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TOGLIATTI, Russia — The new Lada Priora has gone on sale in Russia. This is the first attempt from Russia's biggest carmaker to change its image as a producer of ultra-cheap family cars. The new sedan retails for around $11,000 and is squarely aimed at such local bestsellers as the Renault Logan and the Hyundai Accent. The car was originally introduced at the 2003 Moscow Auto Show with a tentative production launch penned for 2005. Even though the car is a thorough revamp of the now 13-year-old 110-series, it took a bit more time than expected to iron out quality issues, so the introduction date was postponed at least three times. The styling of the midsize sedan, which measures 169.3 inches long by 70.9 inches wide, is not the latest word in design — but, considering the source, it does not look too outdated. Its interior is the work of Italian design consultant Carcerano. For export, the Priora will have a 1.6-liter gasoline engine that passes Euro 4 emissions control regulat...

GENEVA — Hot on the heels of a new deal with Canadian supplier and engineering giant Magna, Russian company AvtoVAZ , manufacturer of Lada cars , showed a compact hatch at the Geneva auto show. Called the C-Class Concept Coupe , it may preview the look of a brand- new Lada . On the surface, the situation at AvtoVAZ , the dominant automobile producer in Russia , looks rosy — but major products are hopelessly outdated, new ones trickle in very slowly, and to complicate matters, the Russian government is slowly introducing new emission control rules both for the cars themselves and for the plants producing them. Indirectly government controlled, AvtoVAZ hooked up with Magna late last year. Magna will help the Russian company develop a brand-new, up-to-date model for introduction in 2009. According to rumors, it will be produced using the latest technology, with assistance from Western supplier companies. The styling mock-up shown at Geneva is basically a starting point, a sort of demons...