Volga Advances Closer to a New Grants Replacement, Shrouded in Teasers and Tests
Volga is actively developing a successor to the Grants model, and fresh video footage has surfaced showing a prototype during road testing. The clips, published by Avtograd News, depict a covered vehicle loaded onto a trailer, suggesting it is being transported to an evaluation site for real-world assessment.
In the second clip, the car appears to move autonomously along a familiar route laid out on the factory grounds—often described as the old AVTOVAZ track. This paved oval is used for final checks on production cars and occasional prototype testing, offering a controlled environment to observe handling and performance. The observed configuration hints at a liftback or hatchback body style, though details remain limited.
Historically, information on this model has been sparse. Back in 2021, a first assembled example was presented to Nicolas More, who then led AVTOVAZ, yet the project kept a low profile. The car is expected to receive a distinct name, with no Grants-2 or Grants NG plan confirmed by the company. Early statements indicated that the design would mark Lada’s debut on the French CMF-B platform, signaling a strategic shift toward a more modern architecture.
Looking ahead, the trajectory for the CMF-B-based project at AVTOVAZ remains uncertain. Still, active development continues, and recent sightings point to ongoing progress. In April, a new body design, described as production-ready, appeared in photographs captured by industry observers. Now, during summer testing, the vehicle continues to be evaluated, suggesting a disciplined testing phase rather than a halt in work.
- Originally, the plan envisioned a Lada B-class model entering production in 2023, but current indications show a refocused timeline, with an emphasis on revitalizing the Lada Vesta program by that period instead.
- Recent footage of the vehicle in motion is accessible on RuTube, providing enthusiasts with another glimpse of the prototype’s on-road behavior.
Video sources: VKontakte and Avtograd News, with accompanying commentary and updates from industry observers. (Avtograd News)