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2023 Author: Charles Youmans | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-20 18:41
The segment of compact and, as a result, cheap pickups is gaining popularity today. Moreover, a very limited number of models are presented in this sector of the world market. In fact, the most demanded representatives now are Hyundai Santa Cruz and Ford Maverick. In Russia, this segment is filled by VIS-Auto (owned by AvtoVAZ), which produces a limited edition pickup truck based on the Lada Niva.
Due to the growing popularity of such cars, it is quite possible to expect that models of other brands will join their number. According to our designer, a compact pickup truck is capable of producing LiAZ, which today specializes in the production of buses. This opinion may seem strange. However, if we consider that the Likinsky Automobile Plant has recently been cooperating with GAZ, then the presented car may well appear on the market under the LiAZ brand.
While this is just speculation, the independent pickup concept looks like production-ready. Moreover, stylistically, it is closer to the Dacia Duster, which recently acquired a cargo platform. LiAZ-5256 2021-2022 is compact in size, which is why it received a one-and-a-half cabin. This is not visible in the images, but there are probably at least 4 seats in the cabin. However, due to such a compact size, the rear seats are more likely to be used for transporting small loads or children.
It is still difficult to judge what kind of technical part such a pickup can get. The Likinsky Automobile Plant does not have the technologies and platforms to produce such cars. But if you consider that the company cooperates with GAZ, the latter is able to assist in the creation of a compact pickup truck. More precisely, the Gorky Automobile Plant in this case can act as an intermediary between LiAZ and Volkswagen. The German concern has the MQB platform, on the basis of which cars of various classes and sizes are being created today.
Volkswagen is generally interested in building a small pickup truck. This is evidenced by the Tarok concept, which was presented in 2018. The German concern has recently abandoned the development of this model. But the very idea of a compact pickup truck under Volkswagen's leadership has support. Therefore, it is possible that VW will transfer the licensing rights for its own platform to another company in order to assess the potential demand for such vehicles.
Design
As noted earlier, stylistically, the LiAZ-5256 2021-2022 pickup is more similar to the Dacia Duster, but the Russian model stands out for its sporty design, which is more typical for the Hyundai Santa Cruz. But despite the above, the presented pickup has its own, somewhat unique style.
The Russian novelty was created for operation in urban conditions. Its compact size allows you to maneuver with confidence in heavy traffic. But at the same time, the car has an impressive ground clearance, which allows it to be used outside of smooth asphalt. That is, the presented pickup was created for Russian conditions. This is emphasized by the flared wheel arches of a square shape, along which an additional plastic body kit is laid. The latter also stretches along the bottom of the side doors, forming here some kind of footrests.
At the Russian novelty, the front pillars are heavily overwhelmed, which smoothly pass into the roof, visually lengthening it. This design solution gives the car a more impetuous look. In addition, by increasing the angle of inclination of the front pillars, the developer thereby made the frontal glazing larger, which had a positive effect on visibility from the driver's seat and reduced the area of "blind" zones.
The body of the Russian pickup truck is completely flat. But above the front volumetric wheel arches, the developer has placed a protrusion that visually raises the car a little. The bonnet goes at a noticeable angle, which once again emphasizes the sporty style. The novelty from LiAZ has received a standard trapezoidal head optics. It is housed in separate niches and is complemented by LED lights. The presented novelty is equipped with a huge polygonal grille with a fine mesh. It protrudes slightly forward, thus forming a kind of "nose".
The front bumper of the presented pickup turned out to be embossed. Its smooth lines curving abruptly break off, passing into an elongated air intake, which is also placed in a separate niche. Along the sides of the air intake are narrow, vertically oriented vents, above which subtle fog lights are fixed.
At the back, the LiAZ-5256 2021-2022 looks more like a Dacia Duster. Like the Romanian model, the Russian food has the shape of a square. But the rear door of the LiAZ pickup truck has a complex configuration formed due to the numerous bends of the body metal. This stylistic decision gives the stern a broken structure.
The rear optics of the novelty are located almost under the very edge of the cargo platform. The perimeter of the latter is formed by curved sheet metal, which forms a kind of compact visor. The rear bumper is complemented by a protection that is fixed at a noticeable angle. This arrangement has a positive effect on the vehicle's cross-country ability.
Specifications
As shown earlier, if the presented pickup is launched into production, it will be based on the MQB platform. This "trolley" allows the introduction of plug-in four-wheel drive into cars. But in order to reduce the cost of a pickup and, as a result, increase its competitiveness, such a transmission will not appear on the LiAZ-5256 2021-2022.
Under the hood, this model can accommodate a 1.4-liter turbocharged engine, with which all budget Volkswagen cars come out today. The maximum output of this unit in the basic version reaches 125 hp. In this case, the motor is combined with a manual or automatic 6-speed gearbox. In the more expensive versions of German models, the 1.4-liter engine produces up to 150 hp. and is completed with a two-disk 7-speed "robot". Perhaps for the presented pickup they will also borrow a 1.6-liter "atmospheric" engine. But this option is less likely due to the fact that Volkswagen is now more focused on the production of cars that consume little fuel.