Lada VAZ-2101

I am on a roll with the 2101 ladas.

Here is another one spotted on the road yesterday.

More importantly and unlike in yesterday's post, this one is a proper 2101 - the Lada VAZ-2101 and not 21011 or 21013 or anything else really, even though it can only be seen from behind. Check out also the huge panoramic rear view mirror.

Here's how I know it's the 2101 - the two reflectors are under the taillight clusters and not incorporated in them, there is no reverse light, the bumper with guards ("fangs" as they are known in Russia).

Compare with the VAZ-2101 also known as simply the Lada.

 And it's still working hard pulling stuff on the roof rack.

Lada VAZ-21011 x 2

On Friday March 25, 2016, I went to have lunch at the same restaurant I visited when I saw these two early Ladas so had an opportunity to check up on them.

They are still there two years after.

At the time I identified them as two Lada VAZ-2101 but this time I am inclined to believe that they are actually VAZ-21011s - a version of the VAZ-2101 that remained in production until 1983 and is also known as the Lada 1300 on foreign markets.

Although certain things are not right for the 21011 either, especially the bumpers which are not the VAZ-21011 bumpers. In fact, the bumpers do look like 2101 but not the rest of the cars.

But on balance there is more of the VAZ-21011 in them than from any other related model and there was also the VAZ-21013 aka Lada 1200s in addition to the base VAZ-2101.
 

The red car also has newer side rear view mirrors. Also, the red car has no quarter glass window, but it probably should. In all, the red one looks more bastardized than the green one which is purer although not perfect either.

Nice low-back seats, you fold them out and get an even sleeping place, something you can't do any more with modern cars on account of head rests and other stuff.

The taillights are not consistent with the 21011 either. In fact they do look like they came from a VAZ-2101 as does the bumper but it has a reverse light which the 2101 did not have.

The quarter glass aka vent window is where it should properly be on this green one.

2011 Ford Edge

A 2011 Ford Edge spotted new in 2014 at a local Ford dealer. 

The 2014 Ford Edge is the facelifted first-gen (2011-14) Ford Edge.

I have never seen them outside of that dealer here in Moscow but they were sold out pretty quick on that lot.

And it has Ford's keyless keypad entry going back to the 1980s.

Here it is also on this Lincoln Town Car from my DIM series.

LADA Urban 4x4 5-Door

Automotive news now on this blog.

A new version of the LADA 4x4 (formerly known as the Niva) - the LADA Urban 4x4 5 Door - is announced in an AvtoVAZ press release today (it is here in Russian).

The difference from the regular Lada 4x4 is some new visual style elements, such as new bumpers, a special options package and increased comfort.

List of equipment includes an air conditioner, electric windows, electrically adjusted and heated side rear view mirrors, also additional vibration and sound proofing as well as new seat upholstery, kick plates and other minor improvements.

The previous Urban was the LADA Urban 4x4 3-Door.

I believe the original Lada 4x4 3- and 5-Door cars also remain on the conveyor.

BYD Flyer II

China car & truck theme continues on this blog.

Here is a BYD car spotted in the midst of the now past winter 2015-16.

This one looks to me like the BYD Flyer II, the face-lifted BYD Flyer, a city car.

Only the face-lifted version (2005-08) was sold in Russia.

Its engines are based on the old Suzuki units.

Some press-kit photos.

See? It traveled as far as the Louvre.