by Vladimir Erkovich

Cars in Russia are more than just mere vehicles. They are about status, personality and self-expression.

First, it has to be beautiful. The fashion for interior improvements has been changing with the times. Soviet car owners used to appreciate such accessories as the fur-covered steering wheel, the Plexiglas gear knob with a rose in the center, and flags of the world on the windshield. In the 1990s, the trendy features came to include a lifted rear-end, dark-tinted windows and crown-shaped air fresheners on the dashboard. Today, instead of the lifted rear axle, it is easy to spot low-riders and mock exhaust pipes. Fans of car improvements establish communities and share best practices and success stories.

Eduard is the proud owner of a ‘11 Lada Priora and a member of the Caucasian Tuned Cars club. Caucasian-style tuning is nothing without a super low ride, tinting, an audio system and an interior refined to taste. "Most importantly, your car should be easily seen and heard from a distance, to make everyone stare," Eduard says. "Guys prefer the Lada Priora as the latest AvtoVAZ model, but they rebuild older Ladas as well. The key thing is to lower your ride as much as possible."

And, of course, rides can be lowered virtually for peanuts: just 1,000 rubles ($30) to cut a couple of coils off the rear spring. This is the easiest way, but owners can also install short-stroke absorbers or air suspension. Naturally, these modifications are more costly.

Eduard says that Caucasian-style tuning has long moved beyond territorial or ethnic identity: "There are lots of Russian guys in our club. Many people like this style. We don’t drive Prioras because we can’t afford imported cars. I think a modified Priora looks much better than a regular foreign car."

Denis from Kaluga, guided by supercar specifications, is improving his ‘07 Lada 21014: "I built the car to make a showstopper specifically for exhibitions. First, we bought a plastic body kit and hood, then we installed the Lambo doors. There are no specialists in Kaluga that make the Lambo doors, so I turned to my friend and he did it all in his garage."

The car features sports-style suspension, sports transmission and a modified brake system. Its exhaust pipe looks particularly menacing: the exhaust is standard, but a large-diameter pipe was attached to make it look even sportier. There is also another exhaust pipe on the right – it is a pure fake, not connected to the exhaust manifold and installed for symmetry only. The ride was lowered, but now parking sensors keep beeping every time the car goes in reverse: the sensors see the ground as a barrier.
 

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There are deep scratches on the sides of the hood; these are the consequences of attempts to open the hood with the Lambo doors open. When raised, the doors split the doorway in half at an angle of 45 degrees. One has to be very limber to exit the vehicle, especially given the deep bucket seats.

Denis has played around with his Lada enough, and now he wants a real supercar. To make his dream come true, Denis bought a ‘02 Toyota MRS in a right-hand-drive model made exclusively for the Japanese market. He had only to update its condition. "It has a screw-type suspension, which allows you to adjust ride height. Struts on the frame provide greater driving stability," Denis says. The car has a custom body kit, footboards, Recaro seats, a Momo steering wheel and gearshift knob, and 17" forged alloy wheels.

Denis says a real supercar may be his next project. "Many people say that if you want to drive a Ferrari or a Porsche, buy an MRS first, to learn how to drive. Their driving style is very similar. It is also a rear-engine model, and the center of gravity is about in the middle of the car." The Ferrari logo sticker on the dashboard clearly confirms the ambitions of the owner.

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