Pickups of the Russian specialist VIS , which is a subsidiary of AvtoVAZ, based on Lady 4×4 (formerly Niva) are definitely not new, as the first pieces left the factory in Togliatti already in the late nineties. Since last year, however, you can officially buy these undeniably exotic cars in the country, and that's the reason to take a closer look at them.
Up to the front door, the VIS 234600 with a two-seater single cab or the VIS 234610 with a five-seater double cab is completely identical to the donor Lada. The changes occur in the space behind the front doors, where there is either a place in the cabin for small items and a larger load area measuring 1830 x 1620 x 340 mm or an additional space for three passengers and a load area measuring 1220 x 1620 x 340 mm. At first glance, you won't see that the rear is on a frame chassis and is sprung with leaf springs.
This makes the 4440 mm long pickup truck with a 2850 mm wheelbase somewhat different from the classic three- or five-door Russian off-road. The loading area can be covered with a laminate superstructure on request, which adjusts its height to 1070 mm and the volume from 1 m 3 to 2.7 m 3 for a single cabin, or from 0.7 m 3 to 2.17 m 3 for a double cabin. The load capacity is 490 kg for the 234600 and 600 kg for the 234610, the curb weight is 1335 kg (1375 kg for the version with superstructure) and the maximum permitted weight of 1400 kg of the braked trolley is the same for both models.
If we were talking about the technical connection with 4×4, then it is probably not surprising that under the hood, in addition to the spare wheel, there is also a 17-cylinder gasoline engine with an output of 83 hp at 5100 rpm and a torque of 129 Nm at 3800 rpm. In addition to the classic five-speed manual transmission , which transmits power to all wheels, the VIS also has a reduction gearbox.
None of the models have a fixed price in the Czech Republic, but they can be imported and homologated to order by, for example, a specialist in Russian cars Made in Russia . In Russia, the same car is also available as a special for firefighting or rescue purposes.
Source: VIS, AvtoVAZ, madeinrussia.cz
