At the International Gas Forum held in St. Petersburg, ATS Group presented a Lada Vesta outfitted with an experimental gas cylinder equipment system. The event drew wide attention from industry observers as a testbed for dual‑fuel technology. According to Autobroker Club, the project aims to combine flexible power delivery with enhanced safety for methane storage. The display signals industry interest in integrating natural gas with traditional gasoline in mainstream sedans.
The vehicle is designed to run on both gasoline and compressed natural gas. It features special absorbers that help maintain the gas fill while reducing pressure inside the cylinder, lowering the risk in the event of a rupture. This configuration also allows the methane cylinder to be smaller, freeing trunk space and improving overall packaging.
Earlier, AvtoVAZ was reported to test a dual‑fuel version of the Lada Vesta. The aim is a sedan capable of operating on natural gas. The dual‑fuel model uses a 16‑valve 1.6‑liter gasoline engine producing 106 horsepower and a five‑speed manual transmission. It will differ from the standard Vesta by a trunk mounted methane cylinder and distinctive badges on the trunk lid.
In pre‑restyling tests, the dual‑fuel Lada Vesta CNG reportedly traveled more than 1,000 kilometers on a full gas fill, with fuel costs reduced by more than three times compared to the gasoline version. Details of the refreshed model were not disclosed, and industry watchers expected the new version to be unveiled in 2024.
Earlier reports noted that Lada Vesta owners have learned to install digital dashboards in their cars, a sign of growing interest in digital instrumentation among owners, according to Autobroker Club.