Lada Niva SUVs will be equipped with a new 1.8-liter eight-valve engine producing 90 hp. In this respect reports motor.ru.
The upcoming Niva lineup is expected to feature a 1.8-liter Evo-based powerplant that mirrors the unit used in the Lada Vesta. The Evo designation signals a thorough modernization, including adaptation to a Chinese CVT. AvtoVAZ representatives note that the redesigned engine incorporates 25 new components to support improved performance and efficiency.
The classic Niva 1.8-liter unit is planned to deliver 90 horsepower. At present, the standard Niva Travel and Niva Legend run on a 1.7-liter engine rated at 83 hp, while the Niva Sport uses a 16-valve 1.8 delivering 122 hp.
In December, AvtoVAZ is set to release a batch of 25 Lada Vesta models equipped with the 1.8 engine and a CVT for factory needs. Mass production of the 1.8-liter engine will begin in January, with a gradual scale-up in output. Production of Vesta cars with the 1.8 engine paired to a 6-speed manual transmission is planned to start by the end of 2024.
The automaker has previously hinted at a new gearbox for Lada cars as part of this modernization push. Citations: Motor.ru