12 Russian conceptual cars not for sale

The VAZ X was an experimental concept car with the body of a minivan, built by VAZ presumably in 1990 or thereabouts. The car was mentioned in several specialized publications, including ones abroad, but no specific information about it is available. It is known to have existed in just one instance, and the advanced technologies that it featured later migrated to the VAZ series of minivans, currently in production. The original VAZ X model has been lost.

The Lada Rapan is a Russian-built electric car developed by engineers and designers at the technical development department of AvtoVAZ. This experimental model was launched in 1998. The control units are arranged inside the steering wheel, together with an airbag. The model was first presented at the “Paris 98” International Motor Show in Rome. The vehicle did not go into serial or small-scale production, as the country lacked the infrastructure for electric vehicles.

With the concept car Lada Peter Turbo STC, AvtoVAZ designers headed by Sergei Sinelnikov demonstrated their vision of a single-space vehicle with good aerodynamics. A curious detail is that the roof is not convex, but slightly concave. Unveiled in 2000 at the Paris Motor Show, the model’s design received plaudits from foreign experts. But it was, however, just a model — the doors didn’t even open, they were painted on. The concept never got off the drawing board and is now in a museum.

The Lada Roadster was the first piece of work by Togliatti designer Sergey Nuzhny, a graduate of renowned engineering school Espera Sbarro who wanted to demonstrate his qualifications on a “live” example. The Lada Roadster is a rare exception for Russian concept cars: it is in production (albeit in small quantities), but the problem is the exorbitant price tag due to the Alfa-Romeo GTV inside.

The Lada C Concept is a three-door sports hatchback, one of the developments of the collaboration between AvtoVAZ and Canada’s Magna International, which provides for a series of Project C models. On March 6, 2007, AvtoVAZ unveiled an experimental model at the 77th International Geneva Motor Show, which received many positive reviews. The car costs around $12,000 (RUB 450,000). However, due to the global economic crisis, the project was shelved in 2009.

A new series of Lada 4x4 retail hatchbacks was due to go into mass production at the turn of 2017-18. This new development by the carmaker looked promising, but later the Russian auto giant abandoned its proposed all-wheeler Lada Kalina, which had been presented as a concept back in 2007. AvtoVAZ estimated that the addition of a rear axle would require a lot of improvements and hit the company hard in the pocket. Taking the path of least resistance, it chose instead to focus on other models.

At the Paris Motor Show 2008, AvtoVAZ presented the concept sports car Lada Revolution III, the result of five years’ work to create a next-generation Russian sportster. 2009 saw a series of road tests on the race track at Nurburgring in Germany. The Lada is equipped with a 2-liter 245-horsepower Renault F4R774 turbocharged engine (310 Nm) with a Motec control unit and a coupe by Porsche. The Lada Revolution III is faster than the Porsche Cayman with an engine of comparable power. However, the model did not take an active part in any more races or go into mass production.

The Cardi Tetra Next, a conceptual off-roader for active leisure, was unveiled back in 1997. The two-seater Targa-type body was mounted on a spatial frame, while the chassis was assembled on the basis of the VAZ-2121 Niva. The model was intended for mass production, but remained a concept — another futile attempt by engineer enthusiast Sergey Alyshev to add a touch of class to the Russian car industry.

The 1998 Cardi Curara cabriolet is a genuine piece of “haute couture,” just one of which was ever made. The Cardi Curara was the realization of designer Sergey Alyshev’s dream. Sergey has always believed in the potential of the Russian automobile industry, and today advocates the small-scale production of cars in Russia. The Cardi Curara, which was assembled manually, demonstrates his concept.

The Yo-mobil is a planned hybrid car of Russian design that seeks to combine an electric transmission with power from a generator turned by a gasoline internal combustion engine and from a capacitive accumulator. The project was promoted by Russian oligarch Mikhail Prokhorov. According to the developers, industrial production was slated for early 2015, but in February 2014 insider information appeared saying that the project was closed.

The ZIL-4112R, also known as “Putin’s limousine”, is a car for the top echelon of government, manufactured by JSC Depo-Zil. With the ZIL-4112R model, the designers wanted to show continuity and extend the line of representation-class limousines, which have conveyed various Soviet and Russian leaders, including Leonid Brezhnev, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Boris Yeltsin. Given the elitism of the vehicle, it was never intended for mass production, unlike other concept cars.

In 2006, Russian car maker Russo-Baltique, in collaboration with German company Gerg GmbH, created the concept car Russo-Baltique Impression. The car was demonstrated in Europe at Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2006 and at the Geneva Motor Show in 2007. Gerg GmbH, located near Munich, lent its production facilities to the project. Some interesting features are the LED lights and variably transparent roof. The vehicle was produced in small batches of 10-15 a year, priced at around $1.8 million. Although several orders were received, production did not get underway.