AvtoVAZ presented its flagship model Vesta Sport. “Yuzhny Avtomobil” tested the new model in action on the roads of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region. We also considered whether it is worth buying a factory Vesta Sport or it is better to upgrade the standard Vesta yourself.
The new Vesta Sport is called the flagship at AvtoVAZ, which means that it is the most expensive and the most equipped Lada model. Prices have not yet been announced, but compared to competitors, depending on the configuration, the cost of the new model will vary from 900 thousand to 1 million rubles. So, what does a potential buyer get for this amount?
What’s new on the outside
The Vesta Sport now has 107 new parts and 127 modernized ones compared to the standard one. Engineers have improved the engine, exhaust, brakes, suspension, interior and exterior of the car. The car looks even more impressive thanks to the body kit and 17-inch blackened alloy wheels wrapped in low-profile Continental ContiSport5 tires. The car looks particularly striking in the signature Typhoon gray color.
However, we got a red Vesta Sport for testing. It looks good too, but I still personally prefer the gray one. Also, because of the large wheels and increased track, the engineers had to replace the standard Vesta fenders with wider plastic ones. The lower lip of the front and rear bumpers is painted red. This only looks good on a gray car; on all other colors, it looks a bit gaudy. The rear bumper has a pair of exhaust pipes, and they are completely genuine, not fake. Compared to the standard Vesta, the Sport version is 10 mm longer and wider: 4420 and 1774 mm. The ground clearance has also been lowered by 16 mm.
Interior
The interior looks out of this world compared to the standard Vesta, especially the seats with lateral support and red contrasting inserts. The Vesta Sport logo is embroidered on the seatbacks under the headrests. The steering wheel is covered in leatherette. The same material is used to trim the gearshift knob and handbrake. The ceiling is covered in black material, but it is not Alcantara, but some simpler material. Personally, its structure and texture reminded me of felt. In other words, the interior is designed in the image and likeness of hot sedans and hot hatches, only with an adjustment for the budget.
It’s worth remembering that the goal of AvtoVAZ designers was to create an affordable car with sporty handling and a spectacular interior for minimal money. Therefore, demanding Nappa leather in the Vesta’s interior is pointless. It looks good. The seating position is comfortable. It is slightly lower than in the regular Vesta. But it doesn’t feel like you’re sitting on the floor. I felt like the seat should be moved a little closer to the steering wheel to make it easier to press the clutch pedal. The seat is adjustable not only back and forth and for backrest tilt, but also for height. The pedals are like those of sports cars, with polished metal pads.
The simple radio with a touchscreen responds a little thoughtfully to inputs. I think this element will be the first to be replaced during future DIY tuning. The image from the rearview camera is also displayed on the radio screen. Overall, it’s simple and convenient.
Other nice features on the Vesta Sport include electrically adjustable and heated mirrors, a heated windshield, and three-level heated driver and passenger seats. It also has a rain and light sensor. Would you have thought 10 years ago that such a well-equipped car from the Volga Automobile Plant would appear?
A matter of technology
The Vesta Sport will be sold with a single 1.8-liter engine producing 145 horsepower. It is naturally aspirated. The engine’s variable valve timing system was reconfigured, new camshafts with a modified profile (increased cam lift) were installed, fuel pressure was increased, and the engine management system settings were changed. The intake and exhaust systems were also modernized, which also increased the maximum engine power to 145 horsepower.
Maximum power speed was increased from 5900 to 6000 rpm. Torque increased from 170 to 182 Nm. Nothing else was changed in the engine. At the same time, the dimensions of the cylinder block and piston group remained the same as on the serial Vesta. The gearbox remained the same; no modifications were made to it. This is a manual five-speed 5JR gearbox from the Nissan-Renault alliance.
Lowering the suspension helps reduce the height of the car’s center of gravity, and therefore improves stability and controllability. Additionally, this allowed for adjustments to the steering system kinematics by modifying the welding of the steering arm to the struts, which also improved handling. To ensure reliable chassis operation under high loads, the LADA Vesta Sport is equipped with a reinforced steering knuckle.
Lada Sport engineers also worked on the brakes. The front brake disc diameter has been increased to withstand higher temperatures during braking. Larger brake pads have been installed, and the brake pistons have been enlarged. Lada Sport representatives claim that the brake system was tuned and tested on the Sochi Autodrom track. While the Vesta Sport’s brakes are good, ours occasionally squealed. This may have been a problem with the pre-production model that my colleague and I drove. Most likely, this problem will be fixed when the Vesta Sport goes on sale.
The car’s weight distribution is 61.5/38.5 in favor of the front end, so when actively taking sharp turns, you need to brake harder to load the front end and dive into it.
How it drives
The Vesta Sport’s claimed acceleration is 9.6 seconds. It’s 2.5 seconds faster than the regular Vesta. It’s still a long way from racing cars and hot hatches, but in fact, this is the fastest AvtoVAZ model. The engine has potential, but they deliberately didn’t make it more powerful. Firstly, because of environmental standards and fuel efficiency. Secondly, because of safety. Thirdly, because of the transport tax. But even with these settings, the car drives. Unlike the regular Vesta, you can turn off the ESP stabilization system on the Vesta Sport.
I liked it less in the city than on the highway. When racing from traffic lights, the engine roars harshly. It’s also not suited to abrupt shifts. The Vesta Sport’s natural environment is country roads, where it can easily reach speeds of 180 km/h and more (but it’s best to stick to the rules). The manufacturer’s stated top speed is 205 km/h. At the same time, the Vesta Sport feels confident on the road thanks to its wider track.
What Lada Sport engineers haven’t managed to eliminate is a whistling sound near the top of the driver’s-side door at speeds over 100 km/h. The Renault transmission shifts clearly, in my opinion, but you have to press the clutch harder to engage the gear. The gearshift is a bit stiff if you’re pushing the shifter hard. In my opinion, it also needs a sixth gear. But a six-speed gearbox is only a dream, then the Vesta Sport would be even more expensive.
Buy a Vesta Sport or tune a regular one
To the question of whether it is possible to upgrade a regular Vesta to the Sport level? The answer is yes, but do you need it? Now we will roughly calculate how much it might cost us to upgrade the base Vesta model to the Sport level.
As a basis, you should take not the VAZ-21179 engine with a volume of 1.8, but the standard VAZ-21129 engine with a volume of 1.6 liters and a power of 106 horsepower. Tuning the engine can look like this. Firstly, you can bore out the cylinder head channels and take the receiver from the 1.8 liter VAZ-21179 engine in accordance with the size of the runners on the new receiver (37 mm). You’ll also need to modify the receiver and air conditioner bracket a bit to get everything to fit. Secondly, the camshafts need to be replaced. USA 9.12 FAZA 277 VAZ camshafts are available for around 10,000 rubles. Priora tuners have long known about them. They can easily be ported to a Vesta 1.6-liter engine. No cutting of the camshaft bed is required. Everything fits on the original solid gears. Thirdly, the electronic control unit will need to be reprogrammed (chipped). Software-assisted disabling of the manifold flap valve and raising the cutoff value.
Fourth, the exhaust system will need to be modified with a ProCar 4-2-1 spider, a 51 mm exhaust with a CBD flame arrestor, a Jutas resonator, and a TurboTema muffler. A Helmholtz resonator will also be installed to reduce the sound. Of course, the exhaust system will be quite complex, but theoretically, it’s all doable. All you need is a competent mechanic, time, and all the necessary components. A zero-resistance filter and iridium spark plugs will also need to be installed. Theoretically, the output should be around 140 horsepower, and the car will go 0-60 mph faster than the standard Vesta Sport. Therefore, engine and exhaust tuning could cost between 200,000 and 250,000 rubles. Add to this a body kit and paint job for 50-70 thousand rubles, lowering the suspension, installing different control arms and shock absorbers. Don’t forget to add brake upgrades for the increased power. Considering the minimum price of a Lada Vesta is 600,000 rubles, and if you add different wheels with good rims and tires, interior upholstery, a music system, a radio, and other aesthetic extras, the cost will be around 1.2-1.3 million rubles. However, in a garage, all of this would be a makeshift project. Therefore, the question of future operation, engine life, fuel economy, and environmental friendliness remains open and is entirely your responsibility. So, what’s the point of taking a regular Vesta and tuning it to Sport level when everything’s already been done for you?
Straight on target
AvtoVAZ has set the right strategic goal. It’s clear that the Vesta Sport won’t sell like hotcakes. It’s a niche car, but it has its buyers. Furthermore, by upgrading the car at the factory according to all safety, fuel efficiency, environmental standards, and other endurance tests, the customer receives a car with a warranty and decent performance for this budget class. Thus, the Lada Sport division, which built the car, is essentially taking a bite out of the garage tuning studios’ pie. Of course, there will be those who will finish the Vesta Sport itself in the garage, because our people have a special love for Lada cars.
