Lada Nadezhda

The VAZ-2120 was the first minivan produced by the Russian auto industry and was based on the VAZ-2131 Niva line of sport utility vehicles. It was first shown to the public at the 1997 Moscow Auto Show. Built in small numbers, it could not be sold at a competitive price and did not meet with commercial success. Annual production maxed out at around 1,500 units, with a total of about 8,000 examples having been built before it was cancelled in August 2006.^[1] Plans to build the Nadezhda on a dedicated, rear-wheel drive chassis came to naught.^[1]

AvtoVAZ' OPP (ОПП) Pilot Industrial Production subsidiary, located in Tolyatti, produced the Nadezhda to order.^[2] The Nadezhda was discontinued as VAZ preferred to use the production capacity to build the 112 Coupé, which could be sold at a higher profit margin.^[1]

The pre-production examples used the twin round headlamps of the VAZ-2106, set in organically shaped housings. These were unable to meet newer legislation and on the production models, the headlamps from the Lada 110 were used.^[3]

Engines

• VAZ-2120 1.8, with carburetor engine VAZ-2130 (1.8 liter, 80 PS)
• VAZ-2120 1.7i, VAZ-21214 engine with fuel injection (1.7 liters, 84 PS)

• "Van" ("Utiliter") - commercial retail delivery van
• "Pick-up" - commercial retail delivery truck
• "Service" - mobile workshop
• "Manager" - "office on wheels"
• "Taxi" - 4-seater with a large luggage compartment
• 2120M 4×2 - restyled, rear-drive version with the rear axle derived from the Izh Oda and regularly hinged rear side door (did not enter series production)

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  VAZ 2120 Utiliter
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  VAZ 2120 Manager
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  VAZ 2120 Taxi
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  Lada 2120M 4x2