VAZ-2110 - the latest Soviet development

The idea that the hatchback body is more ergonomic has been around since the mid-60s. The global auto industry quickly responded to it by offering many models of this layout. The Soviet system turned out to be more inert: all promising projects were never implemented. But by the mid-80s, the question had come to a head. The result was "Samara", "Tavria" and "Oda".


Perhaps those of us who have a car of this design do not even think about a simple question. When loading the trunk before a long trip, think about how much of this would fit in a classic sedan? Despite such practicality, the classics again hovered in the minds of the people of the post-Soviet space. For some, this was a nostalgic memory, for others it simply seemed that the sedan looks more solid and beautiful. And I can't help but agree with the last one. All luxury cars of the past had a sedan-type body (with the exception of a few models, such as the Tatra-613).


So, having enjoyed “modern” in the 80s (the people called the “eight” and “nine” “chisel”), Russian motorists began to sigh in classics. The leading manufacturer reacted with the "ninety-ninth" and its restyling in the form of "2115". The positive response prompted manufacturers to develop a whole line, called Lada 110.

How did the III generation of VAZ appear

Back in the mid-80s, VAZ designers planned a change of course. Despite the successful promotion of Samara, the engineers tried to look to the future. One of the vectors was the division of the consumer market into two camps: enthusiastic supporters of the new hatchback and conservatives who dream of the return of the classic sedan. Market realities prompted producers to meet the aspirations of both the first and second.



The emphasis was on the sedan body, so the 3-door hatchback VAZ-21123 came out in a very limited edition. Although quite a bit of time has passed, it is very difficult to meet such a car today. And the “first violin” in this series was played by the “ten”.


The prototype of the "0" series was prepared by the middle of 1985. After that, three more generations of layouts were created before the engineers were satisfied with the result. This happened two years later, so only the variant with the designation "300" was approved for mass production. True, on the recommendation of subcontractors (they were the legendary Porsche concern), they slightly changed the shape of the body, improving aerodynamics and reducing drag. Unfortunately, the problems of increased noise in the cabin and the release of dirt on the sides of the car during the trip have not been resolved.

The exhibition "Autodesign-88" became "the first ball of Natasha Rostova" for the novelty. At the VDNKh sites, the public was shown a prototype approved for mass production. But he still had a few years left. Future tests were planned to be carried out in Germany, based on the Porsche test site.


The latter fact caused a premature leak of information. Car paparazzi did not doze off. During testing of the pre-production version, unknown people were able to take a few photos. They were leaked to the press, so the November 1990 issue of Za Rulem also presented the footage to its readers. The car in the photo was completed with the Gamma platform, adapted to the configuration of the model.

Serial production that did not start on time

The tests were successful, so in 1992 they were preparing to start mass production. What happened during that period is well known to many of us. Such a state as the Soviet Union disappeared from the world map. This brought confusion and economic crisis to the newly formed states. Production plans had to be adjusted.

Nevertheless, the situation in Tolyatti was not the saddest. VAZ, albeit later than the deadline, but was able to master the production of a new generation model. He became the only domestic manufacturer of passenger vehicles, honored with such a feat. Other colleagues had a more difficult situation. Their promising models never saw a serial conveyor.


This undermined the competitiveness of enterprises, which brought sad results. Neither Volga, nor Moskvich, nor Zaporozhets saw better times. The production of their own models at their facilities was gradually curtailed, giving preference to the assembly of other people's projects. Such a result has become quite logical, because without the development of its own production, any enterprise comes to just such a finish. And there are a number of world-famous examples of this.

Design features of the VAZ-2110

The first issue that the creators decided was the maximum unification with existing models. Therefore, a variety of "eight" was chosen as the power unit: 16-valve with computer forced injection. He received the index "2112" and was installed on the pre-production model of 1992. The motor had the following indicators:

✅ working volume - 1499,8 cubic meters. cm
✅ power - 94 liters. With
✅ electronic control unit from General Motors

Serial production of these engines (started in 1997) was not in time for the release of the model itself. Therefore, the early VAZ-2110s had an older eight-valve version under the hood. Another progressive development was the gas spring in the bonnet stop, which was used until 2007. But the ability to adjust the tilt of the steering column of the car lasted until the end of the release of the model. Some design elements did not go into the series:

✅ black color of window frames and lower edges of the body
✅ decorative plastic caps for wheels
✅ fastening exterior mirrors to doors

This model also completed the history of establishing the old "VAZ" badge (next generations received an updated "rook" in an oval frame). Gorky's colleagues liked the design solutions of the "tens". Several models of "thirty-first" generation jeeps received a similar style.

Popularity, restyling and completion of the release

June 27, 1995 was the starting point in the history of the "tenth" model. The experimental batch released at that time made it possible to start mass production in a little over a year. By the end of autumn, the cars entered the retail network. But the time of the novelty was irretrievably lost. Over the decade preceding the start of production, the global auto industry has stepped forward noticeably.


All the same, for domestic manufacturers, the car has become a sign of at least some progress. He was ranked as a higher class than the models of the Volga plant of the first and second generations. A number of constructive developments served as confirmation of this:

✅ onboard diagnostic unit
✅ galvanized body parts
✅ progressive paint system
✅ electronics in engine management

Those who wished could order a hydraulic booster or power windows. All this pointed to a decisive departure from Soviet minimalism in the design of passenger vehicles. A new era of comfort and convenience has dawned. Deep restyling of the car led to the emergence of a new family in the form of LADA Priora. It took her only seven months to “survive” her predecessor from the factory assembly line. Production of the VAZ-2110 in Togliatti stopped on October 15, 2007. However, the history of the “tens” was not completed on this. For almost seven more years, it was assembled from factory kits at the Bogdan automobile plant.