How the domestic sports car TagAZ Aquila was out of work

In Russia, sports cars tried to release several times. The most large-scale project was TagAZ Aquila, which we will tell you about today.

The story of

The Taganrog Automobile Plant has not been operating since 2014, it has been declared bankrupt. But throughout its history, which began in 1997, this enterprise has surprised Russians more than once with extraordinary projects.



The idea to create a real Russian sports car came to the head of the enterprise around 2010. Then the division of TAGAZ Korea developed a unique car - a four-door sports coupe.



The main "chip" of the model in the budget price - the car should be accessible to a wide range of customers.
Since there had already been one attempt to clumsily copy the design of a Korean car, which ended in litigation, the new sports car was developed from scratch.

The model model was delivered to the Taganrog plant in 2011. In 2012, the serial assembly of TagAZ Aquila began.
Shortly before the start of production, bankruptcy was declared, so the original sports car was seen as the last hope that could bring the plant out of the crisis.

Appearance

TagAZ Aquila turned out to be original. It was originally intended to be a two-door coupe. But Russian realities dictate their own conditions - such bodies have never been popular in our country. Unless the VAZ-2108, but there is another story - a shortage, and the car is not a coupe, but a three-door hatchback.

In general, the course was taken on a four-door coupe, something like the Mazda RX-8. But there, initially, the body was thought out, but here it was necessary to hastily add two more doors. The result was something not entirely harmonious on the side, but original.



TagAZ Aquila looks strange, but stylish, and definitely attracts attention. At the front, the design was clearly developed with Ferrari in mind. Behind, too, something in this style is visible - but in any case, the feed looks attractive.

But there are questions to the sides. It all starts well, but the rear doors with embrasure windows spoil the whole view. Something in this part of the body from military vehicles and bank armored cars.

Design features

Despite the budget, and they planned to sell the car for 400 rubles, TagAZ Aquila was created with an eye on a long time. It is believed that the manufacturer was confident in the future popularity of the model, and developed it based on the eternal shortcomings of the Russian automobile industry.



At the same time, a tubular frame made of the best Russian steel, a front subframe and a rear beam made of the same material were responsible for safety.

A crash test at the Dmitrovsky training ground showed that the car meets all safety requirements.



Fiberglass panels were attached to each other with a special glue. The body was held on the frame by a system of latches and locks.

And what's under the hood?

Looking at the TagAZ Aquila, it seems that there is a powerful engine, at least 200 horsepower. But here is a simple aspirated 1,6 liters per 107 hp. With.

Since the car is budget, then the engine is probably from AvtoVAZ? No, TagAZ used reliable motors. This time he took a Mitsubishi 4G18S - a proven Japanese unit, which was installed on the famous Lancer IX.



The car got rid of all the troubles of Russian cars:

• ? Rotting body
  
• ? Thundering checkpoint
  
• ? Engines with persistent problems
  

In the future, the engine and gearbox were supposed to be replaced with something serious, but only with demand and at the request of customers. If the “stars were aligned” like this, then anything could be under the hood of a sports car, up to the same 3,2-liter gasoline engine.

Salon

But inside the TagAZ Aquila it immediately becomes clear that the model is budget.

Design Features:

• ? Black and red color scheme
  
• ? Sports bucket seats, front
  

Everything else looks frankly inexpensive and is taken from various Korean and Chinese stock cars. Plastic is cheap, but most of all complaints about the dashboard from Lacetti.



But the equipment, even in the basic versions, was rich:

• ? Electric windows and mirrors
  
• ? Alloy wheels
  
• ? Air conditioner
  
• ? ABS
  
• ? hydraulic booster
  
• ? Airbag for the driver
  

Compared to foreign cars - not too impressive, but for a domestic car - not bad!
It’s comfortable to sit in front, but in the back it’s a test. The rear sofa is unexpectedly wide, but even people of average height are problematic to ride there because of the low roof.

Trunk volume - 392 liters, loops "eat" a lot.

How does it go?

No outstanding performance in dynamics from a weak atmospheric engine of 1,6 liters per 107 hp. With. don't have to wait. Rides TagAZ Aquila mediocre. Speed ​​- 180 km / h, acceleration to hundreds - 13 seconds.

There is no sound insulation in the cabin, after reaching the threshold of 60 km / h, the wind starts to whistle.



In any case, you expect something more from such a design, but alas ...

Price

In the most minimal configuration, TagAZ Aquila cost from 415 rubles. Now this amount does not mean anything, but they asked for the same amount for Lada Priora Lux. The cost was affordable for most buyers.

Today TagAZ Aquila is considered almost a collector's model. They ask for it from 500 to 900 rubles.

Why did the car "burn out"?

To get a car with a sporty appearance at the price of "Priors" - isn't it great? But the manufacturer miscalculated in one thing - he relied on young buyers. A family man is unlikely to buy a coupe, even a four-door one.


But customers did not seek to order TagAZ Aquila. It was supposed to work in several shifts, but there was no point. In fact, they collected 1-2 cars a day.

Problems started already at the assembly stage. The body parts were crooked, they had to be adjusted to each other with a file.

At the finishing site, cars could get stuck for one or two weeks. Half of the TagAZ Aquila was dismantled and rebuilt. There were few qualified assemblers.



In addition, by the fall, the plant was turned off the light, it was necessary to assemble the cars manually. Diesel generators were used, which increased production costs at times. The workers weren't paid - nothing.

Despite the financial hole from which there was no way out, TagAZ Aquila began to be assembled at the second production site. The result of the epic was natural - bankruptcy. Sports car assembly finally ceased in September 2014.

The start of production of TagAZ Aquila in the current conditions was essentially a feat - the manufacturer made a bet on the car, hoping that it would save the plant from bankruptcy. It didn't work, sorry...