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2023 Author: Charles Youmans | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-20 18:41
The Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant stands out against the background of most global manufacturers. He still produces models in the same form in which they came off the conveyor belt several decades ago. Moreover, even a relatively new Patriot appeared on the Russian market a long time ago. However, it may be partly due to this approach that all UAZ products are offered at relatively low prices. Moreover, each car demonstrates excellent off-road capabilities that are unattainable for many foreign and more expensive cars.
But UAZ, judging by numerous statements, is not going to continue to remain in place, keeping the model range unchanged. Representatives of the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant have repeatedly said that the company is already working to increase the number of cars produced. The main attention of the general public was attracted by the announcements about the beginning of the development of the second generation Patriot. Under this news background, many for some reason forgot that the UAZ company plans to release a full-fledged crossover as well. Moreover, working prototypes of such a model have already been presented earlier.
Despite the fact that UAZ has not yet finally decided whether it needs its own crossover, the independent designer decided to imagine how such a car could look like. He has published a series of rendered images of a model capable of becoming a full-fledged competitor for the Nissan X-Trail and other similar SUVs. And if we take into account the pricing policy pursued by the brand in relation to its own cars, then the UAZ-409 2021-2022 crossover, which received a consonant name with the ZMZ-409 engine, should cost significantly less.
The Russian SUV will stand out favorably against the background of direct competitors not only with a lower price. The presented model is expected to receive a proprietary all-wheel drive UAZ, in connection with which it can be expected that it will surpass the aforementioned Nissan X-Trail and other similar cars in off-road capabilities. At the same time, the level of comfort and safety of the crossover is likely to improve qualitatively in comparison with the current Patriot. Previously published information testifies in favor of this assumption. The UAZ reported on a qualitative increase in safety in relation to the next generation of the Patriot. In this regard, most likely, the new crossover will borrow from the "older" model most of the solutions that improve the performance of the car.
Design
The new crossover, despite its unique appearance, is sustained in the corporate concept of UAZ. The presented model looks more like a full-fledged SUV than a city parktenik. The novelty stands out for its large body with fairly sharp transitions between individual parts and smooth edges. At the same time, the presented car as a whole corresponds to modern design solutions that many manufacturers implement in their own crossovers.
In particular, as with direct competitors, the front pillars of the UAZ-409 2021-2022 crossover are heavily piled back, which made it possible to significantly increase the area of the windshield. The roofline slopes gently towards the stern, giving the vehicle a swift look. But the rear support pillars of the novelty turned out to be wide, which is more typical for SUVs. For this reason, the stern glazing is very compact. Moreover, its dimensions were also reduced because the developer placed a developed wing on top, from which decorative overlays, painted in the body color, go down.
Following the example of other UAZ models, the presented crossover has a smooth hood, although its edges are framed by noticeable folds. The similarity with SUVs is emphasized by a huge rectangular grille, which is slightly recessed into the body. Its inner part is made up of a multitude of intersecting thin metal strips. On the sides and bottom of the grille, there is a thick plastic overlay with a varnished surface, which goes under the narrow head optics. The front lights of the UAZ crossover have a rounded configuration, which reinforces the declared effect: the presented novelty has a swift appearance.
An interesting solution is to introduce square cutouts into the side parts of the bumper with several vertical and horizontal LED strips, which are attached to a metal mesh. There is another block of lights underneath, which is likely to act as fog lights. From the bottom of the front bumper, there is a long air intake, divided by plastic inserts into 3 segments.
From the side, the UAZ-409 2021-2022 crossover is similar to most modern crossovers with their elongated folds on the doors and voluminous wheel arches. Along the wings of the presented model, the developer has laid a wide protective body kit, which confirms the earlier statement: the car will be adapted for off-road use. However, due to the relatively low ground clearance, the Russian model is more focused on driving on asphalt than the Patriot.
Specifications
It is still difficult to judge on the basis of which platform the UAZ-409 2021-2022 crossover can be created. It is likely that UAZ engineers will adapt the Patriot "cart" for such a car. This approach is justified by the fact that it will significantly reduce the cost of developing a new model. Moreover, they have already started upgrading the platform. In this regard, it can be assumed that the first UAZ crossover received a four-wheel drive that supports at least 3 driving modes.
With this approach to the development of the model, under its hood there should be a 2.7-liter "atmospheric" engine, the maximum output of which reaches 149 hp. At the same time, if the presented crossover really competes with the X-Trail, then the manufacturer must install a 6-speed automatic transmission on it, depriving it of the "mechanics".
Time to market
Despite the statements made earlier, the UAZ company is not going to produce its own crossover now. Moreover, the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant has frozen projects for the development of new models. In this regard, if UAZ nevertheless returns to the idea of releasing a new crossover, then the car will appear no earlier than 2025-2026, since before that the company will focus its efforts on the second generation of the Patriot.