GAZ-3115: history of creation

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

In the early 2000s, the Gorky Automobile Plant was actively working on the creation of promising passenger models that could take a place on the assembly line and maintain the competitiveness of the plant. An additional incentive for development was the bankruptcy of the Moskvich plant, which allowed GAZ to expand the sales market for its products. Within the framework of this project, the car of the GAZ-3115 Volga model appeared.

General data

A feature of the new model was its compliance with the class of passenger cars D, that is, one step below the usual Gorky Volga. Externally, the car was a four-door sedan with a wheelbase of about 2700 mm. At the same time, the length of the car did not exceed 4500 mm, and the height - 1450 mm. All size data are approximate values, as they have not been officially published anywhere.

When developing the appearance, the designers copied many of the solutions implemented on European-made cars. One of the few photos of GAZ-3115shown below.

Testing the car, journalists from a number of publications noted a more spacious interior than the larger 3110 car. In front of the dashboard was the original design. Some of the panel design elements were borrowed from foreign-made cars. The central place on the instrument cluster was occupied by a large speedometer, on the sides of which were a tachometer and indicators of oil pressure, engine temperature and fuel reserve in the tank.

In the center there was an audio system and a block of rotary switches for controlling the microclimate in the cabin. The panel provided space for installing a front passenger airbag. The steering wheel also had the ability to install such a device.

Engine

The main power unit was supposed to be a four-cylinder in-line engine with an index of 4062 manufactured by the Zavolzhsky plant. This motor has been installed on various GAZ products for several years and has been well mastered in production. Depending on the settings of the control unit, the motor could develop from 130 to 145 forces, which was more than enough to provide the necessary technical characteristics of the GAZ-3115. A five-speed manual transmission was mated to the engine. To drive the rear wheels, a cardan shaft with an intermediate suspension was used, which reduced vibration during operation.

Since in the future it was supposed to install more powerful engines with in-line and V-shaped layout, thenthe engine compartment was originally created for the placement of such units. In addition to gasoline engines, a more economical diesel option was envisaged. Not a single prototype with such motors was built.

Chassis

The main difference between the GAZ-3115 was the suspension design, which was radically different from the traditional "Volgovskaya" scheme. The design of the front suspension had two separate levers, which were mounted on a removable subframe. This design made it possible to expand the distance between the power spars of the body, which was necessary to accommodate the promising V6 engine.

The elements of the rear suspension were also located on the subframe and had a multi-link scheme with a stabilizer bar and springs as elastic elements. The gearbox located in the center was connected to the hubs with the help of semi-axes with hinged ends. Disc brakes were installed on all wheels, which is clearly seen from the preserved photos of GAZ-3115. An anti-lock braking system was present in the hydraulic drive, which significantly increased the safety of the car. Due to a change in the suspension scheme, it was possible to improve the layout of the trunk by moving the spare wheel to a niche on the floor.

Production

In total, several experimental machines were assembled, which underwent a cycle of intensive tests. Despite the positive test results, the car did not get into the series, since its development required significant funds (approximately up to $ 1 billion), which the plantcould not find. Further work was curtailed, and the fate of the experimental GAZ-3115 vehicles is unknown. According to some reports, they were disposed of.

The plant continued further development of 3110 generation cars and began preparations for the production of a licensed Chrysler Sebring car, which got on the conveyor under the designation Volga Cyber.