Lada Vesta Signature
Lada’s
experimental long-wheelbase Vesta Signature does promise to offer a taste of
opulence to the masses.
Penned under the direction of former
Mercedes-Benz and Volvo designer, Steve Mattin, who now leads the design
division of AvtoVAZ Lada, the Vesta Signature is an elongated version of the
new Vesta small sedan with added amenities.
It was created shortly after the market
launch of the regular Vesta last fall as an affordable limousine for Russian
business people, but it could also cater to a wider audience looking for extra
space and comfort features.
The Signature rides on a 250 mm longer wheelbase than the regular Vesta sedan at 2,885 mm with the car’s overall length extended to from 4,410 mm to
4,660 mm. As a result, rear passengers benefit from 200 mm of extra legroom, while to further improve comfort, Lada discarded the rear
seat bench and replaced it with two individual and heated seats separated by a
center console.
The car rides on new 17-inch wheels and
comes with various standard features like dual-zone climate control, parking
radars and two-tone leather interior. Lada hasn’t revealed any powertrain
specs, but it’s believed that the car is powered by either a 1.6-liter or
1.8-liter gasoline engine paired to an automatic transmission.
For now, the Vesta Signature remains an
experimental model, with Lada to build no more than 10 examples, all for
internal use by the company’s brass at their Moscow office. During this phase,
the cars will be tested in real-life conditions with drivers to give feedback
on the car for improvements.