The global premiere of AvtoVAZ’s latest model, Iskra, unfolded at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, signaling a spring 2025 start of production and a spring market entry to meet seasonal demand. The vehicle sits in the lineup between the Granta and the flagship Vesta, and at SPIEF it was showcased as a sedan. In serial production, buyers will also see a station wagon and a Cross version featuring protective cladding and higher ground clearance to broaden versatility for diverse road conditions.
AvtoVAZ confirms that Iskra will come with three engine options. The entry motor is a 1.6-liter unit delivering 90 horsepower paired with a five-speed manual gearbox. A 1.6-liter version, producing 106 horsepower, can be mated to either a six-speed manual or an automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive as standard. The recommended fuel is AI-95, though 92 octane is acceptable. A sporty variant is planned to use an 1.8 EVO engine, with development ongoing. Iskra will use the same CVT found in the updated Lada Vesta. The front suspension relies on McPherson struts while the rear uses a semi-independent torsion beam. Final testing and calibration are underway as production preparations continue. The exact price has not been announced yet by the company.
Inside Iskra
The design reflects AvtoVAZ’s modern corporate language, featuring X-shaped sidewall stamping. The front appears more robust than the Vesta, and the hood sits higher. The show car was equipped with a manual transmission. Inside, the instrument cluster includes a tachometer, a speedometer, and a central display between them. AvtoVAZ notes that Iskra and Granta share no interior components, underscoring a distinct cabin identity.
The center console hosts a horizontally oriented media screen with a cluster of controls beneath a climate unit. In the production version, the layout will differ as infotainment hardware and software are developed in collaboration with Yandex. A future goal is to unify all VAZ multimedia systems across the range.
The Iskra comes with two front airbags. The car’s Renault-Nissan heritage means the door pillars are prepared to accommodate curtain airbags for rear occupants, though it remains unclear whether these will be added later. Standard equipment includes air conditioning, parking sensors, and heated seats. The seats feature a two‑tone finish with light gray inserts, and while the design will be retained, upholstery will come from a selected supplier.
Color and Style
The Iskra’s striking color palette includes a deep red named Fire, with a second color option available for the Cross version. Standard hues cover gray, brown, and white, mirroring the Granta’s palette, while new tones such as blue and orange will be introduced. The orange shade will be exclusive to the Cross version starting in November 2024.
A representative from AvtoVAZ explained that the Cross variant’s look can be partially inferred from the 2019 Lada Xray Cross in Amber, though Iskra will present a unique overall appearance.
How Iskra Was Created
Iskra was initially developed on the Global Reach CMF-B platform, a framework inherited from Renault. The Renault Logan also shares this platform. Following Renault’s exit, Tolyatti engineers undertook a substantial redesign of the model. Many components related to the powertrain, sills, A- and B-pillars, floors, and more were reworked, and even the steel classification was updated for the latest version.
The project originally targeted a 2021 release as a successor to Granta, with clay models and 3D drawings prepared by late 2019. Equipment procurement began, with engineers from Romania and France contributing to development. English designer Steve Mattin, who previously led AvtoVAZ design under Renault-Nissan, is recognized as the architect of the car’s design. He helped shape the X-face modern corporate style and noted that Iskra sits on a contemporary global platform redesigned for technological independence, with localized electronic infrastructure and nearly 400 new parts created. Investments in the project reached 23 billion rubles, according to Mattin.
Pricing Context
An industry analyst estimated that if Iskra were available today, it could cost between 1 and 1.2 million rubles. Analysts discuss how inflation and component costs might push prices higher as sales begin. The lineup shift could steer buyers from Granta toward Iskra, while Vesta might move into a higher segment with enhanced comfort features. Iskra is expected to be priced above Granta but not by a wide margin, reflecting a strategy to expand the lineup and gradually move demand away from Granta toward the new model.
Another analyst suggested that potential price shifts could stem from changes to the recycling fee, a policy area AvtoVAZ has been actively pursuing. The final price will likely influence Iskra’s performance in the market, with government orders also anticipated as a possible driver of demand.
Source-based insights indicate that Iskra’s price sensitivity will play a crucial role in its market adoption, shaping early customer perceptions and the model’s overall competitiveness in the Canadian and American markets as the brand expands its international footprint. Advanced features and safety equipment, along with the evolving network of service and parts support, will contribute to the model’s attractiveness in North American discussions about mid‑size sedans in the affordable segment.