AvtoVAZ Adds Sporty Version of Low-Cost Granta Model

VIENNA – Small-scale production of the Lada Granta Sport, a performance version of AvtoVAZ’s low-cost model, is under way at Russia’s largest car plant.

The Granta is made in cooperation with AvtoVAZ’s sister company Lada Motor Sport Technologies.

“It will be a low-volume car for normal roads, with specially tuned engine and suspension,” AvtoVAZ President Igor Komarov recently told viewers of the company’s own VAZ TV.

The car is powered by a 1.6L engine making 120 hp. Its top speed is 122 mph (197 km/h).

“Based on this version, production of cars with even more powerful engines, with appropriate transmission, suspension and brake upgrades is possible,” Komarov says.

Plans call for the production of 1,000 Granta Sport cars this year and up to 5,000 vehicles annually in the future.

Sales of the car launch in the second quarter. The Granta Sport starts at RR443,000 ($14,470).

Initially AvtoVAZ selected 25 dealers to handle the sports car. That number eventually will be increased to about 50.

There are even more advanced Granta versions destined for car races. There is a Granta Cup racing series in Russia, and this year AvtoVAZ will enter two Grantas in the World Touring Car Championship.