According to Vadim Shvetsov, the general director of Severstal-auto, this year UAZ (Uliyanovsk Automotive Plant), which is focusing on developing off-road vehicles, will show some brand new products. All of them have an all-wheel driving gear, which is a significant advantage to have in Russia.

This year UAZ will present 5 new vehicles at the Moscow International Automotive Show. Three of them have never been shown before. The first of them is a new pickup truck UAZ-23608. The car has a longer base (3000 mm), which will expand its scope of use and warrant improved consumer characteristics. The car is equipped with an all-wheel driving gear and two gas tanks of the 45 liter capacity each. It uses diesel fuel and is very reliable, which allows to use the vehicle in off-road conditions, where servicing companies are out of reach.

Another UAZ vehicle which will be exhibited at the show is a thoroughly modernized jeep UAZ-315195. It is equipped with a ZMZ injector engine, a fuel vapor recovery, a used gas neutralizer, a five step transmission, a fine module transfer gear case, a Spicer driving axle (front axle with Birfild hinges and new swivel component), front disk-type breaks, etc. This car will be launched in 2003. The buyers of the vehicle will appreciate its ease of use and relative low cost, increased comfort of the passenger compartment, higher engine capacity and lower fuel consumption. The vehicle meets both Russian and International standards.

UAZ will also present another all-wheel driving gear vehicle intended for transportation of both cargo and passengers along all types of roads. Its has an all-metal body, five doors and seven passenger seats. It's just as comfortable as other contemporary passenger vehicles and has a similar interior design and make up. The driver seat and the front passenger seat have longitudinal controls, back tilting angle and lumbar controls. The three person back seat can be folded to give room for cargo. The vehicle is equipped with a ZMZ diesel engine with 98 horse powers. It is equipped with a five step transmission, a front spring hanger, a steer with a hydraulic booster, assuring comfort and safety.

According to Shvetsov, "Last year our main goal was to show what UAZ was capable of doing. This year we want to show what UAZ will be selling tomorrow. One will be able to buy some of our vehicles almost right after the fair. Other cars that people see at the fair will appear in the beginning of 2003 and 2004".

ZMZ (Zavolzhye Engine-making Plant), another company of the Severstal-auto division, will exhibit a new diesel engine with common rail injection system at Motor-Show 2002.

The engine was first presented at a Stuttgart exhibit in Germany. The use of common rail injection system allows to increase the engine's capacity from 100 to 130 horse powers and its torque strength from 22 to 29 kg/m. ZMZ and Siemens will build a diesel engine equipped with common rail injection system by 2003.

Additionally, ZMZ will exhibit familiar types of injector engines with turbo-supercharging and a diesel engine with a mechanical fuel pump. The latter engine's performance as part of Gazelle vehicle is being tested by AVL company. This engine is certified by Russian certification bodies and meets Euro-2 environmental safety standard (with a neutralizer). The results of testing will be taken into account during certification of this engine for its compliance to international standards.

The Seventh International Motor Show 2002 will stay open through August 25. It was organized by ITE Group Plc (representing international car-makers) ?s well as companies, representing foreign manufacturers, which also cooperate with ???-Holding (representing Russian companies and Russian manufacturers). The fair gained support of the Russian Ministry of Industry, Science and Technology and the Moscow Government. It is housed in five halls of Expocenter and several open areas. Motor-Show and Avtosalon are the two regular international automotive fairs held in Moscow by the ITE Group Plc. Each of these fairs is held once every two years. This year 750 companies form 30 countries will take part in the fair.