AvtoVAZ specialists started developing a fundamentally new car model back in 1993. In 1998, the project was named "Lada Kalina". A year later, a hatchback demonstration took place, and in 2000, a sedan-type Kalina. However, the design was agreed only by 2001, and the model and name were registered by 2002.
Model development history
It usually takes 3-4 years from the birth of an idea to the release of a new model from the assembly line at European and American factories. AvtoVAZ managed to organize the serial production of Lada Kalina in a little less than 4 years, which is in line with world standards. For the first time at the plant, mathematical modeling technologies were applied, which significantly reduced the time for tests and their volumes. This is far from the only innovation that was used in the release of a new car model. At AvtoVAZ, an electronic design specification system was introduced, and a transition to a detailed-assembly structure of the car took place. The interaction of technologists, designers and production workers has become closer.
The Lada Kalina car was tested according to more than 125 parameters, which confirmed its compliance with both Russian and international automotive standards. All tests were carried out on special roads, and finishing work was carried out in the laboratories of the AvtoVAZ scientific and technical center. Among other things, the heating and cooling system of the car, aerodynamic or electromagnetic properties were tested in laboratory conditions.
The model of the car, created at a scale of 1: 4, made it possible to make assumptions about a decrease in the coefficient of aerodynamic drag. As a result, the designers actually managed to reduce it by 10 percent. Changes have been made in comparison with the original project, the height of the trunk lid, the geometry of the lights, bumpers, hood edges, mirrors. All this was implemented in the base model Lada Kalina. In the "luxury" configuration, the car was supplemented with aerodynamic shields in front of the wheels and the trunk lid was slightly lengthened.
When a 1: 1 scale model of the car was created, the drag coefficient decreased by another 12 percent, which made it possible to put the "Lada Kalina" on a par with similar models of foreign production.
Special requirements were imposed on the safety of the driver and passengers. That is why 12 percent of the total body weight was made of steel with an increased strength index, which has a significant margin of dynamic and fatigue strength. Tests have shown that such a solution made it possible to increase the energy intensity of the body upon impact, as well as to withstand the car large deformations without destruction.
The history of the Lada Kalina model in numbers
On February 26, 2004, the director of the open joint-stock company AvtoVAZ signed an order to switch to serial production of Lada Kalina cars. In order to timely prepare the release of the new model, a new subdivision was formed in the structure of the body-assembly production. Welding, painting and assembly shops have now become a single complex. In just 9 months of 2004, the floor covering was renewed in the assembly and both welding shops, the latest engineering and technological equipment was installed. In order for the first batch of the car to leave the assembly line on time, more than 60 kilometers of electrical wiring had to be carried out, about three kilometers of the distribution busbar. Part of the work fell on the shoulders of the general contractor "Management of capital construction of industrial buildings and structures" and subcontractors.
In two welding shops, 23 conveyors and 429 units of basic technological equipment were installed. The assembly shop was equipped with 8 conveyor systems and 146 pieces of equipment.
The production of the Lada Kalina sedan was launched on November 18, 2004. On July 21, 2006 AvtoVAZ started serial production of the Kalina hatchback type. On August 4, 2006, the first Lada Kalina car was sold. In July 2007, Lada Kalina began to be produced with 1, 4-liter and 16-valve engines, a few months later the car was equipped with an anti-lock brakes system. In August 2007, the first Kalina with a station wagon rolled off the assembly line.
The AvtoVAZ plant produced 335 cars per day. For 2 years, 80,000 cars were produced, but the production rate was planned to be increased. According to the Association of European Businesses, in 2009 Lada Kalina became the 4th most popular car in Russia. In 2009, 60,746 new vehicles were sold.
