“You make me sad”, said King Arthur to the Black Knight in the very well known Monty Python movie. I’m reminded of that scene every time I compare Lada prototypes to the finalized production cars: it’s clear how the design studios were positively awash with striking ideas and impeccable taste, but despite getting the basic shape to production, something got lost in translation to sheetmetal. It’s hardly different from what universally happens to a concept car, but the Lada 110/2110 is especially galling: to get it so close, yet to fall so far.
The project, started in the mid-1980s and producing driveable, SVX-baiting prototypes in 1990-1991 made it to production beginning in 1995 and for European-wide sales by 1999. It managed to be a decade late, if you’re looking at the inspiration.


This shot shows how the 110 was benchmarked using a 1986 Audi 80, a car that’s still driving all around Eastern Europe. It explains the dimensions and general attention to packaging and aerodynamics.

The wagon looks actually awesome in this sketch dated 7/87. Those SVX-style windows actually pre-date the Subaru, which was unveiled at the 1989 Tokyo Motor Show – even if design sketches probably circulated widely years earlier.

A smart-looking sporty three-door hatchback/coupe was also in the cards.


Frankly, I find it amazing how they wanted to reach a certain level of futurism, and how you can find elements of these concept sketches in the final car, no matter how plain the end result was.


Here is the final car. The beltline is there, the headlight shape, glasshouse and the general silhouette matches the 1990-1991 concept, but the magic has vanished from between those janky panel gaps.


Press shots of the interior.

Sales shot of a 1999 car sold in Finland. By the time the car got here, it was a weirdly retrofuturistic product: so immensely dated, but yet grasping at straws that were decades ahead. It’s like from an alternative timeline.

The 110 was sold in Finland until 2007, and used examples command around the same prices as old Chrysler Neons. It would be amazing if someone bought a 110 and set out to perfect it to look exactly like the concept versions did, with those split windows, smoked glass and late 1980s concept car detailing.
[Images: VAZ, Nettiauto]