Most automobiles last ten years, and few 20. However, the Lada Niva is approaching its 50th anniversary. It will also be improved near completion. Drive.com.au states the first Niva was produced on April 5, 1977. The basic off-roader will continue to be built by AutoVAZ. AutoVAZ CEO Maxim Sokolov believes the Niva will celebrate its 50th birthday in 2027. In June 2023, Russia sold 3,135 Nivas. Make sure to distinguish the Niva Legend from Lada’s more modern Niva Travel, which sells nearly the same number of units. The Niva will get some much-needed updates around its 50th birthday. “We’re not just remodelling the exterior. “Next year, we’ll install a modern engine with more power and torque,” Sokolov stated. However, the Niva will retain its 1970s appearance. “We won’t make a Niva Legend with an automatic transmission,” claimed AutoVAZ’s CEO. The Niva now has an 81-horsepower, 95-pound-feet 1.7-liter gasoline engine. Speedier 1.6-liter engines are coming. The most likely contender is the 104-horsepower, 109-lb-ft Lada Vesta city vehicle engine. Front-wheel drive Vesta engines are horizontal. This matches rumors that the Niva engine will be “turned around” from its prior use. It is considered a sports model. Sokolov just mentioned the engine might have 16 valves and 122 horsepower. It’s a significant improvement over the first Niva’s 75-horsepower engine. Its 50% improvement over prior versions should boost its off-road and on-road performance. After Ukraine’s strike, Russia’s sanctions halted Niva production. AutoVAZ relies increasingly on simple, traditional models to maintain output despite supply chain issues. The Russian car business has always been simple. The difficulty may make it more likely that the Nova will be manufactured after 50. It’s far from the Volkswagen Beetle’s 65-year lifespan, but who knows?
