According to sources at 32CARS.RU, AvtoVAZ has consistently rejected several ready-made engine solutions for the future Lada Azimut crossover. There have been no official comments from the factory regarding the choice of power unit; all details have been obtained from unnamed sources. The most likely direction now is to order the development of a 1.5-liter turbo engine from Chinese engineers based on an existing unit. If this scenario is implemented, the engine will become exclusive to Azimut and will not appear on other Lada models. The new crossover will enter the compact SUV segment, where Chinese models dominate, primarily the Haval Jolion.
Engine for Lada Azimut: What Options Did AvtoVAZ Consider?
The first candidate was cooperation with the Great Wall Motor concern; Azimut could have received an engine from the Haval Jolion. This option fit into the logic of unit unification that AvtoVAZ has been promoting for a long time. However, negotiations with GWM, according to sources, did not yield results; this has not been officially confirmed.
The second option considered was a 1.5-liter turbo engine with a capacity of about 150 hp from the Voyah Free hybrid crossover produced by Dongfeng. The obstacle was the architecture of the unit: the engine operates on the Miller cycle and was originally designed for a hybrid power plant, which makes it inconvenient for a regular gasoline version of Azimut.
Exclusive Turbo Engine: Why Does AvtoVAZ Need Its Own Engine?
According to the latest sources, the factory is considering ordering the refinement of an existing Chinese unit to meet AvtoVAZ's requirements; it seems that creating an engine from scratch is not planned. The exclusivity of the engine for one model is an atypical solution for a mass producer, but in this case, it has commercial logic: using an engine from a direct competitor would mean dependence on its supplies.
Azimut is aimed at the compact crossover segment, where Haval Jolion is one of the sales leaders in Russia. Buying an engine from a competitor in this segment is an obvious reputational and commercial risk, sources say.
Specifications of the Proposed Lada Azimut Engine
- Volume: 1.5 liters
- Type: turbocharged gasoline
- Power: no data
- Origin: refinement of an existing Chinese unit - not officially confirmed
- Application: exclusively for Lada Azimut - not officially confirmed
- Status of negotiations with GWM: reached a dead end - not officially confirmed
- Status of the Voyah option: rejected due to the Miller cycle - not officially confirmed
The choice of engine for Azimut is a telling example of the limitations faced by AvtoVAZ after the departure of Western partners. Previously, the factory used Renault and Nissan engines, and now it is forced to rebuild supply chains.
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