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Lada X-RAY Enters Production with Sandero Platform and Two 1.6L Engines

AvtoVAZ has made a couple of cracking new cars, and this is their most interesting yet. It's called the X-RAY, but it will not let you see through buildings. What it will let you do is travel across rougher roads in relative comfort.
 Lada X-RAY 14 photos
Photo: LADA
For Lada, this crossover thing is kind of new, since the company is used to producing rugged 4x4 and not pretenders. But the formula used here is a tried and tested one that's worked before. You don't know what we're talking about? Well, the Lada 5-door is based on Renault-Nissan's B0 platform for small cars.

More specifically, this Russo-Romanian hybrid is based on the bones of the Sandero and shares many of its components. Squint and you might be able to spot some of them.

Series production began in December last year. However, not even the Russians will be able to buy this car until mid-February. We mention this because various reports have been coming in that suggest customers in Germany and France will be able to purchase the X-RAY as well.

Will they want to? Based on looks alone, they might. The X-RAY was designed by one Steve Mattin, who made a name for himself with Volvo and Mercedes-Benz. Bold wrinkles down the sides and a grille shaped like the letter x make this an appealing car. It might also help that its sedan brother raced in the WTCC.

You'll find less than expected under the hood of this supposed crossover. For Russia, the basic engine is a 106 horsepower 1.6-liter engine. As far as we know, that unit cannot be sold in Europe anymore. This is probably why the X-RAY is also made with another 1.6-liter engine, the 114 horsepower Nissan HR16 (fitted to the Duster as well).

Also available is a 1.8-liter motor with 123 hp that's paired to a robotized gearbox. The X-RAY will become the first Lada ever to be fitted with such a powertrain.

Customers in Germany were told to expect a price slightly higher than that of the Dacia Sandero (€7,000). Standard equipment includes a modest two airbags, ESP, two speakers and LED daytime running lights.
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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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