First generation (2002–2017)
Development of an alternative to conventional «Niva» at AvtoVAZ began in the late 80s. The concept of the new VAZ-2123 «Niva» shown to the public at the Moscow International Motor Show in 1998. Small batches of cars were produced in 2001, and in 2002 a joint venture was established «GM-AvtoVAZ» and the rights to this model were transferred to this company. The original price was almost twice the classic «fields» VAZ -2121.
Shniva is produced in two trim levels - the base L trim level and the improved GLS, which includes leather seats plus heated front seats, a more advanced audio system, isothermal tinted windows, fog lights, etc. You can also see the LC and GLC badges, which corresponds to the trim levels already described, but with air conditioning. Since 2004, all exterior mirrors are electrically adjustable and heated. Almost all car parts (98%) are Russian.
The engine was installed in only one option - a gasoline injector with a volume of 1.7 liters and a power of 80 hp. at 5000 rpm, torque 127 Nm at 3800 rpm, 4-cylinder in-line. The transmission is also one 5-speed manual.
In November 2006, they began to produce a modification of the FAM-1 with the factory index VAZ-21236. It was equipped with an Opel Z18XE engine with a volume of 1.8 liters and a power of 125 hp. at 5600 rpm and a torque of 170 Nm at 3800 rpm. In addition, the car had a richer package and options (airbags, air conditioning, ABS system, etc.). In 2008, the FAM-1 project was curtailed and about a thousand of these vehicles were produced in total. There is also a modification «Trophy», designed for off-road driving.
In 2009, the car was restyled. This was done by the Italian design company Stile Bertone. In the same year, 150 cars of a special color black non-metallic with chrome elements were produced for the seventh anniversary of Shniva production. In 2010, 300 light lilac cars with unique elements were produced. For the 100th anniversary of Chevrolet, 300 anniversary cars were produced - 250 in dark gray-green metallic and 50 in bright red metallic. For the 12th anniversary of the release of the car, a limited special edition of the color silver-green metallic was also released («Tundra»).
The safety of the car in the ARCAP crash test was checked in 2003. The result is rather sad - only 1.6 points out of 16 and did not assign a single star.
Second generation (2017–present)
At the Moscow Motor Show in 2014, the concept of the second generation Shnivy was presented to the public. Production was scheduled to begin in 2016, but development was suspended in March 2015. At the moment, a stamping and body shop has been built, construction has begun on a plant for the production of engines developed by PSA Peugeot Citroën, and sea trials of a pre-production model have been passed.