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The domestic car manufacturer AvtoVAZ presented its concept car at the largest motor show in Paris for the first time.
Concept cars at car dealerships, motor shows, presentations are not been guests for a long time. For the leaders of the automotive world, the concept is, it seems, a familiar thing, although it is still not ordinary: such a car is like a flag - it is carried in front, they look at it, they equal it.
At the same time, it is known that there will be no such machine either in the series or even as a piece. Often such a car is just a shell on wheels or, as the pros call it, a "doll." The doors and the hood cannot be opened; there is no engine, no suspension, or interior inside. But the exterior seems to be from the future. In such cases, firms sometimes present the concept as a kind of work of art, an achievement of design, demonstrating their creative capabilities. The purpose of the demonstration is to probe public opinion, get an idea of how the public and competitors will react to new ideas, and solve the eternal problem later - to be or not to be?
It happens that the concept is prepared as a complete working car - sit down and drive. But this, as they say, is the upper class - not many firms can do this. Often in such cases, an exhibit with the assertiveness of a pioneer pushes the place, indicating to other companies that it is not worth getting in here - they say, they are late. Further, the idea is intensively developed, and the concept gives rise to a new model range.
Our car factories have never put such markers before - and why would they? VAZ employees were the first to accept these rules and rolled out their concept in Paris - a "live" electric car with an unusual name for the Volga shores, "Rapan." The goals and objectives for them were determined at the top - in the "authorities." But times, thank God, are changing - the time has come to make our way and live according to the world canons.
This is a demonstration of the technical and scientific potential of VAZ, its design capabilities, forward-looking thinking, and, finally (to spite the enemies), the stable state of the enterprise, which can be dealt with, despite all the shocks of the Russian economy. It seems that ours in Paris succeeded in much of what was planned. Togliatti residents, not devoid of professional ambitions, tried to solve complex problems. And they deserved the attention of the public, and the press did not pass by.
VAZ already had experience in demonstrating a concept car, but very modest. At the Moscow show this year at the plant's stand, there was an unusual "Lada-Oka-2". But that was one hundred percent "doll." "Rapan" - the second concept of VAZ - marks a noticeable leap forward. The main thing in it is the exterior, unusual and mesmerizing, although there is something to see inside - the original interior corresponding to the external appearance.
A curious person can sit in the concept and feel himself in the future. A specialist can appreciate the visibility, the convenience of the location of all parts, layout solutions. Rapan "Rapan" is a riding dummy. He drove onto the Paris podium on his own. The drive and transmission in it are from the electric "Oka," already well-known in Europe - the winner in the international competition of electric vehicles. The Rapan has an electric motor, as in the Oka, the drive wheels are also front in front.
This surprise was prepared in Togliatti in advance. In 1995, a small creative group, the backbone of designers Vladimir Pleschanov, Valentina Novikova, and Ilya Zharkov, took up this project. The authors concluded that even a small car should be spacious, cozy, and comfortable. Large round doors were made sliding, and the roof with an opening hatch was made transparently.
The front seats are rotating; the rear ones are movable with such a wide range that a person of average height can almost straighten his legs in the extreme position. However, in this case, the seats occupy the entire luggage compartment. The floor is flat, without protruding thresholds. Under it, inside the machine's base, is a battery pack that does not require maintenance (except for charging) during operation. This provides an almost perfect weight distribution (50% front, 50 rear) and a low center of gravity.
In order not to interfere with the entry (exit) of the driver, the steering column itself folds back to a vertical position when the left door is opened. Unusually, the instruments, having got along with the airbag, are concentrated inside the steering wheel, and the buttons and levers are around it in a circle. Any mechanism can be turned on without taking your hands off the steering wheel - this is very convenient. An electric car, of course, does not have a gear lever. The view forward and to the sides is excellent - the road is visible right in front of the car. Parking on it and squeezing into narrow places on the street is as easy as shelling pears.
It seems that the "dish" from "Rapana," cooked on a VAZ for the Parisian table, was to the taste of the French. After all, they are hungry for all kinds of seafood. In any case, the responses from the "tasters" were more than favorable. We will not hide it; it is very flattering that our car was not where "bread and kvass" are in the world car menu but the category of gourmet snacks.
This article is translated from Russian to English from the following source: «ЧУДО МОРСКОЕ РОДИЛОСЬ В... ТОЛЬЯТТИ» (Сергей Мишин) - Журнал «За рулем», №11 1998
Images Source: АВТОВАЗ; Фото Владимира Демченко
