What is the weight of the VAZ-2109 ("Sputnik")?

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

The weight of the VAZ-2109 is an important technical characteristic that helps to form high-quality dynamic parameters and technical and operational properties for the first domestic front-wheel drive five-door hatchback.

Creation of front-wheel drive cars VAZ

The Volga Automobile Plant produced the first car with front-wheel drive in 1984. They became a three-door hatchback under the designation VAZ-2108. Initially, the company carried out the development of three modifications of front-wheel drive small cars in the following bodies at once:

• VAZ-2108 - three-door hatchback;
• VAZ-2109 - five-door hatchback;
• VAZ-21099 - four-door sedan.

The production capacity of the automobile plant did not allow the simultaneous production of all three modifications, therefore, initially, the 2108 model was installed on the conveyor, as it has a simpler design than the VAZ-2109, requiring less material consumption. These factors simplified the development of a new lineup for the plant.

Serial production of the "Lada Nine" began in 1987, and the VAZ-21099 sedan - only in1990s

Car features

Cars of the "Sputnik" series, as the models 2108 and 2109 were also designated, in addition to the same front-wheel drive, they also had a similar appearance, popularly called the "chisel". Also, the runabouts had many common body parts and similar overall dimensions, but the weight of the VAZ-2109 was 15 kg more.

The five-door "nine" in comparison with the "eight" was considered by domestic motorists to be a more practical and versatile car. Such qualities allowed the VAZ-2109 model to first catch up in terms of production with version 2108, and in 1998 become the first in terms of the number of manufactured copies.

The manufacturer constantly made changes to the design in order to improve the "nine". Among the most notable are:

• new face design;
• rear wiper;
• hydrocorrector head optics;
• improved clutch design;
• larger washer fluid reservoir.

In order to reduce the weight of the VAZ-2109 and 2108, a lighter and easier-to-manufacture plastic gas tank was developed, but subsequently such a tank was abandoned due to poor ventilation.

Lower car weights

The weight of any car is the most important parameter that is directly related to the fuel consumption of a particular model. An increase in the mass of a car with the same technical characteristics of the power unit increases fuel consumption by about 5%. Therefore, the Volga Automobile Plant, like any automaker,constantly strives to reduce the mass of cars produced.

For comparison, the VAZ-2101 weighed 955 kg, while the VAZ-2109, which had grown in height and width, weighed 915 kg. This result in the design of the "nine" was achieved through the use of a significant number of elements and parts made of high-strength metal, aluminum and plastic. The main ones include:

• plastic door trim;
• plastic bumpers;
• plastic door sills;
• a large number of plastic inserts, bracket overlays.
• aluminum heatsink, etc.

The total weight of plastics used in the VAZ-2109 device is 80 kg, or almost 9%.

Main technical parameters and modifications of the VAZ-2109

The car was produced from 1987 to 2011. Such a long period of production of the small car was facilitated by a successful design, interesting design and the following technical characteristics (basic version):

• body - hatchback;
• number of doors - 5;
• capacity - 5 people;
• length - 4.01 m;
• width – 1.65 m;
• height – 1.40 m;
• clearance - 16.5 cm;
• boot volume - 330 l;
• engine model - VAZ-21081;
• type - four-stroke, gasoline;
• configuration and number of cylinders - in-line, 4 pcs.;
• volume – 1, 1 l;
• power - 54, 0 l. p.;
• top speed 154.5 km/h;
• fuel - AI-93.

The total weight of the car, the weight of the VAZ-2109 (basic version) is 915 kg, and the mass of the main units is:

• engine VAZ-21081 - 115, 0 kg;
• gearbox - 25 kg;
• body - 300 kg;
• side door - 13 kg.

"Nine" had eight modifications, which differed in power units, interior trim and steering wheel location. Model 2109 was quite successful for its time, which, in addition to a long production period, confirms that the car was assembled in Belgium, Finland and Ukraine.

The next model of the five-door hatchback VAZ-2114 "Samara" was practically a restyled version of the VAZ-2109.