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2023 Author: Charles Youmans | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-20 18:41
Despite the fact that KamAZ specializes in the production of trucks, tractors and other specialized equipment, the company is working in different directions today. In particular, she invested her own funds in the development of a compact electric car "Kama-1". Therefore, the news that KamAZ can release its own crossover does not look surprising.
However, the Kamsky Automobile Plant does not comment on this news in any way. Perhaps this is precisely due to the fact that the manufacturer is not considering the possibility of starting the assembly of its own SUV. But, as practice shows, many companies preparing a completely new model have been hiding information about the development that has begun for a long time. However, all that has been said so far is only speculation. But despite this, images of the first crossover KamAZ-65115 2021-2022 have already appeared on the Web. They were created by an independent designer who showed that the Russian SUV from the banks of the Kama will be compact.
The choice in favor of a car of this type can be explained by the fact that such a crossover is more likely to be in demand in the Russian market. Now compact SUVs cost less than 1.5 million rubles, and if we take it as an assumption that KamAZ will really create a similar model, then it will be estimated at no more than a million rubles. The latter is due to the fact that today on the Russian market there are quite a lot of compact SUVs that have proven their reliability and excellent qualities: Renault Kaptur, Hyundai Creta and others. Therefore, a completely new crossover, offered at the same price as the named cars, will be perceived with caution, even if the car was created by KamAZ engineers.
But despite the above, the presented novelty will receive what its potential competitors are deprived of. KamAZ currently does not have a platform and power units that could make it possible to create such a car. In this regard, the Kama Automobile Plant will have to turn to other manufacturers for such components. More likely in this case is the choice in favor of Daimler, with which KamAZ has been cooperating for many years. The German concern even has a large stake in the share capital of the Kama Automobile Plant.
Thanks to cooperation, KamAZ has the opportunity to borrow a platform from Daimler for its own compact crossover. That is, the presented novelty can come out on the basis of the Mercedes-Benz GLA "trolley". The motor range is likely to move from the German model to the Russian one.
Design
The presented crossover KAMAZ-6520 2021-2022 is distinguished by its original, but at the same time familiar appearance. Stamping lines and long indentations make the Russian novelty similar to the Volkswagen model. The maximum similarity with the Tiguan and T-Roc in the presented crossover can be traced on the side of the body. Here, along the door handles, there is a decorative recess, which makes the car look more voluminous.
This decorative solution, as it were, separates the upper part of the body from the lower. The latter, because of this notch, seems to stick out to the sides, which visually increases the dimensions of the compact crossover. The bottom of the side doors, which also protrudes slightly against the background of the body, serves as a finishing touch to emphasize this effect. This is due to the presence of a plastic body kit here, which expands and passes through the round wheel arches. This constructive solution, in turn, not only protects the body from stones, but also increases the volume of the body. That is, it also makes the car visually wider.
Interesting details of the exterior include the protruding sidewalls, which create a kind of perimeter for the hood. They come out of the front wheel fenders, as if lifting them up. The front pillars of the presented KamAZ crossover are heavily piled back, which, in combination with the aforementioned protruding hood sides, give the car a more sporty look. At the same time, this made it possible to expand the area of the windshield.
The described exterior details give the Russian novelty unique features. But the front, as well as the rear, body parts are decorated in the style standard for many compact crossovers. In particular, the novelty has received a polygonal head optics with sharpened corners. However, her drawing attracts attention. Instead of LED strips, the developer built 3 square dots into the head optics, each of which is placed in its own niche.
The radiator grill of the presented novelty is almost completely covered with wide metal lamellas. This constructive solution indirectly indicates that a low-power engine is hidden under the hood of the car. As will be shown below, this is indeed the case.
The novelty has received a non-standard front bumper. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that in the upper part it goes downward at an angle, and then rests against a wide air intake, divided by a vertical insert into 2 segments. Under it, the developer placed another ventilation hole with a fine mesh, on the sides of which a plastic body kit is fixed. Closer to the wheel fenders are rectangular fog lamps.
The roof of the KAMAZ-65115 2021-2022 crossover slowly lowers towards the stern. And the window sill line goes up quite sharply. Both designs also emphasize the sporty look of the car, but at the same time reduce the visibility from the second row of seats.
At the stern, the developer has placed a really compact glazing, part of which overlaps a wide wing with an additional brake light. The rear window is slightly tilted, which is why the tailgate in the central part has a ledge that resembles a kind of shelf. Under it are large LED lights for such a compact car. The tailgate bottom has a rounded shape and a stepped structure. This constructive decision is rather conditioned only by the desire to highlight the car. It does not perform any useful functions.
The rear bumper of the new KAMAZ crossover is divided into 2 parts. On top of it there are 2 brake lights. And the bottom is closed with a thick plastic body kit, on the sides of which you can see decorative recesses, and closer to the center - 4 exhaust pipes. Probably, almost all pipes do not have useful functions. Installing four tailpipes makes no sense, since the presented crossover will receive a relatively low-powered engine.
Specifications
The development of the first crossover KamAZ-6520 2021-2022, most likely, will go according to the announced scenario. That is, the presented novelty will share the platform with the Mercedes-Benz GLA. This means that this crossover will be front-wheel drive and will compete with Renault Kaptur and, possibly, Volkswagen Taos.
The Russian novelty will receive only one engine. Under the hood of the KamAZ crossover there will be a 1.3-liter turbocharged engine, which in the Russian specification produces no more than 150 hp. power. Complete with this unit, they will offer a 6-speed automatic transmission. But it is possible that in the basic versions of the novelty there will be "mechanics" with the same number of speeds.
Time to market
The KamAZ company is really not going to re-profile its own activities and switch to the production of passenger cars. But as one of the options for future development, this direction may well be considered. However, even if KamAZ decides to launch the production of its own crossover, the car will be released under a completely different brand.