New Russian SUV "Stalker": description, specifications, manufacturer

Domestic SUV "Stalker" was firstwas presented at the automobile exhibition in Togliatti (2003). The model is a jeep of compact dimensions with three doors. The car has a panel carcass body type, based on composite materials and steel pipes. The prototype caused the public a genuine interest in large part due to its interesting design and small dimensions (the length was only 3400 millimeters). On assurances of designers, this modification should have not only a charismatic appearance, but also a very reasonable price. However, the release of the novelty into batch production was accompanied by a number of problems.

Design

SUV "Stalker" decided to implement inthe reality engineer PF Popov. The idea for the implementation of frame-panel construction arose in the 90's. At that time, the designer was the director of one of the combines in Chelyabinsk. The plant was oriented to the military industry in terms of improving the light and medium army transport.

Technology attracted the attention of Popov on tworeasons. Firstly, panels made of composite materials are not subject to icing, which made it possible to operate the machine in regions with critical low temperatures. Secondly, the design provided a reduction in the total mass of the car.

Nineties have made theirdevelopment of off-road vehicle "Stalker". The crisis led to the closure of many plants, including the Chelyabinsk plant, where the developer of the car in question was working. Popov joined Lada-Tul, where he continued to promote the project to create a new product together with the head of the company - V. Bblakom. Now the model was planned to be reoriented to the civil market.

History of creation

Work on the creation of a Russian SUV"Stalker" was activated in full. Imported equipment was purchased, the best specialists of the automobile industry were involved. At the production facilities of the new enterprise, the virtual idea slowly began to materialize. The car was modified in terms of bodywork, frame and panel matrices.

Further work also stalled for a reasonfinancial problems. The management of the company after the worsening of cases, was forced to sell it, offsetting the existing debts. All the developments on the jeep under consideration were transferred to the Apal corporation. A large part of the workforce also went there.

Presentation

The first prototype of the off-road vehicle "Stalker" to thistime was ready, so the vehicle was able to be constructed, after which it was presented at an automobile show in 2003. The machine has received a number of improvements, including the manufacture of external panels of multi-level composite thermoplastic, rather than of fiberglass, as previously planned.

The new material is differentresistant to frost, is subject to additional staining, which allows you to reduce the work for the final design of the vehicle. In order to keep the body part longer its parameters, it was also covered with a layer of acrylic composition.

Further perspectives

It is worth noting that the new owner of the lungSUV "Apal-2154" ("Stalker") did not hurry to put it into mass production. The main purpose of the auto - model for exhibitions and various shows, which allow to evaluate the quality of thermoplastic. Users were so interested in the novelty that later the company's management revised its position.

The development of a business plan was entrusted tothe creator of the project - Popova PF. The documentation was drafted with a reference to the possibility of working with a partner, who will make his financial contribution to the creation of a new car. In fact, "Apal" was ready to incur expenses for the construction of the machine and all the plastic elements, and potential colleagues will take care of the rest of the car and its assembly.

Modernization and testing

The SUV "Stalker", developed in Togliatti,During the search for partners to create it, it was substantially modernized. In the production version, a rigid type roof, a four-wheel drive transmission, and a power unit from Niva with a capacity of 1.7 liters were envisaged. The updated version was equipped with a body that was not susceptible to corrosion and putrefaction, had less weight and more aggressive exterior design.

At the same time, newvarious conditions. As a result of tests it was found out that the car at low temperatures gets a conflicting moment between the panels and the carcass of the body. Eliminate this problem by introducing special technological stamping and anti-shrinkage bolts. After successfully passing all the testing stages, the new SUV "Stalker" in 2006 received approval of the type of vehicle. During that time, "Apal" found the first partner - the firm "SuperAvto". Soon between the enterprises there were disagreements of a financial sense which and it did not turn out to settle. Then the genuine interest in the vehicle was shown by the government of the Chechen Republic. In this connection, a new business plan was even drawn up.

Characteristics

Below are the main parameters of the car in question:

• Length / width / height - 3,5 / 1,64 / 1,75 m.
• The power plant is a 1.7-liter motor from Niva 4x4.
• Transmission is an automatic box for 5 ranges.
• Features - two doors plus a rear hood.
• Capacity - 4 people.
• Options - air conditioning, electrically heated mirrors, panoramic upper hatch.

The price of the new SUV "Stalker" on the basis of "Niva"

In Grozny, the newa model that the Government of Chechnya received an order to organize serial production in the shortest possible time. Initially, the annual volume was planned in the number of 4 thousand copies. The retail price of these modifications was to vary within the limits of 300 thousand rubles. The subsequent negotiations again stalled, and the mass production of new items again became questionable.

In 2010, the company Apal appealeda little-known businessman from Germany. Markus Nieske proposed to organize the production of 17 thousand cars, but at the production facilities of Dacia Daster. As a result, the front panel of the car was changed and the frame was adjusted. The Russian SUV was to be assembled in Germany from domestic spare parts. Approximate price of the vehicle is 15 thousand euros. However, this time the process could not be started.

Finally

There is a version that the steamer from Russiancomponents at the price of "Duster" was not in demand on the market. There is a more serious assumption, hinting that the German head of the company Markus Neske just deceived Tolyatti producers.

At that time, many were already accustomed to the idea that"Stalker" or his German colleague will remain in the images of prototypes. Some progress was made in 2016, when Apal decided to raise the issue of serial assembly of new products in cooperation with the company VIS-Auto. This company is one of the subsidiaries of VAZA, produces vans on the basis of "Lada".

Rumors have found some confirmation,which consists in the approval of a pilot issue of one and a half hundred cars. The documentation is mostly written with a bias towards the Lada 4x4 database. The official manufacturer is still the same VIS-Auto. There is no more detailed information about "Stalker", one can only hope that it will finally please domestic consumers with quality, practicality and affordable price.