After so many years of hilarity about Russian Fiats, the joke might finally be over. The purists, who used to proudly drive their Rivas as a political statement, will be disappointed, but the modern incarnation of Lada has little to do with what came before. There are electric Ladas, gas-powered Ladas, even a working concept for a supercar tucked away in a corner of the competition department. Yet despite this change, Lada remains firmly embedded in the fabric of Russia. Put simply, most Russian people drive Ladas. For every oligarch tearing up the Moscow ring road on YouTube in his Lamborghini, there are thousands of ordinary Russians driving Ladas in varying degrees of roadworthiness, modernity and cleanliness. The biggest seller in Russia at the moment is the Lada Granta, a model introduced in 2011 and based on the Priora, which will be phased out within the next couple of years. The Granta even benefits from some sporting pedigree, with British racing driver James Thompson leading an assault on the FIA World Touring Car Championship last year. It was a surprisingly successful season, with the cars consistently finishing in the top 10.
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