Many people associate the Lada brand only with simple, economical models that feel modest in speed but generous in value.
Yet the history of VAZ includes truly well-equipped cars. These were not just for sports, but for everyday driving as well. The selections here do not include tuning studio concept cars or drag racers. The Frets featured were produced directly on the assembly line or by teams connected to the factory, in quantities ranging from a handful to several thousand cars.
VAZ-21106
The best known and most showcased Lada in mass production was the 21106, with production numbers around 170 units that can be called a limited series. The 106 looked unassuming but packed a punch. It first appeared in the form of the Yellow Shark concept at the 1996 Moscow Motor Show. That concept aimed to qualify the tens for world rally competition, and even if the world rally campaign didn’t pan out, the car still reached serial production.
Under the hood lay a two liter Opel C20XE engine delivering 150 horsepower. For a car weighing just over a ton, that was a formidable combination. The 106 could hit 100 km/h in 9.5 seconds and reach 205 km/h.
The engine is not the only difference in the loaded ten. The steering used a hydraulic booster. The front suspension was original, mounted on a subframe with its own control arms and unique geometry. Externally, extended rear fenders and a plastic body kit made it stand out.
The model ran from 1997 to 2007, though most cars were put together before the early 2000s. Notably, among all serial models, the VAZ-21106 remains the most powerful in AVTOVAZ history.
Concept Yellow Shark 1996. Serial two liter ten VAZ-21106.
Lada Vesta Sport
The latest production model appeared in 2018. It was not just about a body kit; sport interior features included carbon fiber inserts and seats with enhanced lateral support.
The standout element is the chassis. The redesigned suspension with less ride height sharpened handling a bit. Yet the powertrain is the weak link. The six speed transmission is absent and the engine lacks strong power. The 1.8 naturally aspirated engine produces 145 horsepower, while the chassis has room for about 200 horsepower or more.
You can tell a Vesta apart by its raised ride height and wider arches.
Lada Kalina NFR
Kalina NFR, short for Need for Race, became the quickest model not only in its family but among the Frets. The 1.6 liter engine, boosted to 136 horsepower, pushes the small hatch to 207 km/h. The dash to 100 km/h happens in 8.5 seconds.
The car received many upgrades beyond the engine. The gearing is shortened, with a 4.3 final drive instead of the standard 3.7. The clutch comes from Kalina Sport. A triangular front suspension on a subframe replaced the standard wishbone setup. A common challenge for Kalina owners is obtaining tires in the rare size 205/40 R17.
Among serial Ladas, Kalina NFR stood out as the most powerful.
VAZ-21079
These fast Zhigulis were produced in small batches in the Soviet era, mainly for special services. They featured the VAZ-413 rotary piston engine rated at 140 horsepower.
The rotary version of the VAZ-21079 could reach 180 km/h and accelerate to 100 km/h in 9 seconds. Distinguishing the special seven by sight is nearly impossible; the engine’s distinctive note gives it away.
Lada VFTs
When rally racing with Zhiguli is mentioned, the Vilnius Vehicle Factory and the legendary Soviet racer Stasis Brundza come to mind. He refined the cars with reinforced, lighter bodies, redesigned suspensions, and improved brakes. The gearbox remained unchanged, which ultimately suited racing better.
The VAZ-2106 based engine was boosted to 160 horsepower at 7000 rpm. Power was limited to protect the drivetrain, so more could have been achieved. In 1987, a new rally car named Group B Lada EVA emerged, resembling the VAZ-2108 on the outside but thoroughly different under the hood. It featured a spacious frame, rear‑wheel drive, and the base engine. The standard VAZ-2106 engine was bored to 1.9 liters, with a unique two‑shaft head and a turbocharger, producing up to 300 horsepower.
Today, many VAZ-2105 VFTS cars with their characteristic body kits still race in Eastern European rally championships.
Lada EVA successfully navigated Rally Finland in 1987 with a zero crew, but the Group B era that produced it was later banned.
VAZ-2110 Lukoil Racing
This famed racing Lada grew after the USSR’s collapse. It referred to the red and white tens of the Lukoil team in Supertourism class, which closed after 2003. The rules permitted many enhancements, but the engine had to stay essentially the same.
The cars bore little resemblance to the tens of the serial lineup. They featured original suspensions, brakes, and a six‑speed sequential gearbox. The 1600 cc naturally aspirated engine delivered 225 horsepower at a dizzying 9300 rpm. The compression ratio reached 12, and the endurance with AI-109 racing fuel was about 500 kilometers.
In the early 2000s, even Lada factory drivers found it hard to compete with the red and white tens driven by Alexei Dudukalo and Alberto Shila.
Ferrets in Dakar
Ladas joined the Dakar Rally thanks to driver Jean-Claude Briavuan and Ladas importer Jacques Poque. They were the first to bring the Niva to this prestigious event. Initially, the cars ran with up to 110 horsepower, and later a longer wheelbase Niva was upgraded with a 280 horsepower ROC engine available at the base.
The best year for the Niva was 1982, when Lada finished second behind the factory Renault team. In 1989, the Niva gave way to a newer prototype, the Lada Samara T3, which looked like a G8 and housed a 3.6 liter Porsche engine with 300 horsepower.
The early 80s brought the most success for the Dakar Niva.
From the serial VAZ-2108, the Samara T3 shared only door handles and optics. That was normal since no factory race car from those years used standard serial technology.
Lada WTCC
Factory Lada’s World Touring Car Championship debut came in 2008 with the tens, which later evolved into the Priora. The powertrain produced 275 horsepower, letting 100 km/h appear in 4.5 seconds.
Later, the team switched to the Grants, but the Vesta proved the most successful. Cars delivering around 380 horsepower appeared on the podium seven times in the 2016 season, with two victories. The best factory driver, Nick Catsburg, finished seventh in the individual standings, and Lada secured third in the constructors championship.
Lada’s first World Championship credits were earned in 2013, after which the team raced with the Grants.
What’s next?
Motorsport has always been a source of pride in Togliatti. The brand’s history is filled with fast, powerful projects, not only for racing but also for daily life. There is no intention to break tradition. The path ahead holds more fast Ladas, from refined civilian versions to unique race cars.
- The TM Za Rulem consumables range keeps expanding. It is worth evaluating the quality of these products.
- Behind the wheel can also be explored on VKontakte.