A RCI News correspondent photographed a Lada Azimut prototype from a pilot production batch in the center of Moscow. Apparently, the car is presented in the basic configuration - this is indicated by 17-inch wheels, a regular roof without a panorama and sunroof, as well as a "six-speed" selector and standard interior trim.
The car does not yet have a central armrest, and the plastic has a smooth texture - all these are temporary solutions for a test sample. The interior features a two-spoke steering wheel, a digital instrument panel, a 10-inch horizontal multimedia tablet, single-zone climate control, physical buttons on the center console, an "electric handbrake" with AutoHold, a drive mode selector dial and a curtain with cup holders. Side airbags, judging by the "flag" in the cabin, are likely to be an option.
The basic equipment will include ABS and ESP, disc brakes all around, front airbags, LED optics, keyless entry and rear parking sensors.
Under the hood of the basic version is a modernized 1.6-liter naturally aspirated engine with a capacity of 120 hp (154 Nm). The model will also receive a 1.8-liter engine (132 hp, 175 Nm) paired with a variator. In the future, tentatively after 2028, a version with a 1.5-liter turbo engine (150 hp) and a six-speed automatic, as well as all-wheel drive, is possible. The crossover is built on a modernized Vesta platform.
217 prototypes have already been produced to test the technology and certification. Serial production will start in the third quarter of 2026, sales will begin in the fourth. The production plan is 70 thousand cars per year.
The main competitors of the new product are Haval Jolion, Geely Coolray and Tenet T4. According to analysts' forecasts, the price of Lada Azimut will range from 1.9 to 2.6 million rubles, depending on the configuration and engine.