Pictures and details of the 2016 Chevrolet Niva has been leaked online ahead of its debut at the 2014 Moscow Motor Show.
THE FIRST UNDISGUISED pictures of the 2016 Chevrolet Niva have leaked onto the internet ahead of the vehicle’s official reveal at the Moscow Motor Show which gets started today.
The leaked images were published on WorldCarFans and allegedly come from the latest issue of Russian Autoreview magazine, scheduled to be released to the public after the official unveiling of the vehicle. According to the article in Autoreview, the 2016 Niva is 4316mm long, which is 260mm longer than the current generation of the SUV. It retains its dependent rear suspension (solid axle with coil springs), while the front suspension is replaced by McPherson struts.
The new Niva runs permanent four-wheel drive and a 1.8-litre Peugeot-sourced naturally-aspirated petrol engine with 100kW. This is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. This layout is expected to be carried over to the production model. A diesel engine has been ruled out due to the high development costs and the slowing down of the Russian car market – The Niva is currently a Russian-market only vehicle, although given it was styled in China there’s a suggestion it might go on-sale in that market too.
Additional equipment on this motor show version includes a snorkel, a bash plate under the front, a roof rack with attached spare wheel (there’s also one at the back) and 16-inch wheels with off-road tires.
According to automotive industry news publication GoAuto, the concept 2016 Chevrolet Niva was designed in China by a team led by Holden designer Ondrej Koromhaz – the designer of the current Holden Barina. Yet, while the vehicle was designed in China, it was actually built here in Australia at Holden’s Melbourne design centre.
In a pre-motor show statement, GM-AvtoVAZ (joint venture) said the Chevrolet Niva concept would provide a guide to the look of the production Niva which promises “exceptional all-terrain potential”. GM-AvtoVAZ CEO Jeffrey Glover said the new Niva’s style would be “much closer to the line of Chevrolet” than the current model.
“At the same time, a more brutal appearance and characteristics of the car suggest it will continue to be a real Niva,” he said.
