"Moskvich" renamed as JAC? What will be manufactured in the capital instead of the departed Renault

Sergey Lvov

This news was released today by respected Vedomosti with reference to two interlocutors who are familiar with the plans of KAMAZ, which is also involved in the resuscitation of a renosh plant in Moscow.

“Instead of Renault models in Moscow, Chinese electric vehicles under the Moskvich brand may begin to be assembled at the facilities of the former Renault Russia plant. By the end of the year, it is planned to begin production of cars with conventional engines, and later switch to electric vehicles, Vedomosti writes.

However, official representatives of Kamaz and the Moscow mayor's office declined to comment. A representative of the Ministry of Industry and Trade told Vedomosti that the concept of production at the Moskvich plant (formerly Renault Russia) would be presented in the near future by the Moscow government. According to one of the interlocutors, Kamaz is negotiating with its current partner, the JAC automaker, and the city authorities are working on cooperation with another Chinese automaker. A fundamental decision on the model for production has not yet been made, the interlocutors of the newspaper noted.

But whatever happens in the end, and our forecast that it is impossible to create any new Russian car in the current realities, is 100 percent justified. It is only a matter of choosing between Chinese partners and models. So you can imagine what kind of cars will be on the conveyor.

If we take KAMAZ with plans to produce electric trains, then JAC is already offering in Russia a compact electric crossover with the unpronounceable name iEV7S I.

The car is very similar in size to the popular Hyundai Creta. But the rest of the characteristics are very, very controversial, especially for a Russian buyer who is distrustful of electric cars.

The resource of a 116-horsepower engine is enough for only 280 "passport" kilometers. This means that in winter or with frequent accelerations, the car is unlikely to travel more than 200 km, and there are almost no charging stations in the vastness of the Russian Federation. Yes, and the batteries charge for as long as 7 hours.

Unlike Tesla, acceleration to 100 km / h is extremely sluggish - more than 11 seconds, and the maximum speed is only 130 km / h.

But the price is able to surprise the Russians - from 2 million 800 thousand rubles.

However, with prices in today's car market - a complete leapfrog. Even official JAC dealers in different cities can vary by 1.5-2 times. At the same time, the Chinese do not provide any objective data on the reliability, durability and safety of their cars. Independent tests for "train" from JAC could not be found.

Does the Russian consumer need such a car? Should it be assembled at KAMAZ, and then in Moscow? I'm afraid there are no clear answers to these questions.

More successful is the fate of another model from JAC - the J7 liftback. It can most of all be associated with Moskvich-2141 - both in size and in the power of a gasoline engine of 136 hp.

"The most beautiful JAC", - according to many reputable auto experts, owes its spectacular appearance to an international team of stylists led by Italian designer Daniel Gallone.

Well, yes, Gallone well copied the grille from the Maserati and the contours of the rear from the BMW X6. The rest of the car is not much different from the design of its modern counterparts Kia or Hyundai. Despite the "luxury" pretentiousness of the body, her interior is more than ordinary. Ebony black plastic inserts frame the most boring oilcloth of chairs.

It is clear that the liftback does not have outstanding driving performance. A one and a half liter turbo engine accelerates the car to 170 km, the acceleration speed to 100 km is not indicated in the passport (probably, they were too shy). The base offers a 6-speed manual, and in the most expensive version - a variator. There is no automatic transmission in any versions.

But it's good to have a catalytic converter and Euro-5 emission standards! It would be a pity if, following the new norms from the Russian authorities, our manufacturers sacrifice the health of citizens in order to reduce the cost of construction.

Again, it is not very clear whether it will be possible to use J-7 in taxis and carsharing? How reliable is this car in commercial use?

As for the price, the Chinese dealer in Tver is now selling the basic version of the J7 for 1 million 930 thousand rubles, while in Moscow there are options for 400 thousand cheaper.

In addition, there are three more different-sized crossovers in the JAC lineup. But calling them "Moskvichs" in the name of the bright past of AZLK, which has never produced SUVs, somehow does not turn the tongue.