Lada Niva Travel Explained

Lada Niva Travel
Manufacturer:AvtoVAZ (1998–2002; 2020-present)
GM-AvtoVAZ (2003–2020)
Aka:VAZ-2123 (1998–2002)
Chevrolet Niva (2003–2020)
Lada Niva (2020)
Lada Niva Travel (2021–present)
Production:1998–present
Assembly:Tolyatti, Samara Oblast, Russia
Class:Mini SUV
Body Style:5-door wagon
Layout:Front-engine, four-wheel-drive
Engine:1.7 L I4 (petrol)
Transmission:5-speed manual
Wheelbase:24501NaN1[1]
Length:40561NaN1
Width:18001NaN1
Height:16901NaN1
Related:Lada Niva

The Lada Niva Travel[2] is a Mini sport utility vehicle (SUV) produced since 1998 by the AvtoVAZ Group. Originally called the VAZ-2123 (1998–2002), the SUV was marketed as the Chevrolet Niva from 2003 to 2020, when AvtoVAZ (the parent company of the Lada brand) was in a joint venture with General Motors, called GM-AvtoVAZ.

However, after General Motors sold its 50-percent stake in the firm in 2020, the car was for a short time rebranded as the 'Lada Niva', giving the car then the same name that the original, 1977-launched Lada Niva/ Lada 4x4/ VAZ-2121 still has, in certain European markets — while the VAZ-2123 is also a development of its predecessor, VAZ-2121's mechanical underpinnings.
On 21 December 2020, the car was rebranded the 'Lada Niva Travel'.

Overview

The VAZ/Lada 2123/Niva (II/Travel) is made only as a 5-door CUV, as short as a Ford Bronco II, riding on a wheelbase – the exact middle of the original Lada Niva (Legend) wheelbases of and . Although the body and the interiors are all new, it is still based on the old VAZ 2121 engine, transmission and most mechanicals.

The Niva Travel rebadging featured a touched-up body, and the 1.7-litre gasoline engine has fuel injection.

In 2003, the car was awarded zero stars out of a possible four by the Russian ARCAP safety assessment program.[3]

An export version with reinforced bodyshell, 1.8-litre Opel Ecotec Family 1 gasoline engine, and Aisin four-wheel drive was under consideration since 2003. Although most of the engineering work was completed, the release was repeatedly postponed. Although GM-AvtoVAZ considered building a new engine plant for the local production of Ecotec engines, in July 2005 it was announced that the project was cancelled, along with plans for the long-anticipated "export" Niva. However, the project was revived in autumn 2006 and the "Niva FAM1" was introduced as a new trim level for the 2007 model year. The price was much higher than the standard trim, which led to slow sales and the discontinuation of this model in April 2008. Another reason was the ceasing of Ecotec engine production at the Hungarian plant.[4]

2009 Facelift and upgrade

In 2009, the model got a minor update, featuring a slight restyling, done by Bertone studio and some minor-changes.[5] The GLS and GLC version also comes with improved safety, such as ABS and dual front airbags.[6]

Lada takeover of production

In August 2020 Lada took over production of the Chevrolet Niva, rebranding it as the Lada Niva.[7]

In December 2020, following a new generation of the car, the new Lada Niva was further rebranded as Lada Niva Travel, while the old Niva 4x4 was rebranded as Lada Niva Legend in January 2021.[8]

Chevrolet Niva Concept (2014)

Chevrolet Niva Concept
Manufacturer:GM-AvtoVAZ
Production:2014 (concept car)
Assembly:Tolyatti, Samara Oblast, Russia
Designer:Ondrej Koromház
Class:Mini SUV
Body Style:5-door wagon
Layout:Front-engine, four-wheel-drive
Platform:Dacia B0 platform (planned)
Related:Dacia Duster (planned)
Engine:1.8 L I4 (petrol)
Transmission:5-speed manual
Sp:us

GM-AvtoVAZ introduced a concept vehicle for a new generation of the Chevrolet Niva at the Moscow International Automobile Salon in late August 2014.[9] The Niva Concept, designed by Ondrej Koromház of GM (or at General Motors' headquarters in Melbourne according to other sources),[10] had a longitudinal mounted engine, full-time four-wheel-drive, two-gear transfer case and rigid-axle rear suspension. The production model was supposed to get a 1.8-liter PSA Peugeot Citroën EC8 engine (135 hp) paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox,[11] although more recent news reports suggested that it was planned to be based on the Renault Duster platform.[12] The new model's production version was initially expected in 2016,[9] but following Chevrolet stopping sales of its mainstream models in Russia, no further information has been released on the topic.

In September 2018, it was reported that GM has suspended all the work on planned replacement of Chevrolet Niva.[13]

In August 2020 Lada took over production of the Chevrolet Niva rebranding it as the Lada Niva.[14]

Technical parameters

Permissible gross weight of the towed trailer, kg:

trailer with brakes — 1200

trailer without brakes — 600

Turning radius, m — 5.7

Front suspension — spring, independent, 2-lever

Rear suspension — spring, dependent, 5-rod

Front disc brakes

Rear drum brakes

Vacuum booster — 9"

Tire dimensions — 205/75R15, 205/70R15, 215/75R15, 215/65R16

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Размеры Chevrolet Niva. ru. Chevrolet Россия. 3 January 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140104140505/http://www.chevrolet.ru/avtomobili/crossovers_suvs/niva/features-and-specs/dimension.html. 4 January 2014.
  2. Web site: AVTOVAZ has started production of the new LADA Niva Travel - Press-releases - News - Official website LADA . 2020-12-21 . 2021-01-17. LADA official website.
  3. Web site: Chevrolet Niva. Авторевю. 1 June 2017.
  4. Web site: Chevrolet Niva FAM1 больше не выпускается . ru . AutoNavigator.ru . 27 March 2010.
  5. Web site: О Chevrolet NIVA . ru . Gm-AvtoVAZ.ru . 1 February 2011 . 11 June 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110611044407/http://gm-avtovaz.ru/chevrolet_niva/about/ . dead .
  6. Web site: http://www.niva-chevrolet.com.ua/chevrolet-niva-new.html . ru:Нива Шевроле . Niva-Chevrolet.com.ua . ru . 3 November 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131104214552/http://www.niva-chevrolet.com.ua/chevrolet-niva-new.html/ . 4 November 2013 .
  7. http://info.avtovaz.ru/press-releases/117703.html Niva возвращается в семью LADA! (EN:Niva returns to the Lada family)
  8. Web site: LADA Niva Legend: the new name for the iconic model - Press-releases - News - Official website LADA. 2021-01-17. LADA official website.
  9. Web site: Концепт Chevrolet NIVA нового поколения на ММАС 2014. Chevrolet Media. 24 August 2014. ru. 13 August 2014. 7 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160307044435/http://media.gm.com/media/ru/ru/chevrolet/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/ru/ru/2014/chevrolet/08-13-niva-concept.html. dead.
  10. Web site: New Lada Niva for 2018… Could it be?. Caradvice.com.au.
  11. Web site: Chevrolet Niva Concept debuted in Moscow . . 28 August 2014 . Wroom.ru . 2 September 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141209110538/http://wroom.ru/en/news/2572 . 9 December 2014 .
  12. Web site: "GM-AVTOVAZ" is preparing a Chevrolet Niva 2 on the platform of Renault Duster. News-original.ru. 2017-03-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20170308222614/http://en.news-original.ru/gm-avtovaz-is-preparing-a-chevrolet-niva-2-on-the-platform-of-renault-duster.html. 2017-03-08. dead.
  13. Web site: GM suspends work on Chevrolet Niva replacement. Automotive News.
  14. Web site: Niva возвращается в семью LADA! . Niva returns to the Lada family. ru.