from GMinsider.com
its a little late for an april fools joke isn't it? who'd want to buy that POS in the west or even eastern europe as a Chevy? its already sold in the old BLOC countries under its Russian "brand" anyway. its based on a 1960's Fiat that was sold kit and caboodle to mother russia back in THE OLD DAYS. all VAZ has done in the past is variations on a theme with hardly any truely new models until really recently with the Niva being the most neglected. but most of all, why would Russians want Chevy to sell them their own Niva under the Chevy name? eeeediots.

this isn't the best way to "open up new markets" for Chevy that's for sure. they need to sell some quality cars there so that people don't start instantly associating Chevrolet with **** as they already do here.

 

They sold a whack of them up here in the 80s. They weren't Chevys though (GM had no financial interest at that time), they were badged by their OEM, Lada Niva.

 

yeah, i heard about them being sold in canada for a while. but that was in the 80s when the SUV wasn't even a big thing yet. i suspect those of you who bought them were buying a "cheep jeep". its decent as that. but it looks like they're trying to position it as a cheap SUV now and i doubt it will work. people kind of expect certain things of SUVs now. even the smaller ones.

 

Ok, I'll admit I was curious as to what this Fiat based Ruskie SUV looked like.....

NIVA SUV

 

yeah, that's the image of a Niva burned into my mind. but they're likely to be pushing something closer to THIS or THIS

the old Niva is a capable machine/ATV if a bit underpowered. but there's no way it can stack up in interior component quality or even exterior styling these days. frankly i'm surprised so many canadians looked past all that in the 80s.

 

Here's a link to the AvtoVAZ product line...

http://www.autovaz.tlt.ru/pages/8_e.html

 

Here you go.... pics of the "Chevrolet Niva" in action...

http://autoworld.agava.ru/foto/chevn01.jpg
http://autoworld.agava.ru/foto/chevn02.jpg
http://autoworld.agava.ru/foto/chevn03.jpg
http://autoworld.agava.ru/foto/chevn04.jpg

 

haha, comes with the obligatory splash guards all around.

 

http://hpbimg.nikov.com/niva.jpg

i can just hear the motherland theme.

 

They are the closest thing to Chevrolet, period. They are following Chevy mentality already. Except they're a little too honest - definitely something Chevy will "fix". Here's the quotes from their model line ups:

"...As a result of VAZ-21099 model restyle a car appeared that incorporates both new capabilities and the qualities of its predecessor model... Modern design and attractive comfortable interior make the perception of the car as if it were a new model."

Imagine Chevy fixing it to the effect "introducing a totally new, completely redesigned VAZ-21099!!!"

That's why they will resort to "Buy now, with 0 down payment, 0 interest, and 0 monthly payments!!!!" strategy very shortly.

Honestly, I looked at Chevy lineup right now - and it's real crap, pardon me. Starting with Aveo, Cavalier... now Niva? I am awaiting when Corvette will disassociate itself from Chevy - because it definitely does not fit its model lineup.

edit: holy crap, read this: "New headlamps and rearlights of unusual design are provided for the car." Imagine if GM NA were THAT blunt?