Another model of the Volga Automobile Plant - VAZ 21099 - received a ticket to life at the end of 1990. It was produced for 15 years, went through a number of modifications and was in steady demand almost throughout Russia. The car went for export under different names that did not affect the technical characteristics of the car. For example, such a resounding export name as Lada Forma or Lada Samara Salun.
All parameters of the VAZ 21099 were maintained unchanged for years, and only when AvtoVAZ design bureaus began the next modification of the car, changes were made to the components and assemblies with a certain lead so that there were no lag in deliveries, which were calculated approximately, and in most cases the assembly shops of the plant did not have time for the sales department.
However, any large-scale production sins with a disruption in supplies, this is a normal process and there is nothing surprising in the fact that consumers received VAZ 21099 several months later than promised. The car was produced in the early years at the Ukrainian ZAZ automobile plant, it was even designated accordingly - ZAZ 21099. This introduced some confusion, but all the problems were resolved as they arrived.
The exterior of Samara, and later Sputnik 21099, had long front wings. More truly, these were not long, but solid front fenders, because sometimes on the 2108 and 2109 models short ones were installed that seemed to break off on the grille line, and their continuation was a separate part of the headlamp trim. The long-winged machine did not have a seam at the end of the front wing, and the short-winged one had a seam - that’s the whole difference.
The engine of the VAZ 21099, a gasoline carburetor, was of two types, which differed in volume - 1.3 and 1.5 liters. These motors for a certain period of time began to be equipped with central injection injectors. With a successful adjustment of the injection electronics, the car became economical, with decent power potential, but, as a rule, the injection system did not work very well, causing a lot of complaints. During the production of the VAZ 21099, there were two attempts to supermodify the car, it was supposed to produce a powerful Lada Sport with an eight-cylinder engine to order and an all-wheel drive
jeep Lada Victory.
The first project failed, without even starting, since no one was willing to ride a sports Lada, and even for such a cosmic price. Lada Virtory, although it was released in several copies, also could not find its buyer because of the excessively high cost. As a result, the production of VAZ 21099 continued in a trivial version, which was accepted by the general public (hatchback and sedan). In addition to the
body type, the buyer could also choose the type of engine - a VAZ 21099 carburetor or a VAZ 21099i injector.
Everyone then understood that a car with a carburetor would then not be sold for anything, but it could be sold with an injector. Therefore, the choice was usually made in favor of electronic injection. People had a lot of trouble, but you won’t scare the Russian driver with anything.
The VAZ 21099 injector sold well, repairs were inexpensive, there were any spare parts, there were plenty of repairmen too. And against the background of foreign cars, which became more and more, and whose service resulted in a five-digit figure, not to mention the cost of foreign spare parts, the VAZ 21099 looked like an unprecedented cheap machine.