GAZ unveiled new light off-road vehicles

GAZ unveiled lightweight new off-road vehicles of the van category at the National Security Week International Forum.
Sobol 4×4 test variants with the NEXT family cab, original bodies and hoods were on display at the company’s booth.
Two versions of these cars were presented: a pickup and a minibus. The Russian manufacturer has revealed two experimental models (prototypes) of Sobol vehicles in off-road editions, designed for use in difficult road conditions.
Thus, in the first instance, they may find use in agriculture, mining, oil and gas exploration, open-pit mines, forestry, construction, energy, road construction, firefighting, ambulance services and the armed forces. In structural layout, these vehicles consist of the GAZelle NEXT cab module based on the Sobol 4×4 platform.
The original trim package in the form of the hood, front bumper, lighting, provides here an unforgettable, easily recognizable, extremely dynamic and modern appearance of these varieties. Besides, the spacious cabin of the experimental Sobol guarantees a high level of comfort and good protection from noise and vibration.
This cabin is equipped with comfortable driver and passenger seats with anatomical support, five levels of adjustment and backrest.
A joystick shift lever and electronic transmission control, meanwhile, make driving more enjoyable.
Off-road features, meanwhile, include.
4-wheel drive, a reduction gearbox and front and rear axle differential locks.
Maintaining high off-road bravery is further influenced by the fitting of only single tires with off-road tread on all wheels.
In addition, the front axle joint has been replaced with CV joints, and the pickup is equipped with a winch hidden under the license plate on the front bumper. Two editions of the Sobol 4×4 trial were created: a minibus and a pickup truck.
The comfortable interior of the minibus can accommodate six passengers, with enough room for luggage.
The pickup’s two-row cabin, on the other hand, also has room for six people, topped by 800 kg of luggage, which can be placed in the rear on a box.
On top of that, closed boxes are attached to the body for storing tools and other items.
The wheelbase on the test models is increased to 3185 mm, compared to 2760 mm for the standard edition. The two test Sobol 4x4s are an extension of GAZ’s experimental line of off-road types, which also includes the Vepr NEXT, based on Sadko’s mid-range truck.
At the same time, both of these units are intended for presentation to potential buyers in order to determine – to study possible demand.
This is because only on this basis will final decisions be made regarding this project and the final production configurations of these cars.