[News updated at 20:50 10.01.2024]
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived at the airport of the city of Anadyr in Chukotka, from where he traveled along the "winter road" on a snow and swamp vehicle. The press secretary of the head of state, Dmitry Peskov, also sat behind the wheel of the powerful all-terrain vehicle "Predator" produced by the Tyumen company "MEG WEST".
One of the journalists from the Kremlin pool addressed Peskov, who was getting behind the wheel of the snow and swamp vehicle. He called it an "interesting transport".
Mastering domestic production
The company "MEG WEST" has been producing "Predator" snow and swamp vehicles since 2007. The all-terrain vehicles have ultra-low pressure tires, as well as pneumatic tires designed for low-load-bearing soils, snow, swamps and water. The vehicle has a patented swivel axle that has no foreign analogues.
Added: A comment has appeared from the president's press secretary about the experience of traveling on a snow and swamp vehicle.
Dmitry Peskov did not speak in the best way about the "Predator-3920" model, which he managed to drive. According to the press secretary, the all-terrain vehicle turned out to be "not very good".
I would like to appeal to the manufacturers, because the car, of course, needs to be brought up to standard. Our driver here in Chukotka told us that he himself improved it with a file. The steering wheel works poorly, the gearbox works poorly. The engine works very well. But it turned out that the engine is imported. Of course, I would like to appeal to the manufacturers that the car needs to be brought up to standard, but they are trying to rest on their laurels. There is nothing else, so everyone buys from them. This is a problem that needs to be addressed, because if there was competition, they would move, but they don't move. That's how I criticized it
The editor-in-chief of the publication "Za Rulem", Maxim Kadakov, in his Telegram channel advised the president's press secretary to look at the problem from a different angle.
I would add: we have others. We have up to three dozen enterprises throughout the country that produce civilian all-terrain vehicles and snow and swamp vehicles. But the other one is about the same. Because the components are plus or minus the same. For example, some manufacturers buy something from hydraulics in Belarus. Do you know where it starts? That's right - with sorting, fitting, and refining with the same file. And by the way, there is a recycling fee for such cars, which is completely beyond good and evil. And for some budget all-terrain vehicles, the recycling fee can be up to a third of the cost of the all-terrain vehicle! And there are also problems with certification. It is not only to manufacturers that you need to turn, Dmitry Sergeevich, but also at the government level you need to work.
Under the hood of the "Predator-3920", which was carrying Putin's press secretary, is a Kubota V2403 engine (2.4 liters). The all-terrain vehicle is equipped with a five-speed Toyota gearbox, a GAZ-3308 "Sadko" transfer case. The diameter of the installed ultra-low pressure tires is from 1300 mm. The car has a centralized tire inflation function and a compressor with a capacity of 160 l/min. The fuel tank holds 105 liters of diesel. The maximum weight of the SUV, including equipment, is 3080 kilograms, and its carrying capacity reaches 1.5 tons. Such snow and swamp vehicles cost a lot, you will have to pay 8,173,000 rubles for the basic version. The cabin is 8-seater, with the possibility of organizing 6 beds.
Thus, removable flooring for organizing sleeping places will cost the buyer an additional 28,800 / 54,000 rubles for the 4x4 / 6x6 versions, respectively. It is worth noting separately that to drive a snow and swamp vehicle, you will need a tractor driver's license with category "AII".
Chukotka is a place that is better to see once than to hear about it a hundred times, Putin said during a conversation with journalists. A lot becomes clear here, the president emphasized.
And on paper, everything seems clear. But when you see it with your own eyes, some things take on a completely different sound. For example, to fly to the airport and then move to the city along the "winter road". You begin to understand what it is and how people live here