BMW X5 Designer Pierre Leclercq Becomes Russian Citizen
Belgian automotive designer Pierre Leclercq, best known for his work on the BMW X5 and X6, has officially become a Russian citizen after President Vladimir Putin signed the relevant decree.
Leclercq has built an international career, working for BMW, Kia, Citroën, and Chinese automaker Great Wall Motors, where he contributed to the design of several production vehicles.
Will his next project be a Lada X5? Time will tell.
Russia has allowed the sale of lower-quality gasoline to avoid shortages, according to Kommersant.
Several refineries have been allowed to produce Euro-3 gasoline and diesel instead of Euro-5.
Experts say this fuel can contain dozens of times more sulfur, which may speed up wear on engines, catalytic converters, and exhaust systems in modern cars.
Lada Granta hearses have gone on sale in Russia.
Price: 2.8 million rubles — about $38,600.
Inside, the car has room for a coffin, wreaths, and shovels.
BMW and Audi cars have started being brought into Russia disguised as Chinese cars. They simply cover the badges with Chinese Changan logos before crossing the border.
The scheme helps simplify the export of cars from China amid restrictions and increased inspections. After the cars are imported into Russia, the stickers are removed, and the vehicles become BMWs and Audis again.
If you thought the world had calmed down, think again. October in Russia brought us everything from bizarre inventions to psychological trends and international bathroom drama. Buckle up — here’s your monthly digest of the weirdest, most wonderfully absurd headlines. Soviet Spirit Meets Modern Safety: Niva Finally Gets an Airbag The car airbag was invented in the early 1950s. But here in Russia, we like to stay traditional — Orthodox, even. For the first time, the Lada Niva will be equipped with an airbag. But there’s a twist: the only one will protect not the driver, but the rear-seat passenger. The sporty Niva Sport, priced at around ₽1.7 million (≈ $18,500), is set to go on sale in December. Because clearly, in a Niva, it’s the backseat that needs the most protection. auto.ru A House for $1,200 — and It Comes with a Sauna The cheapest village home in Russia…
The history of Soviet experiments with electric vehicles includes a wide range of passenger cars, trucks, and buses. Particularly notable progress occurred in the 1970s, thanks to advancements in electrical engineering, electronics, and chemical power sources. Institutions such as the Research Institute of Motor Transport (NIIAT), the All-Union Research Institute of Electromechanics (VNIIEM), the All-Union Research Institute of Electric Transport (VNIET), as well as automobile manufacturers like VAZ, ErAZ, RAF, and UAZ, were involved in creating prototypes and experimental models—some of which even earned international recognition and awards. Let’s take a closer look at some of them. NAMI-750 and NAMI-751: Early Post-War Electric Vans Shortly after World War II, the NAMI institute began developing electric postal vans: the NAMI-750 with a payload capacity of 500 kg, and the NAMI-751 with 1500 kg. Although identical in appearance and construction, the two models were equipped with different electric motors. The NAMI-750 had…
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