By The European Times | Created at 2026-07-29 10:17:45 | Updated at 2026-08-08 11:03:26
1 week ago
How many cars from 1977 are still in production today? The answer is almost certainly a single digit, and besides, it is already an idea more powerful and less prone to self-destruction. AvtoVAZ has begun serial production of the updated Lada Niva Legend, which features a new engine, a modernized chassis, a reinforced body and a number of modern systems, writes the Russian online publication “Pervyy Tekhnicheskiy”.
As is usual in the 50-year history of the model family, the changes are not drastic and the new products of the Togliatti plant are as similar as possible to the first issues from 1977. In fact, the biggest novelty is the 1.8-liter gasoline engine VAZ-11184 with a power of 90 horsepower. It is completely unrelated to the Soviet design of the 70s, which also went against the engineering achievements of Fiat from a decade earlier.
However, as we all know, the Niva has great potential for the future. The engine block is based on the one used in the Lada Vesta and XRAY, which is also a modern version of the one used in the 80s in the “Samara”. The cylinder head, however, has 8, not 16 valves. The end result is a much higher torque and higher economy. The latter – all in the context of Russia, Lada and Niva. We are talking about a 10% improvement – from 9.9 to 9 liters per 100 km.
The Russian publication notes that a total of 350 improvements were made to the design of the legendary crossover. These include a new brake system with ventilated front discs, a driver’s airbag, central locking, etc.
Since rust is the main enemy of the Lada Niva, the front, hood, roof and rear bumper are made of galvanized steel. The model will fight a tough battle on the domestic market – Chinese SUV models are literally overwhelming Russia. Few of them, however, can boast such a combination of high cross-country ability, relatively easy maintenance and low price.
Photo Source: AvtoVAZ
