In March 2013, the Taganrog Automobile Plant launched a small-scale production of its own "budget sports car" TagAZ Aquila (the name means "eagle" in Latin), which took the Russian company almost a year and a half to develop.
The first mention of the car under the working index "PS511" appeared in January 2012, and in May the certification process was officially launched. During the first year of sales, the four-door found only 50 buyers, which is why its production was completely curtailed (the dire situation of the enterprise also played a role).
Outwardly, TagAZ Aquila really resembles the so-called "four-door coupe" (although, in fact, it is a budget C-class sedan) and in general it looks catchy, unusual and quite harmonious. Yes, and separately parts of the body "read" well - a moderately aggressive front end with neat headlights and a raised bumper, a wedge-shaped silhouette with a sloping hood, falling roof contours and a slightly upturned stern, but okay stern with wide lanterns and a massive bumper. But the design is not devoid of controversial elements, such as narrow loopholes for rear passengers.
In terms of its dimensions, TagAZ Akwella fits into the canons of the "golf" community: 4683 mm in length, of which 2750 mm is the distance between pairs of wheels, 1824 mm in width and 1388 mm in height.
In running order, the car weighs 1410 kg, and its gross weight does not exceed 1800 kg.
The interior of TagAZ Aquila looks quite stylish, but some details are too simple, and the level of assembly, as well as the quality of finishing materials, are frankly budgetary. Behind the three-spoke steering wheel with a "flat" rim is a simple instrument cluster from Chevrolet Lacetti, and the center console, made with a hint of sportiness, contains only a non-standard radio tape recorder and three archaic "twists" of the climate system, which is why it is perceived somewhat faded.
In the front part of the Aquella's cabin, there are sports seats, trimmed with leather, with pronounced elements of lateral support and a minimum set of adjustments, which do not differ in a high level of comfort. Passengers of the back sofa are even more "fun" - not only is it not easy for them to get into their seats, but also the low ceiling presses on their heads (although there is plenty of space in the legs and in width).
The TagAZ Aquila trunk in the "stowed" state is designed to carry 392 liters of luggage, but its shape is not optimal, and its narrow opening interferes with the loading of bulky items. A full-fledged spare wheel is placed in the underground niche of the "hold".
Specifications. The power range of "Aquella", which includes only one engine, is clearly discordant with the bright appearance. Under the hood of the Russian "sports car" is a licensed Mitsubishi 4G18S unit - an atmospheric gasoline "four" with a volume of 1.6 liters (1584 cubic centimeters) with in-line cylinders, 16-valve timing and distributed injection technology that meets the environmental requirements of Euro-4. Its output is 107 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 138 Nm of torque at 3000 rpm.
The motor is combined exclusively with the 5-speed manual transmission Aisin F5M41 and front-wheel drive transmission.
In terms of nimbleness, the car definitely cannot be attributed to the class of sports cars - it takes 12 seconds to accelerate from zero to the first "hundred", and the peak of speed capabilities falls on 180 km / h (fuel consumption was not officially announced).
The main feature of TagAZ Aquila is its body structure. The car frame is a modular spatial frame on which all units are mounted. The outer cladding is made of fiberglass, and the inner one is made of plastic (the panels are connected to the body using latches, bolts and locks, and are glued together).
The front suspension on the "sports car" is represented by an independent structure with MacPherson struts, an anti-roll bar and telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers. At the back, a dependent spring architecture with telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers is mounted.
The steering gear-rack type on the four-door is supplemented by a hydraulic booster, and the brake package is expressed by disc brakes on all wheels and an anti-lock braking system (ABS).
Options and prices. In Russia, TagAZ Akwella was sold at a price of 415,000 rubles, but for this money the buyer had to pick up the car from the factory himself. In the spring of 2016 on the secondary market, the cost of a "four-door coupe" varies from 320,000 to 500,000 rubles, depending on the technical condition.
The list of standard equipment of the "budget sports car" includes: driver's airbag, ABS, air conditioning, power steering, leather interior, sports front seats, power windows for four doors, an audio system, 18-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, and mirrors with electrically adjustable and heated.
