AUTONEWS

Lada Iskra: the Russian Renault Logan, the brother of the Renault Kardian, is launched in Russia

The Russian automaker AvtoVAZ has started production of the Lada Iskra, the first model of the brand that emerged during the Ukrainian War, with no end in sight.

The architecture is also the same as that adopted by the current generation of the European Logan (the same one that was considered for Brazil, but later canceled in favor of the Renault Kardian). Lada's access to the base is still a legacy of Avtovaz's former partnership with Renault, which was dissolved in 2022 after the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine.

To use it in the Iskra, Lada explains that it redesigned all the electronics (which were completely localized to avoid dependence on foreign suppliers) and added approximately 400 new parts. “It is a modern global platform, which has been redesigned and made technologically independent,” the statement said. “In record time by the standards of the global automotive industry, we have recreated this car, making it technologically independent,” said Avtovaz president Maxim Sokolov.

With sales in the Russian market plummeting, AvtoVAZ decided to strengthen its portfolio with a new product that promises to be more affordable than the Vesta and its Vesta SW station wagon.

This is how the Iskra and Iskra SW came into being, milestones in the development of products by the Russian automaker, whose production began this Saturday, April 19.

The Lada Iskra and Iskra SW lines have 90% Russian parts and components, evidencing AvtoVAZ's supposed independence from external suppliers.

In Russia, the new Lada Iskra and Iskra SW are available with three engines: a 1.6 8V with 90 horsepower, a 1.6 16V with 106 horsepower and a 1.6 16V with 106 horsepower and an automatic transmission.

The manual versions have five- and six-speed gearboxes, respectively. There are no plans to electrify the Iskra in the short or medium term.

The Iskra measures 4.333 m in length in both variants, with the Iskra Cross being 4.342 m long and having a ground clearance of 200 mm compared to 170 mm for the other versions.

AvtoVAZ promises to produce 150,000 Iskra units per year and prices will start at 1.2 million rubles 

With a design that is not very expressive, but in keeping with a low-cost proposition, the Lada Iskra and Iskra SW were created to be entry-level, rational and economical cars. The exterior even has LED daytime running lights, while the interior focuses on a large-screen multimedia panel and analog cluster to contain costs, but the air conditioning can be digital like the Duster. 

Even so, it has dual airbags, ABS brakes, stability control and some comfort items, such as electric windows, heated front seats, electric steering and other features. They would be highly competitive cars in Europe if they had the same standard as the block and tough rivals as Dacia. Here? They wouldn't be strange..

Mundoquatrorodas