Table of contents:
2023 Author: Charles Youmans | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-20 18:41
Lada Niva Legend, which until recently was sold as Lada 4x4, has gone through several deep modernizations over the past few years. AvtoVAZ replaced the outdated stove control unit, added new interior trim materials and slightly tweaked the car's exterior. At the same time, structurally, the modern Niva Legend differs little from the model that rolled off the conveyor belt back in the 1970s.
However, in a few years the situation will change dramatically. AvtoVAZ has promised that by 2024 it will release a new, second generation Niva. Moreover, it is more likely that the manufacturer will take the current version of Niva Legend as the basis for the future model. There is still little information about the new SUV. Initially, it was assumed that the vehicle will be based on the French platform CMF-B-LS, to which AvtoVAZ plans to transfer all its products. But this "cart" has a number of design features that limit the capabilities of engineers. In particular, it does not allow the creation of full-fledged SUVs.
In this regard, AvtoVAZ recently announced that it intends to modify its own platform for the future Lada Niva. That is, the next-generation SUV will at least retain the same off-road performance and permanent all-wheel drive. At the same time, the design of the future novelty has not yet been declassified.
An independent designer showed how the next generation Lada Niva Legend 2024 might look like. The renders he published shows a 5-door SUV, which retains a number of familiar details, but received a completely different body. The presented model only vaguely resembles the modern Niva Legend. It is worth noting that such a transformation of the car is quite possible, since it is already known that the Russian SUV will face a large-scale modernization in the coming years, which will affect the entire structure.
Another interesting detail concerning the second generation of Niva Legend is its technical part. But even in this case, AvtoVAZ revealed some details, making it clear what type of engines the future SUV can get.
Design
The presented Lada Niva Legend 2024 is notable for many details. First of all, attention is drawn to the fact that after the changes made, the SUV began to look more compact than the current version of the Lada Niva Legend. This effect became possible not due to a decrease in the dimensions of the car, but due to a revision of the body configuration. Behind the novelty, wide racks are now installed, which are slightly tilted forward. At the same time, the entire body became more angular. This combination of design solutions visually made the SUV shorter.
However, in comparison with the current version of Niva Legend, this novelty really turned out to be more compact. This is indicated by the dimensions of the trunk: judging by the renders, its door practically touches the rear seats, while the cargo compartment of a modern SUV is large. And due to the fact that the body of the novelty has acquired an angular shape, the car has become noticeably narrower. That is, even with a cursory examination of the presented SUV, it is clear that it has undergone dramatic changes.
In comparison with the current version of Niva Legend, the front pillars are more heavily heaped up, which made it possible to increase the area of the windshield. But for the same reason, and also because of the shortened stern, the roof became smaller. From its predecessor, the novelty has borrowed a smooth hood, the side parts of which have a rounded shape. As before, the direction indicators are located right below it at the presented Niva 4x4 2024. But now they are integrated into a distinctive lip that hangs over the front of the body in the form of a compact visor.
The maximum similarity between the new Lada Niva Legend and its pre-reform version can be traced in the area where the radiator grille and head optics are located. These elements are still combined into one block. As before, the headlights are circular in shape, but now there are 2 horizontal LED strips inside them. The rectangular grille still contains thin louvers.
The front bumper seems to be borrowed from the pre-reform model. However, he, having retained the previous configuration, experienced large-scale changes. Under it, the presented novelty provides for a long "skirt" into which an air intake is built. The bottom of the front bumper, like the side doors and wheel arches, is covered by a bright plastic body kit.
The windows of the novelty are compact in size. Moreover, their area was artificially reduced by the introduction of a wide black edging. Due to the expansion of the support struts, the rear doors were also shortened.
Specifications
For a long time, information has appeared on the Web that after the platform change, AvtoVAZ will no longer install engines of its own production on Lada, replacing them with Renault units. But recently, the Volzhsky Automobile Plant announced that it was not going to abandon the current engine range, planning to adapt it for future innovations.
This means that Lada Niva Legend 2024 will receive familiar powertrains. However, it is more likely that a car with a change in generation will lose the 1.7-liter "aspirated" engine with an output of 87 hp, since this engine does not provide sufficient power and is already technically outdated. Most likely, the new SUV will be equipped with 1, 6 and 1, 8-liter engines, which today produce up to 106 and 122 hp. Both units are combined with a manual and automatic transmission. It is also expected that the future Lada Niva Legend will retain permanent all-wheel drive. Moreover, in order to reduce the cost of the car, AvtoVAZ may agree to leave the mechanical transfer case for the SUV.
Time to market
AvtoVAZ has promised that it will release a new Lada Niva by 2024. At the same time, it is not yet known which model the manufacturer is going to modernize, Travel or Legend. Also, AvtoVAZ has not yet decided on the design of the future SUV. In this regard, it is possible that the solutions that were implemented on the Niva Legend presented in the renderings can later be seen on the production car.