Russia’s UAZ Launches Updated Patriot SUV

VIENNA – Volume production of a modernized UAZ Patriot SUV is under way at the Ulyanovsky Avtomobilny Zavod plant in Ulyanovsk, Russia.

While there are no changes to the exterior design of the body-on-frame, all-wheel-drive vehicle, the main new technical feature is an electric-transfer case sourced from Hyundai Group-owned supplier Hyundai Dymos.

There also are significant improvements in the interior.

The UAZ Patriot, the most modern vehicle manufactured at the UAZ plant owned by Sollers, was introduced as a prototype at the 2003 Moscow auto show. Serial production started in August 2005. Sollers is the Russian production or assembly partner of Ford, Isuzu, Mazda, Ssangyong and Toyota.

Vadim Shvetsov, Sollers’ managing director and main shareholder, announces further modernization plans during the launch ceremony at the factory. The auto maker in 2014 will update the paint shop and launch a facelifted version of the Patriot with improved axles and suspension.

While the Patriot is expected to be built until at least 2020, Shvetsov says UAZ is developing an all-new cross/utility vehicle based on the underpinnings of a foreign partner’s model. He declines to provide more details, but said in an earlier interview it will be based on Korean utility-vehicle maker Ssangyong’s components.

The Patriot is available with a 2.7L gasoline engine making 128 hp or a 2.2L diesel creating 113 hp. Both powerplants are sourced from the Sollers-owned ZMZ engine factory.

According to the Rusautomobile blog, UAZ plans to use a smaller engine in the future. Displacement of the new gasoline turbocharged engine is not expected to exceed 2.0L.

The UAZ plant assembles about 150 vehicles a day on two lines. One is shared by the Patriot SUV, a pickup-truck version of the Patriot and the older-model UAZ Hunter. The second is used for UAZ’s range of older-design light-commercial vehicles.

UAZ sold 30,165 vehicles in first-half 2013, down 4.7% from like-2012. While domestic deliveries fell 10.5% to 24,983 units, exports increased 39.1% to 5,182.