There has never been so much talk about a Russian car around the world. While the war with Ukraine is in full swing with (almost) international sanctions that stop the import of components and spare parts, the car manufacturer Avtotor and the Moscow Polytechnic Institute (Mospolitekh) have recently presented the Amber, an electric car presented 100% “made in Russia”.
It was not the industrial appearance of this vehicle that attracted the public’s curiosity but its design. The engineers who designed this model managed to create a line as… surprising as that of the Fiat Multipla. On social networks, Internet users (many Ukrainians, but not only) went crazy to mock this concept car considered by many (with much exaggeration) to be the ugliest on the planet.
Disproportionate design
The Amber looks like a model created for the Pixar cartoon Cars, with small headlights and a disproportionate grille that seems inflated with helium. Another oddity is the ground clearance which must be explained by the installation of the batteries between the chassis and the body. The consequence is reflected in the size of the wheels, whose diameter is strangely small. We also note the absence of rear windows and, for good reason, measuring and testing instruments are installed inside.
The location of the batteries also influenced the size of the doors, which seem inspired by those of army armored vehicles. A 4×4 style step allows you to sit inside. In short, Amber appears to have been urgently appointed for a presentation imposed by the Kremlin to demonstrate that despite the war, Russian industry continues to innovate for civilians and to reduce CO2 emissions.
Is the interior as original as the exterior? The designers have not released any images of the interior. The same goes for performance and autonomy, which have also not been communicated. Another important detail is to protect the batteries from the cold. Temperatures that are too low reduce battery life by up to 50%. It is not enough to do a Moscow-kyiv in one go in the middle of winter.
A concept car that needs to be perfected
The assembly of the Amber will take place on the shores of the Baltic Sea, at the Avtotor plant in Kaliningrad, which before the war carried out assembly for General Motors, BMW, Kia and Hyundai. As of now, this site produces for the major Chinese manufacturers BAIC, SAIC, Chery, Geely and Haval.
The designers of this car seem aware of the reactions it has provoked and have remembered that it is a “concept car” and not a model ready to be marketed. Vladimir Shcherbakov, president and founder ofAuthor, told the Russian press that the car will be available in three versions, one for young people, a second for families and the third for people with reduced mobility. He also indicated that the final design could be close to that of the bmw mini.
Production of the Amber will begin in 2025 with an annual production target of 50,000 units. The design of this first model cost just under one billion rubles, that is, about ten million euros. It should be sold at a low price to attract the working classes.
Source: BFM TV
