Lada Niva Gets Update For 37th Birthday

Remember the Lada Niva? Though it departed the Australian market in 1998, the rugged Soviet-era off-roader is still kicking around in Russia and parts of Europe, and it's set to get a mild update for 2014 - its 37th year of production.

The 70kW/140Nm 1.7 litre petrol four-pot still soldiers on under the the Niva's slabby bonnet. But there are some exterior changes - for the Niva Urban model-line the grille design has been softened and there are body-coloured plastic bumpers at front and rear.

There's also extra sound deadening, standard airconditioning, standard power-windows and a set of plastic hubcaps on 17-inch steel wheels.

The Urban will be a new addition to the Niva range, with the existing model's more traditional look (read: uncompromisingly utilitarian) carrying over.

Full details of the 2014 Lada Niva Urban will be revealed at the Moscow Auto Show in August.

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