The cost of a basic sedan with CVT starts from 1,588,900 rubles. Sales start next week, March 11th.
Serial production of the updated Lada Vesta (read more about the car in our test drive) at the Tolyatti plant started about a year ago, although the presentation of the refreshed sedan and station wagon took place back in February 2022. Let us remember that at that time the first batch of restyled cars managed to roll off the assembly line at the Izhevsk site, but already in early March production was discontinued due to a shortage of components.
Pictured: Lada Vesta and Vesta SW Cross
Restyled sedans and station wagons went on sale on the Russian market last summer. Initially, the Lada Vesta entered the market with the most “modest” basic 90-horsepower 1.6-liter engine. Later, a sixteen-valve engine of similar volume with a power of 106 hp returned to the range. These two engines are paired with only a five-speed manual transmission.
Last week, AVTOVAZ announced the start of production of the Lada Vesta with a new “filling” — we are talking about the 1.8 Evo engine, which works paired with an automatic transmission. The head of the company, Maxim Sokolov, said that the model will have a corresponding version during a press conference held in January dedicated to the plans of the Russian manufacturer for the next few years.
Start of production of Lada Vesta with 1.8 Evo engine and CVT
Now the AVTOVAZ press service has announced that Vestas with a modernized 1.8 engine and CVT have begun to be shipped to dealers. “Live” sales will start on March 11. It is known that the new power unit is available for all modifications of the family — sedan, station wagon and their cross-versions. The engine output is 122 hp and its maximum torque is 170 Nm. The company noted that to assemble this engine, AVTOVAZ launched “a separate line with automatic quality control.”
In the photo: Lada Vesta interior with CVT
According to Maxim Sokolov, the new version of Vesta today is “the most affordable car with an automatic transmission on the Russian market.” The company has so far only announced the starting price tag: the recommended retail price of a sedan with an automatic transmission in the Comfort package is 1,588,900 rubles. For comparison, the current basic four-door with a 90-horsepower engine and manual transmission costs 1,239,900 rubles, and for a similar version with a 106-horsepower engine they ask for at least 1,509,900 rubles.
It was previously reported that “the power unit has passed a full cycle of laboratory and road tests,” while the manufacturer assured that the electronic engine and gearbox control systems were calibrated for Lada Vesta. AVTOVAZ explained that engineers modernized the vehicle’s fuel and braking systems and installed a new power unit support. By the way, to pass the full range of tests, AVTOVAZ produced more than 50 prototypes.
Lada Vesta continues to be a leader in terms of sales of new cars on the Russian market. Let us remind you that last month the model sold 7,163 copies across the country, which ensured it second place after Granta, which ended February with a minus.