Misplaced Pages

#561438

28-595: After the launch of the GAZelle, the plant secured a stable influx of needed revenue for its own upgrade and future models. Having failed to introduce the GAZ-3103/3102/3105 family, and seeing that demand for the GAZ-31029 Volga was still high, it was clear that the car could and would soldier on for a considerable time. Instead of experimenting with "temporary" cars, such was the inherit nature of both

56-524: A generation of its Volga marque. The GAZ-3111 was scheduled to launch in 2000, but the factory's new owner Oleg Deripaska , was unimpressed with the vehicle visually and the high price of the car prevented any interest to sales, as a result only 428 cars were built as part of the pre-production batch. Nonetheless, the car did influence the next facelift of the main Volga - the GAZ-31105 , which among with

84-540: A market economy demanded a light commercial vehicle and work was hastily underway to retrofit the plant so that it could produce the GAZelle , a car originally intended to be built at the future KiAZ plant in Azerbaijan . To fill the void in demand, offer a fresh and new vehicle (so it could also alter the prices, corrected for the hyperinflation ) GAZ carried out yet another modernisation of its Volga car. Whereas

112-655: A redesigned fascia finally rid the Volga of the archaic kingpins from the front suspension in 2004. During the early 1990s GAZ managed to survive the crises by having the Volga do a generation jump from the GAZ-24-10 to the GAZ-3110 in 1997. Simultaneously it never abandoned its quest to develop its eventual replacement, and continued designing a new car, which would feature ABS , power steering, climate control, automatic gearbox and most of all V6 and even V8 engines as standard, along with leather interiors. The external design

140-491: A small visual facelift introduced body coloured bumpers with a black resin trim, that featured drooping spoilers and integrated fog lamps. The engine unit for the new car was already present and a test batch of ZMZ-406 equipped GAZ-31029s was available since 1996. Sharing the ZMZ-402's piston group, the motor was to all intents and purposes completely new, despite undergoing a lengthy research and design period. The motor's brief

168-413: A stereotypical image of being arrogant road users. In popular culture the term "Kozlobyk" was implement (goat-bull) for its robust image. With the launch of the GAZelle in 1994 (that used more than 50% of Volga's parts, including the engine and electrics), demand for the Volga slightly fell for commercial role, but not for private use. GAZ finally returned to its modernisation programmes and in early 1996

196-495: A version was offered with the new 2287 сс ZMZ-406 fuel-injected DOHC engine and a five-speed gearbox. Producing 145 hp, its acceleration was now 13.5 seconds, and a maximum speed of 170 km/h. Thanks to the overdrive fifth gear, a fuel economy of 9,3 litres per 100 km was possible. This model, GAZ-31029-50 also required to use the front disk brake assembly of the GAZ-3102, and non-integrated power steering. The car

224-507: A workhorse. At the same time, the quality of production, due to increased volume (a record was set at 115 thousand per annum in 1993) plummeted. It was the GAZ-31029 that transformed the vehicle's popular image. Whereas in the previous three decades the Volga was a status of power and career success, and even the repressive side of Soviet society, the GAZ-31029 showed a new style of a Volga ownership as an inexpensive vehicle whose owners gained

252-653: Is best remembered in the James Bond film GoldenEye during a street chase scene in Saint Petersburg . The GAZ-31029 retained the modifications of the GAZ-24-10, GAZ-31021 was the taxi version, running on 80 RON petrol, GAZ-31022 was the estate version. GAZ-31023 was the ambulance. In 1993 a project was put forward for a pick-up version, the GAZ-2304 "Burlak" which progressed to prototype stage and shown at

280-611: The 1990s meant that those who could afford it, would opt for a foreign car such as the Mercedes E-class or the BMW 5 series with whom GAZ-3111 thought to compete. In total, about 500 cars were produced. GAZ-31029 The GAZ-31029 Volga is an automobile manufactured by the Gorkovsky Avtomobilny Zavod ( GAZ , Gorky Automobile Plant) from 1992 to 1997 as a generation of its Volga marque. Like

308-559: The GAZ-24, almost a decade late). Other differences included black plastic bumpers (the car thus lacked any chrome details, save the optional hub caps). Mechanically it was identical to the GAZ-24-10, with the exception of electrics, that were slightly modernised, the K-151 carburettor that became standard and the single rear-axle. Introduced in 1992, the car was now wholly available for purchase, and commercial demand quickly capitalised on it as

SECTION 10

#1732801658562

336-598: The GAZ-24-10 and GAZ-31029, a more permanent solution was chosen by giving the vehicle a major upgrade. Work began in 1995, and a prototype was shown at the Moscow car show that year. Overall the GAZ-3110 was an success, despite its aged profile, GAZ finally had a car that could bridge a gap before the planned new vehicle ( GAZ-3111 ) entered in the early 2000s. Though hardly a rival for new foreign marques, it certainly did snatch their re-sale market in its favour. Prices in 1997

364-416: The GAZ-24-10 was largely mechanical rather than bodywork, the GAZ-31029 was the exact opposite. Most of the panels were borrowed from the GAZ-3102, whilst the front fascia was made on one hand more modern, with an aerodynamic slant, yet less formal, thus ensuring the GAZ-3102's status would be untouched (effectively the full modernisation plan was implemented, and GAZ finally realised its successor programme for

392-499: The GAZ-24-10, the 31029 was also intended as a temporary vehicle. The development of successors to the GAZ-24 derivatives, both the GAZ-24-10 and GAZ-3102, the GAZ-3103/3104/3105 family was experiencing delays, and it was clear that the mass-produced GAZ-3103 and GAZ-3104 series would not come about for a few years to come. At the same time, the GAZ-24-10's stamping presses have completely worn themselves out. The coming of

420-508: The GAZ-3110. For example, the new Haden Drysys paintshop, when introduced to the conveyor, with attractive acrylic and metallic finishes, helped to tackle the major corrosion problems of the GAZ-3110. Simultaneously came the new 265/70R15 tyres. A small series of licence-built Steyr Diesel engines (ZMZ-560) were available. The coming of the GAZ-3111, would not have replaced the GAZ-3110 altogether, and to finish its conveyor lifetime in 2001

448-573: The GAZelle/GAZ-31029 corporate look, but built on it with a vertically split grille and the front plastic bumper had a chrome top finish. Punctuating the new silhouette were 15 inch alloy rims. Inside the car's interior was also new, with fully adjustable heated seats, foam-filled dashboard and door linings, whose finish colour can be now selected (as opposed to standard black plastic on GAZ-24-10/GAZ-31029). The decorative elements could be ordered with an image of lacquered timber (as opposed to

476-477: The fuel-injected 406 models. The latter engine in 1999 already had its first refit and a compression ratio reduced to 9.2 to avoid detonation, reducing the power from 150 to 131 hp. As the decade closed, in 2000 GAZ was in active preparation to launch the GAZ-3111 Volga. The vehicle demanded a serious upgrade to existing facilities at the plant, and as these came online, they were extensively tested by

504-409: The rear boot space, that narrowed off after the rear-wheel arch. The boot lid had a higher profile and its lip extended to bumper level, simultaneously easing access and increasing volume. Inside, the boot featured a modern trim, the spare tyre was conveniently pushed into the centre of the seat on a special frame, whilst driver's toolkit was stored in hidden recesses underneath. The car's fascia retained

532-456: The rear, optional. For the 1997 model year production overlapped with the GAZ-31029 , but afterwards a budget version was necessary, and a simplified 402 engine/4 speed gearbox with a poorer trim and lacking some options (though power steering and disk brakes would remain) was available. In late 2002, it became clear that the GAZ-3111 would never come about, and a two-stage upgrade programme

560-466: The reworked double-synchronised 5-speed gearbox. In accordance to Euro II regulations, all vehicles now featured neutralisers. In 2002 the car was awarded zero stars out of a possible four by the Russian ARCAP safety assessment program. GAZ-3111 The GAZ-3111 Volga is an automobile manufactured by the Gorkovsky Avtomobilny Zavod ( GAZ , Gorky Automobile Plant) from 1998 to 2004 as

588-402: The stickers on the previous cars). Also new was the soft steering wheel with a driver's airbag (not available initially). The new instrument cluster finally gained a tachometer and battery charge was indicated in volts rather than amperes. Cabin ventilation and heating was also new, and air conditioner was an option. Windows were now athermic, and tinted, the front electrical raisers were standard,

SECTION 20

#1732801658562

616-490: Was US$ 8800 for the budget version with ZMZ-402 engine, and US$ 12,900 for the ZMZ-406 equipped. Even the 1998 Russian financial crisis hardly affected the Volga's demand, quite the contrary, GAZ capitalised on marketing it as an inexpensive alternative. However, the car was still plagued by the common reliability issues of all 1990s built cars: poor assembly quality, faulty electronics, and low service culture, especially for

644-490: Was completely new and featured many GAZ-21 influenced retro styling cues developed in collaboration with a US-based company. However problems began mounting in production costs, as some details had to be borrowed from the older models, at least initially such as the Chaika's axle. The pre-production models lacked the automatic gearbox, and the engine was the same ZMZ-4062.10 that went into GAZ-3110. First shown in 1998, production

672-423: Was drawn in 1982, and finalised only in 1986, to be used on the new GAZ-3103 and GAZ-3104 models. A contemporary twin overhead camshaft (DOHC)—four valve per cylinder scheme was chosen with Bosch fuel-injected intake. The high inertia of the piston stroke limited potential forced induction, and was thus reduced from 92 to 86, hence a volume decline of 2445 cc to 2286 cc. Compression on the naturally aspirated 406

700-402: Was initiated that would result in the GAZ-31105 . The first stage was mechanical and was featured on all 2003 model year cars (sometimes called transitional series). The most significant feature was much improved handling, that was achieved via new ball-joint front suspension replacing the archaic kingpins. The rear suspension gained new silent blocks and horizontal stabilisation bar. Also new was

728-463: Was now 9.3 instead of 8.5 of the 402, and the redline grew to 5500 RPM (4750 on the ZMZ-402). A two-step timing chain was implemented for reliability, and a cast iron cylinder block to give it necessary strength when used on future modifications with forced induction and/or diesels. The 406 engine was mated to the five-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. Front disk brakes and power steering

756-446: Was now standard. Externally the car retained only "skeletal" details of its predecessor: central pillars, doors and platform. The remaining panels were designed from scratch, simultaneously tying in the mid-1990s contoured fashion with passive security crumple zones . A side-asset of this new layout was a dramatic ease in vehicle manoeuvring during tight traffic and parking, as the archaic corners were effectively sanded off, particularly

784-404: Was scheduled to begin in 2000 with 53 cars delivered. GAZ thought of the GAZ-3111 as a replacement for the GAZ-3102 and envisioned a rate of 25 thousand per annum. But only 342 were delivered in 2001, and 20 in 2002, with further nine of 2004 before all production ceased. GAZ-3111 was a failure in terms of marketing and demand. Its high base price and poor reputation that the Volga brand carried in

#561438