In the spring of 2006, the joint venture GM-AvtoVAZ officially presented to the public a powerful modification of the Chevrolet Niva SUV with the FAM-1 prefix, which entered serial production in November of the same year. The car, which differed from the base model with the Opel engine and richer equipment, stood on the assembly line until April 2008, after which it left it due to low interest from buyers, selling in about a thousand pieces.
Externally, the Chevrolet Niva FAM-1 does not differ from a standard SUV - it can be recognized only by the chrome-plated inscription “GLX” on the rear door (such a car has no other features).
The overall length of the FAM-1 version is 4048 mm (including the spare wheel), the height is 1652 mm, the width is 1770 mm, the distance between the axles is 2450 mm. The minimum clearance of the five-door does not exceed 200 mm, and its "combat" weight is 1440 kg.
Inside, the powerful "Chevy Niva" repeats the usual solution of an SUV - an archaic but well-thought-out design, budget finishing materials, a five-seat configuration with a sufficient margin of free space and a luggage compartment with a volume of 320 to 650 liters, depending on the position of the rear sofa.
Specifications. Under the hood of the Chevrolet Niva FAM-1, there is an Opel Z18XE four-cylinder gasoline engine with a displacement of 1.8 liters, equipped with a 16-valve timing and distributed fuel supply, which produces 122 horsepower at 5600 rpm and 167 Nm of torque at 3800 rpm.
The engine is mated with a 5-speed "mechanics" Aisin, placed in a single block with a 2-stage "transfer case", and permanent all-wheel drive (thrust is divided in a ratio of 50:50) with a forced center differential lock.
If in off-road disciplines the FAM-1 modification is identical to the base model, then in asphalt exercises it “puts it on the shoulder blades” - it spends 12 seconds to accelerate to 100 km / h, gains 165 km / h at its peak, and on average consumes 10 liters of gasoline in mixed conditions for "one hundred".
Technically, the Chevrolet Niva FAM-1 practically does not differ from a standard SUV - a monocoque body, independent double wishbone suspension at the front and a dependent 5-rod architecture at the rear.
The steering gear of the car is rack and pinion with power steering, and the front disc brakes and rear drum brakes with ABS.
The features of the car are considered: good dynamics, high off-road qualities, excellent maintainability and acceptable equipment.
Its disadvantages are: poor sound insulation, poor adaptation of the power unit and high fuel consumption.
Prices. In the secondary market of Russia in the first quarter of 2016, you can purchase a powerful modification of the Niva at a price of 200,000 to 320,000 rubles.
