very soft suspension. The car is quite comfortable during urban operation, but the roads abounding with winding sections are not suitable. The steering system does not contribute to rapid maneuvering. The driver needs to intercept the steering wheel several times before viburnum enters a more or less steep turn. This was especially noticeable during the competition of the snake, arranged for journalists on one of Sochi Square. Hands after such fun were sick for a few more days, despite the fact that the steering wheel works together with an electric power. In order to transfer the wheels from one extreme position to another, four full turns are required. True, soon the number of revolutions is promised to reduce to three.
As a basic designers, they chose a well -established gearbox from tens. True, KP was modernized. It uses synchronizers of increased dimension, which increases durability. In addition, for the first time on the Russian car, a rear blocking mechanism was used, that is, by chance to go back, as on models of the Samara family, is almost impossible.
Three stars for safety
Separate words deserve security. The car fully complies with the modern international requirements for the deformation of the body during a frontal blow with a displacement and when hit in the side. In viburnum, the hardness of the body torsion exceeds the indicators of tens by 20%. Reducing the risk of injuries has been achieved due to the increase in the elements of the body and a decrease in the stiffness of others.
Passive safety systems are also provided in Kalina, including, for example, airbags for the driver and front passenger. True on the first cars, which is sad, they will not be. They will appear in 2006, and in serial configuration. However, even without the use of airbags, the sedan corresponds to three stars in the testing of Euro NCAP. The belts with the mechanism of pretension and the limiter will be installed on viburnum immediately.
Buyer and price
Until now, in Russia there was practically no production of class B cars, to which viburnum belongs. Rather than the rule, the release of Renault Symbol models in Moscow was the release in Moscow. Now Hyundai Accent is made in Taganrog. However, there is no truly mass issue. About 70% of cars sold in Russia - products of a higher class C. In the market of Western Europe, a reverse picture is observed. Only 32% is on C, and class B prefers 30% of buyers. This is easy to explain. Almost with similar consumer properties, small cars are very suitable for city residents.
The results of our studies were even better than we expected, ”said Alexander Bredikhin, head of the marketing department of OJSC AvtoVAZ. According to him, about 25% of the target group of consumers choose Kalina as their next car. More than a third of potential buyers believe that the novelty is comparable in technical characteristics with foreign analogues. At the same time, the income of future Kalina owners is at an average level or exceeds it. Otherwise, it cannot be, since viburnum is not the cheapest option. The recommended retail price, depending on the configuration, will be about $ 8000.
Technical characteristics Lada Kalina
Equipped mass, kg - 1070
Complete mass, kg - 1545
Dimensions (length/width/height), mm - 4040/1676/1500
Base, mm - 2470
Trunk volume, l - 400
Maximum speed, km/h - 160
Acceleration time to 100 km/h, s - 13
Control consumption of fuel, l/100 km:
- City cycle - 9.8
- suburban (at 90/120 km/h) - 5.8/7.8
Engine:
- Type - gasoline, 8 -valve.
- working volume, cm3 - 1600
- Power, l. With. - 77
- torque, NM at min -1 - 120/2700
Tire size - 175/70SR13
Brakes:
- front - disk
- rear - drum
Steering - with an electric power
Text: Stanislav Pavlov
Source: Magazine 5 wheel [05/2005]
