Whatever personality, vibe, character you think I’ve cultivated, know that it gives me no pleasure to point out this Lada from the year 2000 is actually kind of neat.
For three reasons.
First, this concept is named Peter Turbo, which on principle I must love because of all the shit I’ve talked over the years about alphanumeric nameplates for our vehicles. Here, as if part of a Jeremy Clarkson sketch, Lada’s team gave this ornate raindrop a very normal name. Terrific.
2000 Lada Peter Turbo — check out those suicide doors! And how they thankfully removed the side strake details seen on an earlier version of the car • source unknown
Second, the AvtoVAZ team — some sources say it was led by one “Sergei Sinelnikov” but I’m unable to verify what role that person had at the time — produced an overall look that’s more Toyota Mirai than Lada. Ill-proportioned, sure. Non-functional styling mock-up, yes. But don’t tell me its weird lines aren’t all over the car industry these days, more than 20 years into a future Peter Turbo predicted.
2000 Lada Peter Turbo; note workshop photo shows the car without an interior • Lada
LOOK! See?? It says right there: P E T E R T U R B O • Lada
Third, Lada did it right: first shown at the (I would assume 2000?) Moscow Auto Show, it was then updated with an interior and revealed to a wider audience at the 2000 Paris Motor Show. I get that things move differently these days, but given time, it’s possible to build a loyal following from sketch to first drive. Seeing consumers were receptive — or at least curious — about the car gave decision-makers enough reason to build out a wild-looking interior.
I’m not mad that I kind of like how the steering wheel is pinched and pulled around organic forms, with a non-functional uni-stalk underneath the steering column and a fake “digital” screen above. At least it’s different, and it’s something — and the roof is scalloped like someone had taken an ice cream scoop to it. No notes.
