Beta 1985 Sputnik Taiga 1.6 1.4

1985 Sputnik Taiga 1600 4x4

Note: This car is my second release based on fans request. Obviously it's based on Lada Niva aka VAZ 2121 1st generation offroad, but with little improvisations in terms of wheelbase and design cues. Lada Niva is actually small hatchback with 4x4 wheel drive, as the real-life designers admit. I've spotted couple of Niva reincarnations ingame, but my aim was to approach the design cues even more and even closer to feel these boxy Soviet cues at its finest. Have fun! : )

The Story:

Sputnik Taiga was result of the Soviet-Italian cooperation for creating truly people's car for Iron Curtain market. However, Italian Luxo obtained its license to Poland for even smaller car, so the Sputnik brand had to modify Luxo 127 design with endless improvisations. The tendency was to put European economy car on the durable and high-clearance chassis and bring it 4x4 engine. Then, in 1977 Sputnik Taiga was born.
As most Soviet cars, it had borrowed some cues and mechanics from existing mass-production models. The front is simplified TvAZ 2106 one, the original engine is also 1614cc inliner-4 from the same model, and the tail lights are from the same model too. Even the interior was simple and crude interior from previous 2103 and 2106 models, all put into the small Italian-designed monocoque hatchback body.
It was also the first unibody-chassis based 4x4 in the world. Simple, robust and with good offroad abilities, it was biggest TvAZ-Sputnik market success, admired and sold in various countries all over the world. Even in the Western Europe it was good seller. It owes its success to the cheap price and solid offroad capacity. Its flaws are outdated design and crude interior, and until the late 1990s, the lack of any driving assistance.

Based on cult 4x4 hatch, the Lada Niva. Enjoy!

Technical data, see below:

• Country of Origin: Soviet Union (USSR)
• Production years: 1977-1989 (mk.1)
• Engine: 1613cc Inliner-4, front engined
• Compression: 8:6:1
• Fuel system: Double-barreled Weber carburettor (DCOE)
• Redline: 5600 RPM
• Wheelbase: 2.04 meters
• Drivetrain: Four-wheel drive (4x4) / longitudinally mounted engine
• Transmission: 4-speed manual gearbox
• Suspension: Double Wishbone (front) / Solid-axle coil (rear)
• Empty Weight: 933 kgs
• Engine power: 76 bhp @ 5100 RPM
• Engine torque: 115.1 NM @ 3800 RPM
• Brakes: Solid discs on front and rear
• Acceleration: 0-100 km/h for 12.78 seconds
• Fuel type: Super 98 RON (export only)
• Fuel economy: 11.2 L / 100 km
• Top speed: 165 km/h (light tuning)
• Drag coefficient: 0.388 Cd
• Exterior material: Steel unibody + plastic / aluminium / chrome parts
• Car colour: Lada Blue
• Interior material: Plastic with cloth-coated seats
• Steering type: Manual Rack & Pinion
• Extra: Nothing special this time