The Lada Sport division, part of AvtoVAZ, is targeting a late-2024 debut for a sporty variant of the traditional three-door Lada Niva SUV, according to a report by Izvestia citing AvtoVAZ president Maxim Sokolov.
Inside the company, plans indicate that the Lada Sport team is developing a high-performance version of the Lada Niva Legend before year-end, with a possible preview of the new Vesta Sport as well, the publication notes.
Concrete launch dates for the project remain unconfirmed, and there is no disclosed price range for the forthcoming Lada Niva Sport models.
The Lada Niva Sport initiative first emerged in September 2022. It was indicated that the vehicle would use the eight-valve 90 horsepower 1.6-liter engine already powering the Lada Granta. There was also speculation about offering a 122 horsepower 1.8-liter option, a strengthened suspension, and a more modern transmission. The redesigned model was expected to feature performance-oriented touches such as sport seats with red stitching and red accent details to emphasize its athletic character.
Earlier reports also touched on other Lada projects, noting that the Lada X-Cross 5 crossover program had been discontinued.