We have repeatedly reported that UAZ company can deepen cooperation with BLOCK. Now the Chinese side is supplying its 5-speed manual gearbox to the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant. Judging by how quickly UAZ introduced it into cars, the design of this box meets the requirements of Russian brand models. Moreover, the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant did not change prices for its own products. That is, the new box was also quite cheap.
Deepening cooperation between UAZ and BAIC may lead to the fact that the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant will have access to more technologies and design solutions. At least the company is now actively working on import substitution, paying attention to the proposals of Chinese companies. Given this, it is easy to assume that in the near future UAZ will modernize its model range. Without a deep conversion of cars, sales of the Ulyanovsk car plant might fall sharply, given that the Russian market will soon recover and be saturated with new cars, including those supplied as part of parallel imports.
Thanks to cooperation with BAIC, the Russian company can modernize the Loaf, its most popular model at the moment. Moreover, following the work done, this car will not rise in price, but, on the contrary, will become cheaper. BAIC has a large line of Weiwang minivans, each of which can serve as a prototype for the future UAZ Loaf 2023-2024. But the Russian novelty will not be similar to the Chinese models. In particular, her appearance and interior will be designed in a completely different style. As shown by the renders presented by the domestic designer, the new Loaf minivan will have a bonnet layout, which potentially increases comfort inside the cabin.
At the same time, a revision of the technical characteristics of the Russian model is expected. Using BAIC engines, UAZ can install a 1.5-liter aspirated engine on the Loaf, which produces up to 106 hp. power and is combined with the mentioned 5-speed “mechanics”. Optionally, a turbo engine of the same volume with a return of 150 hp will be prepared for the Russian model. Both units have several advantages over the 2.7-liter engine currently installed on the Loaf. First of all, they are more economical. And the turbo engine is also more powerful than the Russian engine.
But the new “Loaf” will borrow several constructive solutions from its predecessor. So, the future minivan will be produced with branded all-wheel drive, which is also awaiting modernization. Together with him, for example, they should offer a new transfer case. In addition, the new “Loaf” will have a high ground clearance.
Actual Loaf
But the future minivan will be as simple as its predecessor. The reason is that an increase in the number of options that can be offered with the new UAZ-452 2023-2024 will lead to its sharp rise in price. And given that the high demand for a car is largely due to an affordable price, it will not be profitable for UAZ to increase it. The second reason is the peculiarities of the equipment of the prototype, on the basis of which the Russian novelty will be made. The Chinese model of the Weiwang series also has a relatively simple design.
The timing of the release of the new “Loaf” on the Russian market has not yet been determined. But it will appear within 1-2 years. This is partly due to the fact that the production facilities are prepared for stamping such a body. In a very similar style, a prototype of the new minivan was developed, which UAZ showed back in 2014.
