Solved: PN #478 -- ZAZ Lanos M, 2009

[pnegyesi]

Please identify this car for a point

[pnegyesi]

Experts?

[pnegyesi]

Professionals?

[sixtee5cuda]

From eastern Asia?

[pnegyesi]

Partly

[thorax]

Hyundai?

[pnegyesi]

no

[sixtee5cuda]

From Korea?

[pnegyesi]

partly

[sixtee5cuda]

Proton?

[pnegyesi]

no

[sixtee5cuda]

Was Kia involved?

[pnegyesi]

no

[sixtee5cuda]

Any connection to Mazda?

[pnegyesi]

nothing

[sixtee5cuda]

Daewoo?

[Wendax]

Any connections to the Samsung SM3?

[pnegyesi]

we now have the Asian part - it is closely related to a Daewoo model. So I lock it for sixtee5cude for 24 hours to find the other manufacturer, whose badge this car wears

[sixtee5cuda]

(I've seen this image before somewhere.  Some car maker wanted to be known for "keyhole shaped headlights").

Other manufacturer:  Based in former Soviet Union?

[pnegyesi]

Yes, based in a former member of the Soviet Union

[sixtee5cuda]

ZAZ from the Ukraine?

[pnegyesi]

ZAZ it is. You're almost there. Can you please add the model name? Still locked for you

[sixtee5cuda]

Presenting the lovely, 2009 ZAZ Lanos M.

Did it reach full production?

[pnegyesi]

No, it remained a prototype.

ZAZ produced quite a lot of different Lanos variants, badged as ZAZ, Daewoo and Chevrolet with various engine options - including an engine lifted from the fantastic Tavria/Slavuta. Today the car is called the ZAZ Lanos in Ukraine and the ZAZ Chance in Russia (a variation on the previously used ZAZ Sens name)

[sixtee5cuda]

I have followed vehicles of the former Soviet Union for a long time, starting when I helped a Russian writer translate his work into English.  It is amazing, how many really great looking prototypes have been produced over there, and so few memorable production cars.