Chevrolet Niva 2nd generation. GM-AvtoVAZ has begun preparations for the production of the second generation Chevrolet Niva. When the grass was greener

A conceptual version of which was presented at the 2014 Moscow Motor Show at the end of August. Initially, the concern actively participated in the development of the project General Motors, which invested in the construction of a plant in the Tolyatti special economic zone, where it was planned to begin production in 2016 Chevrolet Niva II in a new body.

Alas, at the end of 2014, an economic crisis began in Russia, and in March 2015, GM announced its activities in our country, refusing further investments in the construction of the enterprise, and the Chevy Niva 2 SUV project itself was frozen indefinitely.

As a result, AvtoVAZ decided to bring the car to the production line on its own, although this requires attracting credit funds in the amount of about 12 billion rubles, which in the current situation is extremely difficult to obtain. And, of course, there is no talk of launching the SUV into production in 2016 - at best, the Chevrolet Niva 2 will see the light only in 2018.

As for the concept, the new Chevrolet Niva 2019 received a completely different exterior design and a completely redesigned interior. At the same time overall dimensions The cars have not changed much, although they have grown. The length has increased by 260 mm, the wheelbase has increased by 150 mm, but the increase in height has not been specified. They promise to make the production version of the Chevy Niva 2 in a new body as similar as possible to the prototype.

The car retains a hinged rear door with a spare tire attached to it and an upturned window sill line. In general, the appearance of the 2018 Chevrolet Niva in the new body has become more aggressive, using sharp edges, emphasizing the preserved off-road potential.

The concept version flaunts the presence of off-road equipment, such as a snorkel, a roof rack with a “chandelier” of fog lights, engine protection and front axle, as well as 16-inch wheels with “toothy” BF Goodrich Mud-Terrain T/A tires measuring 235/70.

Initially, a 1.8-liter engine was assigned to the Chevrolet Niva (2018-2019) gasoline engine PSA EC8 with 135 hp (170 Nm), which has been installed on some Peugeot and Citroen car models since March 2013.

As a result, this engine was later recognized as too expensive, and a VAZ sixteen-valve 21176 of similar volume, but with an output of only 122 hp, is being considered as a replacement. Talk about expanding the line power units, including due to the inclusion of a diesel engine in it (the design of the SUV was designed for it from the very beginning) is no longer suitable.

The car also acquired a modernized chassis (but it was decided to abandon the McPherson suspension on the production car) and new box gears, including a transfer case with electromechanical shifting. And in the future, the Chevrolet Niva II was going to be equipped with an automatic transmission, plus it was possible that a front-wheel drive modification would appear, although a final decision on this issue was never made.

The basic equipment of the new Chevrolet Niva 2018 should include front airbags and ABS, and the cost of the car is expected to increase by about 10-15 percent. Let us remind you that the price range for the current Chevy Niva ranges from 593,000 to 738,500 rubles. At the same time, the SUV is equipped with a non-alternative 80-horsepower 1.7-liter engine and a five-speed manual transmission.

The most popular domestically produced SUVs, famously named Chevrolet Niva, are very popular not only in Russia, but also in more than 100 countries around the world. Reliable off-road conquerors attract attention with such advantages as:

1. permanent all-wheel drive and independent suspension;
2. high cross-country ability;
3. wide range of specialized models;
4. availability of components;
5. favorable price in comparison with analogues of imported automakers.

Brand history

Background. The first small-class SUV from Volzhsky automobile plant(VAZ-2121 Niva) rolled off the production line back in 1977. The car quickly won not only the love of domestic motorists, but also became one of the few VAZ models exported. Domestic SUVs was highly praised even in Japan.

For more than 40 years of production of Niva cars, Auto VAZ has modernized the model more than once, improving technical characteristics, carrying out minor restyling and offering specialized “charged” versions.

First generation Chevrolet Niva appeared in 2002 as the result of a joint development of two large automobile companies, and this particular car will be available in car dealerships until 2019. The production of the model was launched at the GM-AvtoVAZ joint venture (Togliatti), and starting in 2017, a car production line was launched in Kazakhstan.

After restyling, which received the name of an American brand as a prefix to the already well-known name, Niva retained all the main advantages of the model, while at the same time offering the owner:

• more high level comfort;
• powerful power unit under the hood;
• reliable 5-speed manual transmission;
• economical for four-wheel drive vehicle fuel consumption (11 l per 100 km);
• package of the most modern options.

In Russian car dealerships, the model is presented in five trim levels:

1. L – basic configuration;
2. LC – with air conditioning;
3. GL – improved version with a set of airbags, anti-lock braking system and alarm;
4. GLC is maximum interior comfort plus a package of additional options for the driver;
5. LE+ is a true off-road version, which includes a snorkel, tow hitch and reliable engine protection.

We invite you to learn more about Chevrolet Niva cars sold in car dealerships today and why this car will be listed on the market in 2018-2019.

Second generation The Chevrolet Niva began to be developed back in 2010 and was promised to be put into mass production by the beginning of 2019, but to date the project has remained at the level of promising photos and the only prototype of 2014.

Experts talk about two scenarios. So, in the nearest future by development standards domestic auto industry in the future we will be able to see:

1. Chevrolet Niva 2 2019 model designed by the Italian studio Blue Engineering.

Chevrolet Niva 2

Chevrolet Niva II

The 2nd generation Chevrolet Niva was officially presented at the 2014 Moscow Motor Show as a model that was supposed to go into production by 2016, but later the start of assembly was postponed to the beginning of 2019.

The exterior of the updated SUV turned out to be quite impressive and completely different from all previous models in the line. Brutal, aggressive, emphasizing the off-road character of the car, it promised the new product a successful start and attention not only from motorists conquering off-road conditions, but also from a younger audience.

In the interior of the new Niva, everything indicated that the car would not be inferior in comfort to competitors of imported brands. High-quality materials, a full range of necessary on-board equipment, the most modern options to assist the driver, a multimedia system and stylish lighting- everything is like an elite car, claiming to be an owner with wealth and status.

On the technical side, the promises were also impressive. Under the hood of the SUV there was supposed to be a powerful French gasoline engine PSA with a volume of 1.8 liters and a power of 136 hp, for which a reliable 5-speed manual transmission was also intended.

After the model was shown at the capital's auto show, the latest news about the Niva Chevrolet model spread with lightning speed, but until 2019 the company failed to meet the hopes of domestic motorists to get a modern, reliable and at the same time inexpensive SUV.

In 2015, the ambitious project was unexpectedly frozen because the company did not find the necessary funds for its implementation. Moreover, in August 2017, the company did not pay for the renewal of the patent for the car design, without commenting on its actions. Of course, this does not mean that GM-AvtoVAZ has abandoned the idea, because they still remain its owners (at least for the next 2 years) and can make payment at any time by extending the validity patent.

Since the Chevrolet Niva 2 project of GM-AvtoVAZ was developed with virtually no participation Russian company, AvtoVAZ decided to present to the owl a vision of what the new Niva 2019 should become.

The first step towards realizing the idea was organizing a competition for the design of a new Russian SUV. Among the many works presented by domestic and foreign participants, the organizers drew attention to the futuristic Lada California, presented by a young designer from Togliatti.

It is not yet known whether this prototype will be used as the basis for the new model, or whether the new Niva Lada will receive a radically new exterior.

The most plausible version is the one that predicts the release updated crossover LADA 4×4 based on Renault Duster. On the Internet you can find many ideas on what the new product will look like. Most designers are inclined to believe that the SUV will receive an X-Code style body, as well as interior and technical characteristics from the Duster car.

LADA Niva 4×4

The idea of ​​getting a large SUV for the price domestic car, under the hood of which there will be a full set of high-quality and time-tested components and assemblies, Renault really looks very attractive.

Whether this will be the case, time will tell. The presentation of the new all-wheel drive LADA 4×4 should take place at the next Moscow Motor Show.

Much has been said about the incredible possibilities and features of the new Russian Chevrolet SUV Niva second generation. This car received recognition at the Moscow Motor Show in 2014, and was expected to go on sale late last year. But it turned out that just at this time the Chevrolet brand decided to leave the Russian market, selling off the remnants that had been imported earlier. Ultimately, the premiere of the new SUV never took place. This became the reason for thinking that the car would never appear on the market, there was talk about the indefinite freezing of the Chevy Niva 2 project, experts began to argue that AvtoVAZ itself was not able to carry out all the necessary work and put the car into production. It's not so much the concern's ability to produce a car, but the Chevrolet corporation's patents for almost all components and assemblies of the car.

In fact, it turned out that work with the concept did not stop; the Russian company is negotiating with an American partner about the possible release of the car. Indeed, such significant investments in the development of corporate identity, new power units and better and more modern technical characteristics cannot be wasted. Official opinions there is nothing on this score, but it is behind the scenes actively asserted that an agreement was reached, the company again began to actively work on technical part project and over the construction of an assembly line with certain features. It is quite possible that the Chevrolet Niva 2 will be called something else, since the American brand has left Russian market and can no longer be presented in car dealerships. Let's remember the main features of the car.

Creating appearance is a big way of active work of GM-AvtoVAZ

Today, cooperation between General Motors and AvtoVAZ is virtually zero. If there are any changes to the finished appearance of the car, they will turn out to be truly Russian, created by our designers and constructors. Initially, the car was created jointly, the Americans provided the car with a corporate identity and created the main features of its appearance, many parts were developed jointly and from scratch, but some were simply taken from other successful corporate projects. They did a very good job creating the exterior of the car, every expert and potential buyer of a Russian jeep confirms this. Among important advantages concept that we can evaluate, we should highlight the following features:

• a certain quality of change in the external appearance, serious reforms in terms of body shape, bringing this part of the car to a modern state;
• a complete change in optics, now the headlights will be protected from damage, and the number of optical devices with high-quality light will increase significantly;
• the roughness and brutal features of the body suited the new car quite well, it became sporty and demanding of any additions;
• inside there is also a sporty environment that can provide a feeling highest power and the enormous performance of your new car;
• signature Chevrolet steering wheel shape, many new instruments and electronic assistants, an excellent multimedia system and other benefits await the driver;
• The seats were also completely changed, which old version were simply terrible, now nothing will interfere with your excellent comfort even on long trips;
• the new Shniva will also receive a number of non-standard versions, equipped with a roof rack and other attributes of a real SUV for difficult trips.

All these innovations make the second-generation car a real change of generations, and not just a face lift, as is customary to update vehicles today. It must be admitted that the first generation version of the Chevrolet Niva has become very outdated since 2002. Even though the car is quite affordable, it does not provide a feeling of novelty and delight, which will definitely be present in the new model. The appearance of the vehicle reflects the concern’s desire to make the overall creation actually modern, and not just salable and accessible. With all its advantages, the car is unlikely to cost too much, so every potential buyer of a new car will be able to get such appearance parameters.

Technical details of the new Chevrolet Niva 2 jeep

And if the appearance surprises and encourages you to buy, then technical part the car should confirm your first impressions. We often do not receive this confirmation in Russian cars, so we buy vehicles only because of their affordable cost. In the case of the Chevrolet Niva 2, most likely you will buy the car for technical innovations, which make it modern and in demand in Russian operating conditions. The designers abandoned simply copying the technical part of the old car, creating new interesting opportunities for each buyer:

• the car is built on a new platform, now you can safely and without any qualms call the car a true SUV with all the required attributes;
• the front suspension has become independent, has a multi-link structure and should provide significantly more comfort when traveling in any conditions;
• permanent all-wheel drive with the ability to lock the center differential and a two-speed transfer case will confirm the title of an SUV;
• monocoque body is the optimal solution used by manufacturers all over the world; such a car is no worse frame SUV according to all characteristics;
• very short overhangs and the beveled shape of the bumpers give the car additional geometric maneuverability, the approach angle will increase significantly;
• a fairly confident wheelbase will be equipped new form rims and will provide more reasonable tire sizes to get a wider range on the market.

The power unit developed by the French corporation PSA deserves special attention. This is a 1.8-liter gasoline power unit with 4 cylinders, which produces a fairly active 136 horses and grabs torque from the very beginning. low revs. The main gearbox will remain a simple 5-speed manual, but an automatic will be available as an option. In the future, the corporation plans to produce front-wheel drive Shnivy for urban operating conditions. Indeed, the fuel consumption of a car with a constant all-wheel drive higher, but in the city this function turns out to be even unnecessary. So this solution seems quite logical and can save the buyer a lot of money.

When can we expect the release of the new Chevrolet Niva 2?

Most likely, in 2016 we will not see a new SUV either on the production line or in car showrooms. The car is currently being finalized, but the fact that work on the project has not been stopped gives some hope for the future presentation of the model on the market. Today, AvtoVAZ is left without the support of Chevrolet in the issue of producing a model; it is necessary to carry out a new naming and select the features of transport production. It is possible that changes will be made to technical design car. Presumably, the SUV may actually appear on the enterprise’s assembly line in early or mid-2017. However, this appearance can be influenced by countless factors:

• the potential demand for an SUV today is high, but only if the car remains in the price range of up to 700-800 thousand rubles in normal configuration;
• production will be carried out exclusively by Russian specialists, so some changes may need to be made technical units, returning to old ideas;
• it is likely that the car will undergo a complete rebranding with the removal of Chevrolet nameplates and a complete change in the appearance of some parts before release;
• the engine is also in question, the French unit will be expensive due to changed exchange rates, the development of a domestic engine is possible;
• the final release of the model has not yet been approved; the revival of the project refers only to unconfirmed rumors, which are extremely difficult to actually verify;
• main competitors of the project - budget crossovers, the entry of the Chevrolet Niva 2 into the market depends on the development of the data market vehicles.

The corporation itself, at the beginning of the development of the vehicle, identified the French-Romanian SUV Renault Duster as its main competitor. In fact, in this price segment buyers primarily think not about technical capabilities, but about travel comfort and appearance cars. Therefore, the Japanese twin Duster can also be considered a contender. Nissan Terrano. However, the competition is quite dubious, because if you need an SUV, you won’t even look at these rivals. It is enough to correctly call a spade a spade, since the Niva 2 is a real SUV with a significantly greater number of advantages in technical terms. Watch a short video with a review of Shniva 2 from the Moscow Motor Show in 2014:

Let's sum it up

The Chevrolet Niva 2 will not necessarily appear on the assembly line and on sale exactly in the form in which it is presented today on the pages of magazines and automotive projects on the Internet. Most likely, the company will actively change the appearance and planned technical equipment to make the car more localized and reduce the cost of the project. It must be remembered that at a high price, even outspoken patriots will choose foreign cars and will not pay attention to the overly expensive Russian development. In this case, the project will be unprofitable and will not justify itself.

It is quite difficult to say anything specific about the Chevy Niva 2, but the company has always had very big plans for this development. This car was going to become one of the important export vehicles for many markets around the world, including Europe. Needless to say, there is no talk of any international arena yet. It is important to launch a project on the domestic market and look at the reaction of potential buyers, and then think about possible real changes in supply policy. So let's wait for the official start of sales. What do you think about the new generation of Chevrolet Niva?

At the end of January, auto news feeds covered the topic of the new Chevy Niva with particular scope. Insider reports unfrozen it (“the government approved the loan!”), and official denials immediately froze it again: there was still no money. The decision to provide state guarantees for the project was declared to have already been made, but no one saw it in the end. Approvals came and went, but did not come anywhere. And so on.

Behind all this, one rather important question got a little lost: what is the Chevy Niva of the winter 2017 model after two years of “freezing” and who needs it? Let's try to answer, but first a few formalities for the record.

Funding for the Chevrolet Niva-2 project is now in the hands of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Economic Development: they must decide whether or not to provide GM-AvtoVAZ with state guarantees for the loan that Sberbank is ready to issue. Therefore, when reports appeared that the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in correspondence with the Ministry of Economic Development, issued a positive conclusion on such state guarantees, a wave of optimistic headlines immediately arose: “Money has been found for the production of the Chevy Niva!”

Meanwhile, a day later, the Ministry of Industry and Trade through the media denied the existence of a “final decision on state support,” and to our direct request about the presence of a positive resolution signed by Deputy Minister Alexander Morozov, the ministry’s press service responded evasively: “The decision to provide state guarantees is made not in the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia, but in Government Russian Federation. On at the moment The government of the Russian Federation has not made any decisions regarding GM-AvtoVAZ.” The Ministry of Economic Development was more frank: yes, there was correspondence on this topic, a positive conclusion was received from the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The issue is being studied. But at the moment no government guarantees have been provided.

The GM-AvtoVAZ JV itself was stingy with information: “The decision on financing the project has not yet been made. We are negotiating this issue with Sberbank and are awaiting a decision on the provision of government guarantees, which are necessary to obtain a loan for the implementation of the project. To date, the project is financed through own funds SP".

The bottom line is that the official result is something like: oh, leave me alone, nothing has been decided yet!

2014 Chevrolet Niva Concept

According to our information, the Chevrolet Niva-2 project indeed continues to hang, but the reason for this is not so much the lack of the necessary funds at the joint venture as the uncertainty of AvtoVAZ’s position. After all, VAZ itself has long been preparing a similar car, known as the Lada 4x4 New Generation (or Niva-3), the debut of which has been rescheduled for 2019. Of course, this car does not need a direct competitor in a very narrow market niche. But, being a 50% co-owner of the joint venture with the General Motors concern, AvtoVAZ cannot and should not openly sabotage the appearance of the Chevy Niva-2 - so it does this in disguise, through ostentatious indifference to the project and complete inaction in seeking co-financing.

There is an opinion that AvtoVAZ’s game with GM is strategic, aimed at buying out the American share in the joint venture along with the rights to a new model, which will become the real Niva-3, and the current sluggish work on its own model is being carried out rather by inertia, just in case. That’s why there are no noticeable successes there. The VAZ Niva-3 will most likely move to another platform; according to official information, the basis for it has not yet been selected, but according to unconfirmed reports it will most likely be a crossover platform Renault Duster second generation. The AvtoVAZ managers we interviewed are confident that the plant has no strategy at all regarding the joint venture! Yes, the emergence of a competitor is undesirable, but no one really believes in it, everyone is waiting for the joint venture to die naturally, due to lack of competitiveness old model and the inability to release a new one. But now participation in the joint venture with GM brings AvtoVAZ a stable cash flow as a supplier of main components and assemblies, so no one will intentionally cut this chicken.

Moreover, AvtoVAZ is participating as much as possible in the Chevy Niva-2 project from the technical side. For example, VAZ, by order of GM-AvtoVAZ, adapted for new car its 1.8 engine, in the longitudinal version it received the designation VAZ-2199. This is an almost approved option, with any imported engine The new Chevy Niva goes beyond a reasonable price.

Patent image of the new Chevy Niva

But there is no final decision on the transmission. AvtoVAZ has a modernized “classic” gearbox with index 2124, made for Niva-3, but it does not yet hold the necessary loads (it is currently being tested). Transfer case- also an old, but tinkered three-wheel unit from the Niva-2123, which was fine-tuned for noise and vibration at the Swedish company Vicura.

GM-AvtoVAZ insists on a cable drive of the shift mechanism and direct coupling of the gearbox with the transfer case, without an intermediate shaft. The VAZ units prepared for the Niva-3 are conceptually different; the shift lever is located directly on the gearbox housing, and the torque is transmitted to the transfer case through the intermediate shaft. Naturally, no one will make a gearbox and transfer case for GM in strict accordance with the “wants”, and the joint venture does not have the money for this. Therefore, AvtoVAZ is confident that they will take what we offer.

But GM is looking alternative options. In particular, the idea of ​​using a gas transmission from a Gazelle has not yet died, only with a modified crankcase so that it fits into the body of the new Chevy Niva. However, the latest contacts on this topic with Nizhny Novgorod residents date back to June 2016. ZF is also mentioned in conversations, but this option is unlikely to pass the price. And according to automatic transmission There is even less certainty: some time ago it was planned to use the Punch VT4 variator, but it is obvious that it is not strong enough to localize it in Tolyatti, and it is expensive to purchase.

What about the units... GM-AvtoVAZ doesn’t even know yet where the production of bodies will be organized! Resuming the construction of a separate building in the Togliatti SEZ is long, expensive and legally difficult; the dispute with the former contractor has not yet been resolved. The joint venture has an idle building 30, but there is not enough space there to organize a full-fledged welding line. But you will also need a warehouse.

Patent and image of the new Chevy Niva

In May last year, AvtoVAZ made a proposal to locate body production in the building of the abolished OPP, but then it itself withdrew this proposal. Now, according to some reports, they want to offer the 62nd VAZ building for this role, from where the production of the first generation Lada 4x4 was recently withdrawn. Meanwhile, the welding equipment and some of the equipment already at the disposal of GM-AvtoVAZ are by no means getting any younger and will soon require major maintenance.

AvtoVAZ, as a co-owner of the joint venture, is emphatically distancing itself from the financial problems with the launch of the Chevy Niva-2, but it is not creating active obstacles to the project and is not even averse to making money from the hopeless situation of the American side. But - in moderation, without bending to other people's technical specifications. A sort of mixture of egocentrism and intoxication with omnipotence. An elephant's look at a mouse's petty fuss.

But the irony of fate is that GM itself took a similar position in 2012, when it announced that the new generation car would be developed and produced independently, without the help of AvtoVAZ. Unofficially, the GM-AvtoVAZ joint venture explained it this way: “We are tired of the disgusting quality of VAZ components and the difficult relationship with such a co-shareholder, so we will build our own body production and localize the assembly of imported units in Togliatti - ourselves, with our own money.”

It was a demarche, although officially the parties continued to smile at each other. The market was growing, the ruble was strengthening, and the planned 200 million dollars seemed to be enough for everything. Not enough. And the risks of a technological “divorce” with AvtoVAZ were not fully calculated. Therefore, the Chevy Niva, in fact, found itself hostage to its own parents.

GM is now trying, by analogy with AvtoVAZ itself, to use administrative resources (the project of the new Chevy Niva is personally supported by the governor of the Samara region, Nikolai Merkushkin), dreams of receiving the state guarantee on the loan from Sberbank, already promised at the very top - and, most likely, will receive it. But in the end, alas, a car made of compromises may be born.

True, even such a Chevrolet Niva-2 should have a steady demand in the “brutal SUV” market, because it will remain the only domestic (read: affordable) car in this class. The Lada 4x4 New Generation crossover is designed for several other consumers, not those who knead mud through forests. The only question is whether there will be enough such narrow niche buyers to pay off the project. After all, even if production is carried out according to the cheapest option, with the location of the welding complex on its own territory, the break-even point, according to the unofficial estimate of the GEM people themselves, is unlikely to be below the mark of 50 thousand cars per year.