Engines of progress: what new cars were shown at Innoprom
The Innoprom International Industrial Exhibition in Yekaterinburg has traditionally become a platform for premieres and important announcements of the automotive industry. This year is no exception. The organizers formulated the main theme as "Industry 360: production without borders". Therefore, important attention was paid not only to the finished cars, but also to the components. What was shown in the capital of the Urals and where the Russian car industry is moving is in the Izvestia article.
Electrical stimulus
Innoprom's largest automotive stand is at the Russian brand of electric vehicles and hybrids, Evolute. The company has brought to Yekaterinburg its entire current model range and one new product, the new generation i-Sky crossover. The start of production and sales is scheduled for August, said Andrey Reznikov, managing partner of the Evolve brand.
— Today we are present in the B-SUV and D-SUV categories, these are, respectively, i-Joy and i-Space. It was logical to close the niche between these two segments. That's why we decided to localize and manufacture the new Evolute i-Sky," said Andrey Reznikov.
The Evolve i-Sky is equipped with a 218 hp (310 Nm) electric motor, which accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 8 seconds. A lithium-iron-phosphate battery with a capacity of 62 kWh provides a range of up to 424 km. Fast charging from 30 to 80% takes only 28 minutes. The equipment includes a panoramic roof, a multimedia system with a 14.6-inch display and a 10.25-inch digital dashboard, all-round cameras.
— With the release of this model, we will cover the needs of our customers in the SUV segment. In the second half of the year, only cars localized in Russia will be sold under the Evolve brand. Evolve i-Space ranks first in hardware localization. We have 1,220 points, and we are significantly ahead of any electric vehicle manufacturer in Russia as of July 1 and slightly ahead of the requirements of the Ministry of Industry and Trade in terms of localization in this segment," said the brand's managing partner during the Innoprom exhibition.
Andrey Reznikov said that the painting and welding of i-Sky will be carried out in the Lipetsk region. In November, it is planned to launch new welding lines, updates in the localization of components and the color palette. He also confirmed that the new i-Sky will receive a hybrid version in addition to the electric one, and next year he promised a "bombastic" novelty in the hybrid segment.
Waiting for the Atom
Innoprom doesn't have much space for other new cars. For example, the rear door of the Atom electric car presented at the exhibition, swinging open, rests against the neighboring stand. It opens automatically by pressing a button. First, the front door opens slightly, allowing the back door to pass through.
So far, apart from the unusual door mechanism, Atom has nothing to brag about. The start of sales has been postponed several times, now they are talking about October-November at the stand and offering to pre-order with a fixed price tag. The price stated on the website, including government support, is just over 3 million rubles.
Soon on the assembly line
Some of the new products presented, such as the Moskvich M70, are already being produced. Others are about to go into production. For example, a new Tenet T9 crossover was shown at the Kaluga Region stand, production of which will start at the end of summer. This is the largest model of the Russian brand. Next to the car is a new Russian—made turbo engine with a volume of 1.5 liters. This power unit will be installed on the younger Tenet and Jeland models.
AvtoVAZ presented the Azimut crossover in the dark blue Serenade color at Innoprom. Production of the new product will start before the end of this year. The cars will be equipped with 1.6-liter engines with "mechanics" and 1.8 liters with a variator. In addition, the plant is preparing a variant with a turbo engine and a 6-speed automatic, and is also working on a hybrid version.
The Maks all-terrain vehicle manufacturer from Vorotynsk, Kaluga Region, presented a lightweight buggy powered by Niva units. It has a utilitarian body with safety arches and no doors, but the manufacturer promises other versions. The buggy is currently undergoing certification in order to obtain an OTTS and access to public roads. The manufacturer hopes to interest both the military and the civilian sector in the utilitarian machine. It is claimed that 95% of the car consists of Russian components.
For Aurus and beyond
FSUE NAMI showed in Yekaterinburg the latest 4-cylinder engine with a capacity of 300 horsepower. He will stand under the hood of the new hybrid Aurus. This version, built according to a sequential scheme, where the internal combustion engine is not connected to the wheels, but charges the battery, will complement the existing version with a V8 engine built according to a parallel scheme. Both of these machines are based on different platforms, but they will not differ in appearance.
— V8 is not going anywhere, because there are people who have a certain income. The serial circuit of the hybrid power plant provides a mileage of at least 150-200 km on electricity. The world is developing, many cities declare themselves closed to piston engines. There are areas where entry is allowed only by electric vehicle. Therefore, this power plant allows for movement in these zones," Alexey Terenchenko, director of the Energy Installations Center at FSUE NAMI, told Izvestia.
He noted that the engine is optimized for the features of using Aurus cars. The representative of FSUE NAMI noted that, unfortunately, the "Miller cycle" is not suitable for obtaining power.
— Therefore, this motor is optimized for a more versatile application. Let's just say this is a very light Miller, which allows it to be economical up to medium modes and provide maximum power for the maximum speed of successive hybrids of more than 130-160 km/h," said Alexey Terenchenko.
The 2.2-liter engine is a "half" of the V8 engine: the family of powertrains was originally conceived as modular. It can be equipped not only with distributed, but also with direct and combined injection.
— Negotiations are currently underway intensively with GAZ Group and Sollers to ensure that this engine is widely used for commercial purposes. It easily produces 300 hp. If necessary, you can create a sports version of 450 hp. For the segment of commercial vehicles, perhaps the power will be reduced to increase the resource, — said the interlocutor of the editorial office.
According to him, the motor can also be installed on ships. As an example, Innoprom showed an Aurus V8 engine in this design.
The 4-cylinder engine is currently undergoing calibration tests. Castings for it will be made at KAMAZ, but for now they will be assembled at the facilities of FSUE NAMI, designed for 5 thousand engines per year. With a significant increase in demand, the production of the power unit can be moved to a new site.
Not only passenger cars
Minsk Automobile Plant presented the third-generation trolleybus MAZ 303T2. Its autonomous travel has been increased to 30 km, which makes it possible to use the novelty on routes where there is a partial lack of a contact network. The trolleybus interior is designed for 32 seats. The body is unified with Minsk electric buses and trolleybuses, which simplifies maintenance and repair.
The automotive part of Innoprom demonstrates the next stage in the development of the Russian industry, says Igor Morzharetto, partner of Autostat.
— This is probably the most important industrial exhibition in Russia, and it takes place with international participation. This year, the focus is not on the final product in the form of a car, but on intermediates. These are motors, components, and robotic lines. The automotive part is quite modest this year, last year it was very large," Igor Morzharetto believes.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
