Today, Russian car owners can easily join the community of fans of so-called sports cars. Now, to do this, there is absolutely no need to own a huge fortune or, for example, get into long-term debt. The domestic auto industry offers all lovers of speed and impeccability a new sports car - Tagaz Aquila. It is distinguished by its colorful design and reasonable price. But besides this, there is a rather attractive filling.
It should be noted that in our high-tech times, when most developers, at the expense of accessibility, are ready to equip cars with everything at once, this development is just a fairy tale. Not everyone can believe in it.
Tagaz showed what it is capable of and what else it can surprise with
To really appreciate this new product, it’s worth giving a small example for comparison. Among the cars of the foreign and Russian automobile industry, you should pay attention to the popular and quite popular Renault Logan, which proves the full scale of its inexpressive image. However, Tagaz showed what it is capable of and what else it can surprise.
Tagaz Aquila: cheap but great design
The new Tagaz Aquila proves that in our country you can buy an excellent car even at a relatively low price. And just six months ago, no one could buy a decent car for such a modest price. Now, only after reading reviews about the Aquila Tagaz car and understanding all its charm, you will be delighted after its release.
Exterior
Let's take a closer look at the Tagaz Aquila car. The technical characteristics of this car are simply impressive! By type, this car can easily be classified as a sedan, but here’s the catch: in Europe, for example, it would become a four-door coupe. This is all primarily due to his excellent profile. Its rear and front pillars are at a fairly low height relative to the ground, and the ascending window sill line is decorated with carved lines. The unique and unusual design of the car makes you marvel at one look at the Tagaz Aquila.
Reviews from professionals indicate obvious similarities in the design of the rear pillars with the great grand Ferrari Testerossa. This only means that this baby can show herself with dignity. Potential buyers who take a test drive of the Tagaz Aquila will be absolutely delighted with the 18-inch wheels, which, like the whole car, look just perfect. In the nose, even an inattentive person will be able to notice the notes inherent in cars of the “supercar” series. The hood is designed with beautiful curves, and when you see the bumper, Ferrari models immediately come to mind.
Interior
When you test drive a Tagaz Aquila car, you can highly appreciate the interior design. The main emphasis in creating the design was aimed at the sporty style of the car. The front panel, despite its too simple configuration, still leads to incredible delight. The design of the middle part is made in red tones, and the remaining parts are entirely made of ordinary black plastic, but this does not detract from the elegance of the car. The gearshift lever is located quite high, which is quite convenient for drivers. And these are just the main details of the Tagaz Aquila car. chassis and other options are yet to come. The creation of such an interior is based on the prerogative of a standard set. The rear seats can easily accommodate three passengers, who will not be constrained in movement and will not experience discomfort in the position of their legs.
Vehicle technical equipment
Now we’ll tell you in more detail about the juiciest things in the car. Unfortunately, this car is in no way synchronized with the capabilities of the engine installed under its hood. The power unit from Mitsubishi is much more powerful than the speed data of the proposed car. The engine is equipped with four cylinders, and a working volume of 1.6 liters is capable of accelerating the baby to 107 horsepower at 6000 rpm. The motor is completely reliable and complies with all environmental standards (namely Euro-4 standards). Note that despite the relatively low price, Tagaz Aquila has very enviable characteristics. If this model gains popularity, then it is possible that more powerful modifications of the car will appear.
Equipment and basic price standards
If, after reading customer reviews about the Aquila Tagaz, you agree that this car really looks great, then it’s time to move on to the cost of the product. For a truly stunning design and a fairly decent filling, they require only 415 thousand rubles (which is now, by the standards of our time, very cheap). This price also includes a set of excellent equipment.
In this car, drivers will be able to appreciate all the delights of such options as ABS, power steering, airbag, as well as an air conditioning system. In addition, central locking, electric mirrors, heated leather seats, as well as 18-inch wheels and a music system will give you a feeling of comfort and safety.
A decent offer at a low price, the rest depends only on the buyer. Namely: whether to trust the choice or buy a more expensive car.
Affordable Russian sports car
The new hope of the Russian automobile industry is the Tagaz Aquila, the technical characteristics of which make it clear that this car is a car enthusiast’s dream with a superbly executed interior and design. But, despite the positive reviews about the car, unfortunately, very few products were sold. Consumers began to receive complaints about the inconvenience associated with management and the conditions for receiving their cars at dealerships. The manufacturer promised to fix all problems with dealers in the near future.
Aquila is made in sedan style, and despite its relatively low price of only 415 thousand rubles, it has a superbly executed design. The appearance of such a car contributes to the emergence of a new segment - inexpensive sports cars. The front end has a very similar look to the sports car giant Ferrari. The aerodynamic component of the car is also reliably implemented. The salon in it is located very conveniently and comfortably. This is facilitated by the high location of the gearbox.
Mass sales of the new Russian sports car started at the beginning of 2014
At the beginning of this year, active sales of the new excellent Russian sports car “Tagaz Aquila 1.6” started in the markets of the Taganrog automobile plant. Today, several thousand potential buyers already want to purchase this car. You can sign up for a test drive of Tagaz Aquila in your city by contacting dealer distributors. The main stream of products, of course, can only be purchased for now at the plant in Taganrog. But this inconvenience was promised to be corrected in the near future.
Under the hood, our beauty has an engine from Mitsubishi with an acceptable volume of 1.6 liters. As the test results of the Tagaz Aquila show, the car definitely has drive. At the same time, the price for the standard package looks very ridiculous - only 415 thousand, but, unfortunately, it will increase in the near future, so you should hurry up with your choice.
They are going to create a modern crossover based on the Russian sports car Tagaz Aquila
It is gratifying that the owners receive only positive reviews about the Tagaz Aquila car. In Taganrog, at the plant that created the first Russian sports car at a comfortable price, they want to start creating a coupe and crossover based on it. Tolyatti designer Vitaly Ivanov will be involved in the development and direct design of the interior appearance. He is known for developing exterior parts for the new Lada Kalina SportRC. He also created plastic body kits that were used to strengthen the car of the Tolyatti company.
Dealership centers are actively preparing for sales of the new Russian sports car Tagaz Aquila
The management of the Tagaz company decided to hold a specialized presentation of its new car, Aquila Tagaz. Reviews of the premiere quickly spread among competing companies.
Since all sponsors and partners of Tagaz were invited to this event, they all received a unique opportunity to personally get acquainted with the new product and be, albeit briefly, behind the wheel of a new car.
Another new product in the world of sports cars has become a major hit among fans of speed and agility. Dealership centers are actively preparing for sales of the new Russian sports car "Aquila Tagaz". Reviews from those who were able to see it in person will tell you better than any advertisement about all the delights of this car.
Tagaz Aquila showed what it is capable of and what else it can surprise those who are not averse to experiencing the feeling of increased adrenaline in the blood.
The company that developed the first luxury car in the Russian Federation at a low price was officially declared incompetent. It is worth mentioning that in the Rostov region, as a result of a trial, the TagAZ plant was declared bankrupt. The recognition of the enterprise's insolvency and the introduction of the procedure was supported by representatives of TagAZ credit institutions, including VTB, Zenit, Promsvyazbank and the Southern Automobile Group.
According to reports from official representatives and records from the court decision, the following situation has developed: “As of March 31, 2013, the amount of accounts receivable is about 5,000 million rubles. About half of this amount is unrealistic for collection due to the introduction of bankruptcy procedures in relation to some debtors LLC "TagAZ". It is planned approximately in the amount of 2000 million rubles."
Thus, despite the positive reviews of potential customers and sports car fans about Aquila Tagaz, the sale of the new car was a definite failure and an unjustified risk for the manufacturer.
General impression: I’m generally happy with the car, I’ve been driving for 15,000 km since May, there were no problems.
Advantages of the car
Despite the unusual and original appearance, it is a rather simple and, as it turned out, reliable car, despite the comments and videos on the Internet that I watched and read. Of course, there are shortcomings, mainly in the assembly (the entire body and chassis were stretched). There is good access to all components and assemblies, the engine, transmission and steering from the Lancer work perfectly, tested. For 400,000 rub. I think it’s a good option, the new Priora costs more. At the moment I do not regret that I bought this car!
Disadvantages of the car
Because The car has a sporty appearance and would like more power, after all, 1.6 is too little, and even the R18 wheels are hard to spin. I plan to plug in a 2.0 liter from the Lancer and reflash it, I think it will run faster. I also agree that it was very noisy, but I almost won that by completely disassembling the interior and gluing the Shumka, I was surprised by the number of open places where I could see the street! It became much quieter but the noise from the wheels remained, I also taped the outside of the wheel arches - now it’s a different matter. It remains to glue the doors.
Tagaz: reviews Reviews of Tagaz Aquila December 12, 2013
As for the interior, everything is good here - a convenient control panel, leather seats with two adjustments (quite enough) are made of very high quality. The plastic is ordinary. I didn’t like the fact that there are no holes on the bumper for the license plate. I did it simply - two self-tapping screws, a screwdriver, three minutes and the number is securely attached. The visibility in the side mirrors is quite good, but in the cabin it’s just for beauty’s sake; you can hardly see anything through it.
The motor works great. I think that there will be no problems with the manual transmission. At least the gears change easily. I turn into a turn without any problems - the low ground clearance and considerable weight do their job. To be honest, I didn’t track my gasoline consumption. But I drove a little over a hundred kilometers, before that I filled it with 20 liters and the light was not blinking yet. I read on the forums that the rear suspension is rigid. But it seems to me that it’s normal, well, maybe it needed to be made a little softer.
Advantages of the car
In general and in particular a pretty good car.
Disadvantages of the car
So far there are no big complaints. It's just that the turning radius is large. The first time I almost hit the corner of the house - I missed it by some millimeters, although I expected it to be tens of centimeters.
Tagaz: reviews Reviews of Tagaz Aquila November 21, 2013
I don’t know about anyone, but I couldn’t be happier with my Akwella. When I was choosing a car, the budget was 450 thousand. You understand that for that kind of money it’s not very easy to buy something worthwhile. And then I accidentally saw a story on TV about Tagaz Aquila.
The next day I was already at the car dealership. I chose the red one. I did a short test drive with a consultant and, of course, bought it. At the moment, impressions of the car are only positive. The stiff suspension is a little annoying, but you can’t go very fast on our roads, so I’m already used to it.
Everything inside is done well. Of course, there are a couple of shortcomings, for example, screws of different colors in the interior. But the salon is large. Comfortable driver's seats. I rode in the back a couple of times as a passenger - so there was a lot of space there. The trunk is normal - bags with groceries from the supermarket fit freely. The motor works great. Good sound insulation. I also liked the short travel of the gear lever.
Advantages of the car
A very, very good car. Beautiful outside and inside, very comfortable interior, easy handling,
Disadvantages of the car
Slightly uncomfortable fit. If the car is dirty, then when I get behind the wheel I have to almost jump so as not to stain my trousers or tights. Well, the suspension is a bit stiff.
Tagaz: reviews Reviews of Tagaz Aquila November 10, 2013
I want to immediately say to everyone who wants to buy Tagaz Aquila that before you do this, think everything over carefully. And not like I did - I saw it, liked it, put it together a little, borrowed it and bought it...
No, at first I really liked the car. A beautiful sports car, with bells and whistles - power windows, air conditioning, heated mirrors, audio system with radio.
From the outside it looks solid and rich, the inside is a little poorer, but everything is corrected by leather seats - buckets. By the way, very comfortable.
But what I absolutely don’t like is overclocking. Up to a hundred in 12 seconds - no, this is not how I imagined a sports car. The most common seat adjustment back and forth and backrest is also not enough. The suspension seems to be good, but when you drive over bumps it shakes a lot. It seems to me that the shock absorbers have a short stroke and they simply do not have time to dampen everything. What's also annoying is the seat belts. More precisely, their latches. I don’t know why they shoved them almost all the way under the seats, but getting there is certainly a problem. Sometimes you have to fiddle around for a few minutes.
Advantages of the car
Price. This certainly makes up for many of its shortcomings. Comfortable seats, easy handling.
Disadvantages of the car
Acceleration is, to put it mildly, low. How many times have I been “done” at a traffic light by ordinary foreign cars sedans. It's a shame...
Tagaz: reviews Reviews of Tagaz Aquila October 28, 2013
When I read reviews about the first Aquilas, I was of course very interested. What kind of Russian sports car is this? But recently I decided to sell my Kalina. I thought a little and decided that I would report on buying Tagaz Aquila for a little longer. I went to the factory specifically so that I could buy it directly from the manufacturer.
In the showroom at the factory, I carefully walked around and inspected the car. I didn’t see any large cracks that were visible in the photographs of the very first cars. Everything is done at a fairly good level. There is a central lock. In general, I liked everything and bought it.
Excellent front seats - buckets. Leather. Of course, the plastic of the torpedo and the interior were upset - the usual VAZ one. But overall, the interior is quite excellent and there’s basically enough space in the back. There is room for legs, but due to the curvature of the roof, it will not be very comfortable for tall people.
I would like to start the article with the main thing: this in itself is a significant achievement of the domestic automobile industry. Of course, there will be critics who will tell you what is wrong with the Taganrog brainchild, and they will be right in many respects. However, the very fact of the appearance of the first production “sports car”, and even one not produced by VAZ, you will agree, is worthy of respect. First of all, we weren’t afraid. Secondly, Tagaz Akwella, despite everything, maintains the declared image of a “sports car” with dignity. And finally, today there is no longer any doubt that, taking into account the first experience gained, the Taganrozh people will be able to make the next generation TagAZ Aquila much more attractive, and perhaps closer to the proud name of a sports car without quotes.
Let us remind you that engineers worked on the creation of TagAZ Aquila for more than two years. The car went on sale only in 2013. Today we will look at what exactly a domestic “sports car” is, its technical characteristics, and cost. In general, we will try to lift the veil of mystery hiding the most anticipated new product of the domestic automobile industry in 2013 - 2014.
First of all, let us remind you that the car we are considering cannot be called a full-fledged sports car. This name (exclusively in quotation marks) is used only due to the external similarity with representatives of this family and the style of interior design. According to official classifiers, the “eagle” (that’s how the name “Aquilla” is translated) belongs to the class of budget sedans. This fully confirms not only the dimensions of the car, but also its design features.
The car has excellent stability on the road, this is facilitated by the dimensions of the wheelbase, as well as the wide track.
- So, the length of TagAZ Akwella is 4683 mm; width - 1824 mm; height - 1388mm. The mentioned wheelbase is 2750mm; front and rear wheel tracks are 1560 mm and 1551 mm, respectively.
- The total weight of the car is 1410 kg. Official factory statistics regarding the car's ground clearance are still silent, but we learned that it is 145 mm.
As for the appearance of the car, the Taganrog team did an excellent job. This assessment can be explained simply by TagAZ Aquila is not even close to a copy of any super car, its outline is sporty and very original. Let us note that the factory workers are in no hurry to make public the Aquilla’s aerodynamic coefficient, claiming at the same time that it fully corresponds to similar parameters of sports cars.
Of course, Aquila’s external design also has its drawbacks. Chief among them is the significant gap that appears when the rear doors are closed. Unfortunately, the quality of joining these elements still leaves much to be desired. Although, the problem can be easily fixed, if only engineers pay due attention. Among the minor “troubles” is the car’s license plate located too high; it is located almost under the hood, despite the presence of a much more convenient mounting location under the air intake.
The car interior looks quite decent, especially if you remember that price car 400 thousand rubles. There are also some sporty notes, everything from the unsightly steering wheel and panel to the door trim is very modest, but neat, and, in general, quite good. The interior space of the TagAZ Aquila is created with priority given to the front seats (as befits a sports car), which is why only not particularly tall and large passengers can fit comfortably in the back.
The anatomical front seats have built-in headrests, and side bolsters provide adequate support for the back and hips while driving at high speeds. The instrument panel is simple, but clear, everything is in its place, the instrument indicators are clearly visible. The engineers installed the gearshift knob too close to the console, you have to reach for it.
The steering wheel, as we have already said, is primitive; there is no trace of tides for the thumbs so necessary for a racing car. At the same time, it is installed too high, and the chair is too low. In other words, the ergonomic indicators of Aquila require very large improvements in order to at least conditionally reach the level of a sports car.
Getting into the rear seats is complicated by the specific shape of the opening. The too low shape of the car's roof also does not contribute to comfortable seating. The impressive wheelbase is more than enough confirmation of this for the legs. TagAZ Aquila received a rather modest 392 hp. trunk, while the loading space is somewhat rounded, which will create problems when loading large cargo. But is this the main problem for a sports car?
Specifications
The technical characteristics of the domestic “supercar” are quite modest: for example, today the TagAZ Aquila has only front-wheel drive, and has the only copy of a gasoline engine, but what a one! After much deliberation, the Taganrog residents settled on the Mitsubishi engine. Thus, the 4-cylinder Japanese engine 4G18S has: 16-valve timing; 1.6 l. volume (1584 cm3); injector, and is aggregated with a 5-speed gearbox. Manual transmission. Its declared power is 107 hp. at 6000 rpm. The greatest cool. torque - 138 Nm, achieved at 3000 rpm. The engine does not meet the highest Euro-4 standards. Despite the more than modest (compared to sports cars) characteristics, this engine is quite enough for the Aquila to feel confident in its segment. The maximum speed of the Taganrog brainchild is about 185 km/h, with an acceleration time to 100 km/h - 12 seconds. It was not possible to obtain verified data regarding fuel consumption.
Of course, the Taganrog residents have some plans to further increase the line of engines for the Aquilla - soon the new product should receive 125 hp units. and 150hp The latter will most likely be 2.0 liters, with turbocharging. 150hp The engine will be installed on the 2-door version of the Aquila, which, in addition to the manual transmission, will also receive an automatic transmission.
The Aquila suspension can be considered partly sporty, however, again, there is no information regarding practical use. The chassis uses the most common layout today: MacPherson struts in front, and just a spring-dependent structure in the rear. The Taganrog sports car received hydraulic brakes with disc mechanisms on all 4 wheels; The steering mechanism is equipped with a hydraulic booster - with such equipment, Aquila could only be classified as a sports car 50 years ago.
Video test drive
There is only one Aquella configuration available so far - with 18-inch alloys. wheels (tires - 225/45 R18), air conditioning, full power accessories, ABS, front and rear foglights, heated rear window, mp3 audio system, AUX support, as well as a CD drive. The seats are upholstered in artificial leather, there is a driver's airbag, central locking, and Isofix fastenings.
There are four color options for TagAZ Aquila: white, yellow, red and black. Apparently, in this way the manufacturer decided to increase the resemblance to sports cars as much as possible, because the available color options do not have gray or silver shades, which are usual for budget models.
Quite recently, a new car model appeared on the domestic automobile market, which, long before its official presentation, caused heated discussion among both professional motorists and ordinary fans of iron horses. We are, of course, talking about the Aquila sedan from the Taganrog Automobile Plant. This car does not have any outstanding technical characteristics - its main advantage lies in its unique design, which is unusual for the domestic automobile industry. The TagAZ Aquila review will answer the question of why this car has gained such high popularity.
History of creation
When the Taganrog Automobile Plant announced the creation of a fundamentally new car that would have no analogues among domestic models, many had well-founded doubts about this. Very often they promise to design something that would become a completely new page in the history of our automotive industry, but in reality everything turns out completely differently - the number of cars that frankly disappointed exceeds all acceptable standards.
However, Taganrog developers approached the implementation of their idea as responsibly as possible. The first pictures of the future TagAZ Aquila car, which were leaked onto the World Wide Web, caused culture shock among most users. One could have expected everything, but it was unlikely to be so futuristic. The appearance of the domestic TagAZ Akwella car seemed so unreal that many even decided that it was just a kind of ploy by the plant, designed to attract attention.
According to official data, the development of the car was carried out by TagAZ's subsidiary TAGAZ Korea, based in Seoul. There are rumors that Chinese specialists also had a hand in the miracle of the Russian automobile industry.
Appearance is the main highlight of the model
Body
It is quite logical that the manufacturer decided to rely primarily on the design of the car, and not on its technical characteristics, which we will talk about later. The appearance of the TagAZ Aquila car is truly impressive - it would be difficult to even imagine a more rapid and aggressive body made by domestic manufacturers. It is worth noting that in the design solutions of Tagaz Aquila, the predatory lines and sharpness of shapes characteristic of Western sports cars are clearly visible. In general, despite the risky combination of different styles, the car looks quite harmonious and not too provocative.
As for the assembly of the sedan, the designers of the plant did their best. It was not possible to find any flaws that are traditional for Russian cars, in the form of loosely fitting parts or poor-quality parts that provoke the appearance of gaps not provided for by the technical plan, in the TagAZ Aquila. Upon closer inspection, you will notice minor imperfections in the processing of individual elements, but they in no way affect the overall aesthetic and functional component of the car.
Detailed video review of the TagAZ Aquila car:
Another Western technology has found its application in the design of the car body - the massive use of plastic as body parts. Thanks to this solution, the process of installation and dismantling of various elements during repairs or routine inspection of a vehicle is significantly accelerated. Unlike its foreign colleagues, the Taganrog TagAZ Aquila uses a cheap analogue of carbon fiber - fiberglass and ordinary plastic with a decorative coating. The fastening parts used are bolts, special clamps and latches, as well as powerful glue.
Salon
The interior decoration of the car is also at a fairly high level. The first thing that catches your eye is the spectacular leather seats, created in a sporty style. It’s a good tactical move by the designers - the color of the car’s seats matches the color of the body, which adds integrity to the sedan. The quality of the materials used to finish the interior of the TagAZ Aquila is not satisfactory. There is plenty of free space in the car, especially in the rear seats. Overall the car looks cozy.
The dashboard is a little disappointing - one would have expected a more intelligible design solution from a sedan with such a chic and fantastic appearance, but in reality everything turned out quite the opposite. However, the information content and, importantly, the clarity of the dashboard are at a good level, which significantly simplifies the process of driving the car. Ergonomics, minimalism, spaciousness, purposefulness - these are the words that can describe the interior of a new car from the Taganrog plant.
Nevertheless, there are also disadvantages, and for a modern car there are too many of them. The main drawback of the TagAZ Aquila interior is the low comfort of the seats - they are adjustable in only two directions, which is why some people will need to show considerable acrobatics in order to sit in the driver's or passenger's seat. The same applies to the rear seats of the car, because getting there is quite difficult, due to the obscenely small doors.
The lack of visibility of the TagAZ Aquila also causes criticism. Stylish solutions from developers in the form of small, actually decorative rear windows provoked problems with obtaining visual information about the road. This drawback is partially offset by properly installed side mirrors. It is worth noting that the car was originally planned to have a three-door, but later evolved to a five-door - it is likely that this factor directly influenced the ill-conceived design of the rear doors of the TagAZ Aquila.
What about the technical stuffing?
Engine
The vast majority of the most important components and assemblies of the TagAZ Aquila car are created by world-famous manufacturers. But their assembly is carried out in the Middle Kingdom - domestic experts rightly believe that thanks to this decision, the quality of the technical content of the machine does not decrease, unlike the price. The sedan's power plant is a 16-valve 1.6-liter engine. The engine power is 107 horsepower. The unit interacts with a five-speed manual transmission. Such technical characteristics of the TagAZ Aquila make it clear that the car is a sports car solely due to its appropriate design.
Suspension
The car has a fairly modern suspension that ensures stable behavior on the road. The front independent spring suspension is additionally reinforced with an anti-roll bar. Suspension type - MacPherson strut is perhaps one of the most common types of such mechanisms today. As for the rear axle of the TagAZ Aquila, there is a spring dependent suspension of the same type, but with hydraulic telescopic shock absorbers.
Video test drive of the TagAZ Aquila sports car:
The TagAZ Aquila test drive clearly demonstrated that the suspension installed on the car fully copes with its responsibilities. The sedan behaves quite adequately at both low and high (as far as possible with a by no means outstanding power unit) speed. All the delights of domestic roads, in the form of potholes and irregularities, are smoothed out quite efficiently, so the vibration in the car’s interior is almost imperceptible.
| Car model: | TagAZ Aquila |
| Manufacturer country: | Russia |
| Body type: | Sedan |
| Number of places: | 5 |
| Number of doors: | 4 |
| Engine capacity, cubic meters cm: | 1584 |
| Power, l. s./about. min: | 107/6000 |
| Maximum speed, km/h: | 180 |
| Acceleration to 100 km/h, s: | 12 |
| Type of drive: | front |
| Checkpoint: | mechanical |
| Fuel type: | gasoline AI-95 |
| Consumption per 100 km: | city 10.5; route 6.5 |
| Length, mm: | 4683 |
| Width, mm: | 1824 |
| Height, mm: | 1388 |
| Ground clearance, mm: | 140 |
| Tire size: | 225/45 R18 |
| Curb weight, kg: | 1410 |
| Total weight, kg: | 1800 |
| Fuel tank volume: | 45 |
Safety
Long before the start of conveyor production of Aquila, the prototype model passed all the necessary tests to determine the degree of its safety. The crash test was carried out at the Dmitrov test site, well-known in the automotive community. After completion of the tests, the sedan was given the status of a vehicle, which automatically confirmed the level of safety sufficient to begin production and sale of such cars.
The main element that ensures the protection of the driver and passengers of the TagAZ Aquila is the hydraulic braking system, equipped with automatic adjustment of emerging gaps. Durable ones are installed on the front and rear axles of the machine. The interior is also sufficiently protected - there is an anti-lock braking system, an airbag (though only for the driver), as well as new modifications of belts and special child restraints with reinforced clamps.
In general, it can be noted that the security system of the new car from the Taganrog plant reliably protects its passengers, which is especially noticeable compared to many of its Russian counterparts. Pros of TagAZ Aquila - modern and low maximum speed that the sedan can develop.
Equipment
At the moment, there is only one version of the basic configuration on sale, but the manufacturer promises that such a modest selection will be significantly expanded in the foreseeable future. Therefore, today, car enthusiasts who dream of getting behind the wheel of the first Russian sports car TagAZ Aquila (albeit not exactly fast), will have to be satisfied with the following equipment:
- engine 1.6 l;
- manual transmission, 5-speed;
- electric windows;
- power adjustable rear mirrors;
- heated mirrors;
- fog lights;
- audio system;
- opening the trunk and tank using remote control.
Price
Perhaps the most important advantage of such a car is its cost.. The price of TagAZ Akwella in the basic version and, as mentioned above, the only configuration so far is only 415 thousand rubles. For a car with such a bright and memorable design, although not with the most outstanding technical characteristics, the price is quite adequate and in some cases even affordable.
The car, as the manufacturer itself positions it, is designed for young buyers. In fact, this sedan with the makings of a sports car is an excellent alternative to the already rather boring VAZ “Nines” and “Priors”.
Flaws
There aren’t that many downsides to the TagAZ Aquila, although there are some. The disadvantages include the following:
- weak engine;
- plainness of the dashboard;
- miniature rear windows;
- uncomfortable rear doors.
It’s quite easy to create a resume for the new brainchild of the Taganrog Automobile Plant. First of all, this is a very stylish car with a futuristic and innovative design. Its main advantages are high-quality assembly, good driving performance, a modern security system, a spacious interior, and low cost.
The Taganrog Automobile Plant is known primarily for assembling various foreign cars - first the Hyundai Accent, then the old SsangYong and Chery models under their brands TagAZ and Vortex, respectively, which were produced even when the company was dying - that is, in a state of bankruptcy. But at the beginning of 2012, a bolt from the blue struck - it suddenly became known that the Taganrozh team was preparing a completely new car of its own design under the symbol PS511. Later, the situation began to gradually become clearer - the car was certified in Russia and received “vehicle type approval.” The name chosen was light, airy and successful - TagAZ Akwella. Much better than faceless indexes like 2111 or 3110. The main target audience is young people. That is, it was assumed that it would be a sports car for a poor audience. Well, the niche for such machines in Russia has so far remained vacant, so the idea is interesting and even with successful development of the project it can bring profit.
Production facilities are located not in Taganrog, but in another city in the Rostov region - Azov. On its outskirts, they managed to profitably acquire the workshops of a former baby food factory and then refurbish them. By the way, the inside is very modern - it was assumed that another model would be produced there. We made repairs, brought in the necessary equipment, set it up, but it didn’t work out.
TagAZ Akwella: design
The car is designed quite unusually for this class. External fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) panels are hung on the steel frame. The interior is made of ABS plastic with a decorative coating, which can be different - for example, leather, fabric, etc.
The panels are connected to each other using glue, and the entire body is held on the frame thanks to locks and latches. It’s hard to say how practical this is on our potholes. Real use will show.
Supercar manufacturers usually do this, but instead of plastic they use expensive carbon fiber. In this case, the choice was made for reasons of economy. The fact is that equipment for stamping body parts from steel costs a lot of money - tens of millions of dollars. Naturally, the enterprise in distress did not have that kind of money, and does not. But even if funds were available, in this case the investment might not have paid off - the planned production volume was quite modest.
In addition, it is very convenient for car owners. A damaged part (for example, a fender or a threshold) can be easily unscrewed and replaced with a new one. And if it’s only slightly damaged, it won’t rust - it’s plastic.
In general, the car was developed in South Korea, and at first it was planned that it would be a three-door. But then, at the insistence of the customer (that is, TagAZ), the rear doors were still installed - albeit modest ones.
The technical part is completely “recruited” from purchased elements from well-known world manufacturers with extensive experience. For example, a 1.6-liter engine is Mitsubishi 4G18S, a manual transmission (there is no automatic transmission at all) is Aisin F5M41, ABS is Bosch, ignition and engine control system is Delphi, etc. All these components are made in China. What's Russian about Aquila, besides the assembly? Just chairs and plastic. All this, however, was made using imported patterns.
TagAZ Aquila: appearance
TagAZ Aquila looks unexpectedly stylish. The bright color of the body combined with a black roof is a design find. Usually, for such an option (it is available, for example, for the Skoda Fabia) they ask for a lot of money, but here it is already in the basic configuration!
When viewed from the front, Tesla definitely comes to mind. However, for Akwella this is a big compliment - especially since Elon Musk had not yet presented his electric cars. The apron and wheel arches are generally “muscular”. The rear is also generally very, very good - there is nothing to complain about. But the side windows seem to be too small - they look more like embrasures. The rear passengers were especially unlucky in this regard - they were left with “loopholes” altogether.
And it’s good that they didn’t add a third window - so the silhouette looks more like a sports coupe. And the plant’s emblem resembles nothing more than a Lamborghini. Only instead of a bull there is an eagle, because this is how the word “Aquella” is translated from Latin.
Interior
Getting into the cabin is inconvenient: the opening is narrow. You have to show acrobatic skill, which not everyone will like.
Inside there are leather seats with upholstery in body color. They are good and even chic. True, there are only two adjustments - for the angle of the backrest and for the distance to the pedals. The steering wheel, by the way, is adjustable only in height. The ceiling hangs quite low - this is the price to pay for being "compartment-like".
The main idea of the front panel is sportiness - in order to harmonize with the appearance. The steering wheel is grippy and has three spokes. True, the components are made from those that are mass-produced, and they are inexpensive - but they do not add up to the overall composition. The "hazard warning light" button is especially upsetting - it looks like it was taken from cheap Soviet buses: nondescript, made of rough plastic. In order to at least slightly enliven the realm of black plastic, the ventilation system deflector panels (very successful, by the way) were framed with chrome rims.
The devices are taken from the ninth generation Mitsubishi Lancer. The main role here is played by the speedometer. The tachometer is to the left of it, and the information display is quite tiny.
Visibility is a problem. The pillars are wide, and the rear window is also of little use. The only thing we can thank is the exterior mirrors.
In the back seats
It will be very difficult for people with musculoskeletal problems to get into the second row of seats. And those who are completely healthy are unlikely to be happy with such a decision. But there is unexpectedly a lot of space in length. You sit as if in a limousine, crossing your legs. True, the ceiling, like the front, is very low and “presses” on the head.
However, he can press even without quotation marks, if the passenger’s height is even slightly above average - he has to lean forward at the same time in order to at least see something around him. Although, this is problematic to do - little is visible through the side windows.
Trunk
The lid hinges are made in such a way that they take up part of the usable space. To install a more advanced design means to increase the price, and this cannot be done. And the opening is very narrow - there are rear lights on the sides.
The trunk volume itself is only 392 liters. It is impossible to increase it - the rear seat does not fold down at all, even entirely.
TagAZ Aquila review: results
Production lasted only about then. During this time, only a few hundred cars were made, not counting pre-production prototypes. The retail price, subject to independent receipt at the factory, was 425 thousand rubles. The basic (and only) configuration includes ABS, air conditioning, full power accessories, and fog lights. But there is only one airbag. The calculation is this: Russians are willing to pay more for alloy wheels, leather upholstery and other elements of comfort and style than for safety.
Now you can buy a used copy - they are on sale. They are asking 360-450 thousand for such a car with low mileage. True, along with the car, the buyer gets a headache in finding spare parts. And while the main components can be easily selected - they are completely standard - then body panels are not available for sale.
