In 2023, the production version of the Niva Legend SUV, equipped with a more powerful engine, is expected to make its debut. This was announced by AvtoVAZ chief Maxim Sokolov during the unveiling of the Niva Togliatti Center museum. It is likely that the new variant will carry the name Lada Niva Sport, and Sokolov presented the certificate for the first production car bearing this name to Valery Semushkin, a designer associated with the original Niva project and a plant veteran. (Cite: AvtoVAZ leadership briefing at the museum event)
According to Avtosreda, the next year will witness a Niva roll off the assembly line with a strengthened engine package while maintaining the classic three door silhouette. The message underscores continuity in design alongside performance improvements. (Cite: Avtosreda coverage of the announcement)
Maxim Sokolov noted that AVTOVAZ had faced criticism in the past for lacking a more powerful Niva variant, but he emphasized that ideas and feedback from enthusiasts and internal teams had now been incorporated. He suggested that the introduction of a robust engine would reinvigorate the model and mark a fresh milestone on its journey toward a 50th anniversary.
In recent years, the Niva has seen modernization that has largely focused on cosmetic updates. The black 2020 model is cited as an example of these styling changes. Technical specifications will remain undisclosed at this stage. The potential reference to the Niva Sport name hints at possible involvement with the Lada Sport division, which also handles smaller performance-focused versions such as the Vesta Sport and the Granta Drive Active in their lineup. (Cite: company sources and historical context)
Historical attempts to increase the Nivas power have occurred repeatedly, both within the factory and among third party tuners. Earlier discussions between 2013 and 2015 involved plans to install a front wheel drive Lada engine into a Niva layout to create a more powerful model. The Lada 4×4 Urban production version emerged from those efforts, but retained the original engine configuration. (Cite: archival reporting on early power-up attempts)
A few years later, the Togliatti tuning studio F-Design pursued a similar concept with a three door Niva powered by a longitudinally mounted 98 horsepower VAZ-21126 engine, paired with the standard Niva transmission. Only one presentation specimen is publicly documented, though it is believed that additional units may have been built. (Cite: F-Design project documentation)
- Another recent project involved a compact Niva Legend equipped with a VAZ-21179 engine producing 122 horsepower, a build associated with the company Super-Auto, with assembly activity noted in the preceding year. (Cite: Super-Auto project notes)
- Driving impressions and footage related to this concept are available on RuTube. (Cite: RuTube listing)
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