Lada Samara

1993 Lada Samara 1500
Overview
Manufacturer	AvtoVAZ
Also called	Bohse Safari (Convertible, West Germany) Bognor Sagona (Uruguay) Lada Bizivan (Australia) Lada Carlota (Belgium) Lada Cevaro (Australia) Lada Diva (Belgium) Lada EuroSamara Lada Forma (Sedan) Lada Natasha (Convertible) Lada Sable (Australia) Lada Sagona (Sedan) Lada Samara Lada Samara Baltic Lada Samara Fun (Convertible, West Germany) Lada Sputnik Lada Tarzan (Compact SUV) Lada Volante (Australia) VAZ 2108 (1984–2003) VAZ 2109 (1987–2011) VAZ 21099 (1990–2011)
Production	1984–2013
Assembly	Dörpen, West Germany (Bohse Automobilbau) Montevideo, Uruguay (Bognor) Syzran, Russia (RosLada) Togliatti, Russia (AvtoVAZ) Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan (Azia Avto) Uusikaupunki, Finland (Valmet Automotive) Zaporizhia, Ukraine (AvtoZAZ)
Body and chassis
Class	Small family car
Body style	2 Door Convertible 3 Door Hatchback 5 Door Hatchback 4 Door Sedan 2 Door Panel Van 3 Door Compact SUV 5 Door Compact SUV
Layout	FF layout
Related	Lada Shuttle (VAZ-1706)
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,460 mm (96.9 in)
Length	4,005 mm (157.7 in)
Width	1,650 mm (65.0 in)
Height	1,335 mm (52.6 in)

Lada Samara 2
VAZ 2115
Overview
Manufacturer	AvtoVAZ
Also called	Lada Samara 2 Lada Samara Coupe VAZ 2113 (2004–2013) VAZ 2114 (2001–2013) VAZ 2115 (1997–2012)
Production	1997–2013
Assembly	Togliatti, Russia (AvtoVAZ & Super-Avto) Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan (Azia Avto)
Body and chassis
Class	Small family car
Body style	3 Door Coupe 4 Door Sedan 3 Door Hatchback 5 Door Hatchback
Layout	FF layout
Related	VIS-234700
Dimensions
Wheelbase	1,370 mm (53.9 in)–4,330 mm (170.5 in)
Length	4,122 mm (162.3 in)–4,330 mm (170.5 in)
Width	1,650 mm (65.0 in)
Height	1,340 mm (52.8 in)
Chronology
Successor	Lada Kalina Lada Granta

The VAZ-2108, popularly known as the Lada Samara in much of Western Europe (codenamed and later officially badged as the Lada Sputnik in its native Russia), is a small family car produced by Soviet/Russian vehicle manufacturer AvtoVAZ under the Lada brand since 1984. The model name Samara originally was used only for exported models, in Russia the same model was called Sputnik ("fellow traveler", "satellite") until 1991, when the sedan version of the Samara entered in production, using the export name. It was the first front-wheel drive serial car built in the Soviet Union after the LuAZ-969V. The Samara had been modified and restyled during the years of production before it was finally discontinued in December 2013.

The Samara was to build on the success of the traditional Fiat 124-based range, by providing a car that combined a robust build and ease of maintenance with a modern style. It was produced in various three, four and five door designs with 1.1, 1.3 and 1.5 litre petrol engines. Lada had hoped that the Samara would enable it to compete for sales in the mainstream European car market. It was the second autonomous design from AvtoVAZ (the first was the Niva SUV), and the first Lada car not based on the Fiat-derived mechanicals.

VAZ had made their first front-wheel drive prototype, the VAZ 1101, in the early 1970s. The engine from the Fiat 127 was used. Further development of this project led to the 900 cc (55 cu in) Ladoga three-door hatchback prototype in 1976. The decision to build the Samara was taken 16 September 1978, the intention being to build a car with strong potential sales in Western European export markets. Proposals for a distinctive saloon, four-door, and both three- and five-door hatchback were considered; it was decided instead the saloon should share the three-door hatchback's sheetmetal forward the C-pillar. (Design work on the four-door went toward the VAZ-2110 instead.) During its development, VAZ designers paid careful attention to the contemporary Renault 9, Volkswagen Golf, Ford Escort Mark III, Opel Kadett, and Volvo 340, which would be the new VAZ-2108's main competitors. Front suspension was MacPherson struts, rear by torsion bar. It also had rack and pinion steering, another Soviet first.