In 1977, the Perspective project was restarted – in Zaporozhye they began to design a hatchback in the style of the Ford Fiesta. The new chief designer of ZAZ, Igor Galchinsky, who moved from VAZ, was responsible for the appearance of the car. It was this iteration of the “Perspective” that subsequently became the serial (since 1988) Tavria car.
The first 4 prototypes within the framework of this project were produced in 1978, in 1979 – 7 more vehicles. In subsequent years, the design was intensively refined; in 1982, the ZAZ-1102 successfully passed acceptance tests, and preparations for production began. Initially, serial production was planned to begin in 1984, but financial investments did not arrive in the required volumes. In 1985, the issue of production of the ZAZ-1102 was discussed at a meeting of the Politburo of the CPSU Central Committee with the participation of Mikhail Gorbachev, after which the financing situation improved. In 1986, single copies of the ZAZ-1102 were included in the sales statistics for the first time.
At the beginning of 1987, the car received the name “Tavria”. In November, commercial copies of the new model began to roll off the assembly line, but truly mass production began only in the spring of 1988. The car remained in production until 2007.
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During prototyping the ZAZ-1102 of this iteration, the Ford Fiesta stood nearby and served as a sample. However, the resulting car only resembled the Fiesta, and did not literally repeat all its design nuances.
Prototypes of the ZAZ-1102 based on the final concept have been produced since 1978. The cars of this series in profile were very reminiscent of the Ford Fiesta, and their front end was made based on the Vauxhall Chevette. Externally, two main types of prototypes can be distinguished. Read more
In 1980-1981, a new experimental series of ZAZ-1102 appeared, in which the body almost took on the shape of the future production model. The previously “Fiesta-shaped” lower window line has been straightened out, and the rear lights have received their final shape. The front end has lost its resemblance to the Vauxhall Chevette, the “ski” element has become even more pronounced. Read more
In 1982, the ZAZ-1102 acquired its final appearance – the car received a new shaped bumper, turning lights extending to the corners of the body, and front fenders adjusted accordingly. At this point, the design of the ZAZ-1102 was “frozen” – in the 6 years remaining before the start of mass production, only minor changes were made to it.