Within the wake of a turbulent interval following Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, Lada, which was deserted by the Renault Group, has turned to China for help. The result’s the brand new Lada X-Cross 5, which was unveiled at an AvtoVAZ vendor convention in Sochi, Russia. Nevertheless, the crossover is basically a Chinese language FAW SUV that has been rebranded for the Russian market.

The FAW Bestune T77, a compact SUV that was initially launched as an ICE-powered car in China in 2018, measures 4,525 mm (178.1 inches) in size. Since 2020, the mannequin has been exported to Russia, which makes it unsurprising that the brand new Lada X-Cross 5 relies on the FAW mannequin.

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Photographs shared by Maxim Kadakov on Telegram present that the one distinction between the Lada X-Cross 5 and the FAW Bestune T77 is the badging. All the exterior and inside panels are similar, together with the dual-screen digital cockpit.

The identical applies to the turbocharged 1.5-liter petrol engine underneath the hood that produces 160 hp (118 kW / 162 PS), sending energy to the entrance axle via a six-speed guide or a seven-speed automated. Happily, this powertrain is considerably extra trendy by way of expertise and specs in comparison with Lada’s older engine choices.

Not like the unique, which is manufactured in China, the Lada X-Cross 5 for the Russian market can be produced at AvtoVAZ’s St. Petersburg plant, which was previously owned by Nissan. Pricing for the SUV is predicted to be just like that of its FAW Bestune T77 twin, which at the moment begins at ₽2,169,000 ($26,570) in Russia. Predictably, the primary new manufacturing mannequin in Lada’s post-Renault period can be joined by a variety of SUVs and sedans that originate from China, as the corporate appears to streamline its operations and give attention to producing fashions which are in excessive demand.

Lada will not be the one Russian automaker that’s now providing rebadged Chinese language fashions. In late 2022, the reborn Moskvich model, which is owned by Kamaz, launched its personal model of the JAC JS4 SUV. Business analysts predict that Chinese language automakers may account for practically 35% of recent automobile gross sales in Russia in 2023, with gross sales reaching near 800,000 items.

Because the Russian market continues to evolve, it seems that partnerships and collaborations with Chinese language automakers will play an more and more vital position within the nation’s evolving automotive business.