On September 25, 2026, AvtoVAZ officially launched series production of the LADA Azimut crossover. The ceremony took place in the afternoon at the plant in Tolyatti. The model became the brand's flagship SUV and AvtoVAZ's first major new product after several years of preparation.[1]
The car
The LADA Azimut is built on a modernized front-wheel-drive Vesta platform. The model was first shown at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in 2025.[2] Before production began, the car passed certification crash tests, including a side impact against a pole: the seat belts, side airbags, and curtain airbags all deployed as designed. By the time of the announcement, the company had already built several hundred test and production units; some of them were in use in Moscow, while others were handed over to high-ranking officials for testing.[1]
At the start of sales, the car is offered with two powertrains: a 1.8-liter, 132-hp engine paired with a CVT, or a 1.6-liter, 120-hp engine with a six-speed manual transmission. The CVT version offers economy and sport driving modes, as well as separate settings for unpaved roads and winter driving. A version with a turbocharged engine of about 150 hp and an automatic transmission is planned for the future.[2]
Production and sales plans
AvtoVAZ head Maxim Sokolov said that several thousand cars are planned for production before the end of 2026. Sales are expected to open two to three months after the start of production, also before the end of 2026. The target for 2027 is on the order of 20,000 units; Sokolov described it as a plan for the "first starting year" and cautioned that no especially optimistic prospects for the overall Russian car market are in sight for now.[1]
Hybrid version
On the same day, September 25, a prototype of a hybrid version of the LADA Azimut was presented to AvtoVAZ's board of directors. According to Sokolov, it is premature to speak of bringing the hybrid quickly into series production: the prototype still has to undergo testing, and the company has to assess the balance between production cost and market price. Nevertheless, a roadmap already exists. According to the available specifications, the hybrid version will have all-wheel drive with an electric motor on the rear axle, a combined output of about 390 hp, acceleration to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds, and a range of up to 1,100 km on a single tank.[2]
Sources
- avtonovostidnya.ru — AvtoVAZ has settled on a timeline: when serial production of the LADA Azimut will begin and when the crossover will go on sale
- vfokuse.mail.ru — The prototype of the hybrid Lada Azimut will be unveiled on September 25
- fontanka.ru — A plant producing rail slabs for the high-speed rail line has been launched in Veliky Novgorod — September 19, 2026 — FONTANKA.ru (archive)