Ran with Cross: AvtoVAZ showed off its muscles in Sochi

I didn’t seem to be planning to settle in a tree with a bear, like in the commercial for the new Lada Xray Cross. In Sochi, I was planning to drive more on asphalt, but instead I climb higher and higher into the mountains, dodging trees, shooting stones from under the wheels. And where? To a place called "Bear's Corner"! Izvestia investigated why Xray Cross still looks into the forest.

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A completely different Xray

An Xray Cross with a new “robot” AMT was brought to a special event organized for members of the jury of the Top 5 Auto automobile award. And, as it turned out, by mistake. The car was removed from the test, citing the fact that it was a pre-production sample, and the updated AMT gearbox was offered to be tested on the Vesta.

Until recently, the Xray crossover was the most expensive model of the Lada brand, based, albeit on a foreign, but simple Renault platform - from Logan and Sandero. While working on the even more expensive Xray Cross, in Togliatti they decided to seriously modify the truck that AvtoVAZ had inherited - its inherent shortcomings for such a car were already becoming critical.

Xray Cross

Photo: Lada

For example, the hydraulic booster lacked performance, causing the steering wheel to receive shocks from bumps. That's why the off-road Xray has a completely new electric boost and a new rack. Due to the increased ground clearance to 215 mm and a wider track, the suspension was completely redesigned, using a bizarre mixture of parts from Vesta and Duster. The same is with the brakes - discs from Vesta Cross on the rear axle instead of drums and a more powerful vacuum booster from Renault Duster.

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By the way, Steve Mattin insisted on increasing the track - due to the plastic body kit, the car body became wider and without widely spaced wheels the Cross version would not have looked so harmonious. Harmony was added by 17-inch wheels and an off-road body kit - it performs not only a protective function, but also an aesthetic one. In any case, compared to the athletic Cross version, the Xray seems heavy and clumsy.

How the robot works on Vesta

In this video, Vladimir Petunin talks about the rules and features of operating the Lada Vesta: Before starting the car, we can do whatever we want, but only if conditions are met, such as the brake pedal is pressed and the selector lever is neutral, the engine will start. In no other position of the selector, or with the brake pedal not pressed, will the engine start. This is the first and main security requirement that is implemented into the software. So, we start, we have fulfilled all the conditions, after that we quite calmly move the lever to the position in which we want to move, either in automatic mode, or immediately in manual mode. In this case, the indicator will display the symbol of the engaged gear M1 if this is a manual mode, or A1 if this is an automatic mode. The clutch will close when we move our foot from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal and the car will move smoothly. That’s it, in automatic mode the driver doesn’t need to do anything else, the car will switch itself, we practically don’t feel the switching. In principle, you can switch to manual mode, while the same gear remains engaged and continue to manipulate as you wish. The second requirement of the system for traffic safety is that we cannot engage a gear that does not correspond to the driving mode: speed, load and other things. For example, if you drive in first gear and try to engage many many gears at once, the system will not turn on, otherwise the engine will stall. This is all provided for, it will only engage the gear that corresponds at the moment to the real speed of the car and not only the speed, but also the load. The program takes into account the multifactorial nature of vehicle movement; in addition, both modes, automatic and manual, have a kickdown function. This function is inherent in all classic automatic transmissions, for example, we are driving in automatic mode and we need to accelerate sharply, we sharply press the accelerator pedal and see that it has dropped to second gear and the car has received sharp acceleration. This is necessary, for example, when overtaking.

Conclusion: by buying Vesta on a robot, we get a system that does not need to be maintained at all, for the entire service life of the car. A system that has the lowest possible fuel consumption. As a result, with sufficiently high comfort, we get a reliable and operationally profitable transmission.

Move the sofa

No savings on comfort. For the first time in the history of Lada, the steering wheel is heated along the entire rim and for the first time in the history of the B0 platform, it is adjustable for reach. The new seats - the backrests are borrowed either from the Nissan Qashqai or from its French relative Renault Kadjar - are comfortable and equipped with three-stage heating.

The back of the rear sofa was moved back a couple of centimeters, thanks to which there was additional space in front of the passengers’ knees. A little space has been freed up, but this increase is also relevant - the back row of the Xray is cramped. Additionally, the design of the front seats has been changed, and now you can put your feet deeply under them.

Xray Cross

Photo: Lada

Due to manipulations with the second row, the trunk decreased by only a liter, but the loading capabilities of the Xray Cross, on the contrary, increased. First of all, thanks to the back of the right front seat, which lies in the horizon, and secondly, thanks to the roof rails that can withstand a 50-kilogram weight.

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All-season tires with a rare size of 215/50, specially created for the Xray Cross, hum on the asphalt quite clearly, despite the improved sound insulation. Engine 1.8 with 122 hp. - and this is the only unit available for the new crossover - is also loud, especially in sport mode. The “sport” button, albeit at the sensation level, compensates for the loss in dynamics: the Xray Cross accelerates to hundreds a little longer. And it consumes more gasoline, so for highway travel it would be nice to add a sixth stage to the gearbox.

The role of the Xray Cross is “a car for our roads”, so stay away from the well-maintained Sochi highways and buildings shining with dark glass. On a broken winding road that leads into the mountains, to shabby houses and colorful beehives. Cross can go quite fast off-road.

The suspension has a good reserve of energy capacity, pile fender liners and shields under the sills made of the same material extinguish crushed stone shots. The plastic body kit, which is also glued to the body with double-sided tape for reliability, protects the paint from stones and branches. The steering column, although it shakes on bumps, is much less than in cars on the B0 platform - Renault Duster and Sandero Stepway.

Xray Cross

Photo: Lada

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The wide track and rear disc brakes make deceleration predictable, even if the wheels have varying levels of grip. In addition, in the “sand” mode, ABS works in such a way that a roller is formed in front of the wheels, which further slows down the car on soft ground.

Advantages and disadvantages

Comparing the transmission with other representatives of automatic transmissions, we can highlight both positive and negative features of the box.

Advantages of the 5 AMT unit:

Reduced fuel consumption, performance comparable to a 5 MT manual transmission;
Low cost of spare parts and labor in case of gearbox repair;
The design of the box allows you to tow the car using a cable or a rigid hitch;
If the battery loses power, the box allows you to start the car from a pusher;
The friction disc and gearbox lubricants are designed for the entire service life of the product;
Protection of the box from incorrect switching, which avoids damage;
The box has automatic and manual gear shifting;
Smooth operation of the gas pedal facilitates the transition from gear to gear without jerks or failures;
Switching occurs in a short period of time, within 120 ms;
The presence of an automatic algorithm that allows you to start moving the machine while on an inclined surface.

Disadvantages present in the operation of the box:

Since the gearbox is designed to use a clutch with one disc, this leads to loss of traction when shifting;
It is not possible to use sports driving of the car, since the gearbox gives a smooth response when you press the gas pedal sharply;
There is no way to forcefully equalize the speed of rotation of the gearbox shafts by manipulating the gas pedal;
The absence of steering wheel switches, with which you can quickly change the algorithm of the gearbox.

Puck in play

The washer of the newest Ride Select system, in addition to the sand mode, offers another off-road mode - for snow and mud. All this gives rise to a feeling of permissiveness, but neither electronics nor increased suspension travel can replace four driven wheels. The system will help you not get stuck in the sand or start moving on a slippery slope - it really helps, it’s been tested. It is better to take more difficult sections on foot. Fortunately the chassis allows it.

I retell to XRAY project director Oleg Grunenkov the rumors circulating on the Internet about the development of an all-wheel drive system for Xray, and he looks skeptical. Firstly, it is expensive - you will have to redo the entire rear part of the car. Secondly, why? Most competing crossovers are popular in single-wheel drive versions. For a Russian buyer, an automatic is more important, and this is precisely what the Xray Cross does not yet have.

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Learning "robot"

AvtoVAZ has already assembled a batch of Crosses with Japanese CVTs and 114-horsepower engines, but for now, the AMT robot, familiar to Lada owners, first introduced back on Priora, will be responsible for “automation”. However, not so familiar. Its updated version 2.0 can crawl in traffic jams like a real machine. Previously, when the brake pedal was released, the car with the “robot” stood still, but now it moves slowly, both forward and backward. If you open the door or tighten the handbrake, the car will remain in place.

Photo: Lada

According to the project manager, Vladimir Petunin, the transmission was not seriously altered, limiting itself to only a new control unit with new firmware and other disc linings. It will not be possible to fill an old “robot” with new brains. At the same time, in creeping mode, the only clutch does not slip, so its declared service life is still 150 thousand km.

The switching algorithm has been improved, now the “robot” should change gears smoother and faster. And indeed, the transmission on the Vesta SW Cross station wagon is trying its best: it quickly responds to gas supply, and shifts downward with throttle shifts. But sharp acceleration with the pedal to the floor still turns out wavy. Robotic gearboxes with one clutch cannot operate smoothly, even on supercars. But in any case, AMT copes better than its analogues from the budget class and the average manual driver.

Vesta SW Cross

Photo: Lada

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I was surprised that after a long period of pushing in a traffic jam, the smell of a burnt clutch appeared in the car. Algorithms do not always work correctly. For example, the robot should shift to a downward gear if you slow down while moving downhill, but in reality it does this every other time.

Rules for using the AMT box on Lada

December 22, 2015 LadaOnline 68 340
The automated transmission (AMT-2182 or “robot”) is based on the manual transmission MKPP-2180, but control is carried out not by the driver, but by the system. It is worth considering that the operating instructions for automatic transmissions and automatic transmissions are different. AMT project manager Vladimir Petunin talks about how the AMT robot works on Lada cars.

AMT is installed on: Lada Granta, Kalina, Priora, Vesta and XRAY. All these cars have the same operating instructions for this transmission.

The robotic transmission has the following operating modes:

Neutral position (N), when the brake pedal is released, the car can roll;
Automatic (A), speed changes are carried out by the system. It is tuned for smoother and more comfortable shifts;
Manual (M), switching is performed manually (up – “+” and down – “?”, without fixing the selector), which can be done more quickly, but within the functionality of the box. The system will change gear when the appropriate speed is reached. If you stop at a traffic light, AMT will automatically switch the speed down;
Reverse (R).

The on-board computer on the instrument panel displays the following information:

automatic or manual mode (AUTO or MANUAL);
gear engaged;
brake pedal pressure indicator.

To start an engine with an AMT gearbox, you should follow this order:

Press the brake pedal;
Move the gearshift lever to neutral;
Turn the ignition key.

If one of the conditions is not met, the neutral indicator “N” or the “foot with brake” indicator will flash on the instrument cluster:

Correct operation of AMT Lada:

Any changes in the position of the selector before driving should only be made with the brake pedal depressed;
When stopping at an intersection or traffic light, you do not need to switch the selector to neutral;
When parking the vehicle, turn off the engine with the gear engaged (A, M or R). In this case, it is not necessary to use the handbrake. The handbrake should be used when the selector is in neutral (N);
The AMT system allows you to use the car at temperatures from -50°C to +50°C without any restrictions.

The car starts moving when the gas (accelerator) pedal is pressed. This closes the clutch. The “robot” does not have a creep mode, like an automatic transmission, because it does not have a torque converter.

When driving on steep slopes, the system will not switch the gearbox to 2nd speed to prevent engine stalls. Gear shifting will occur only if the maximum, critical speed is reached.

AMT is adaptive and has 26 shift maps that constantly interpolate with each other. That is, depending on the nature of the control (how the driver works with the gas pedal), the system selects the appropriate map and switches at the right moment. In any case, AMT will only engage a gear when the minimum possible speed for a given gear is reached.

When switching gears, you can feel some delay in the acceleration dynamics, which is a functional property of this transmission. The transmission is manual, so to change speed you need to disengage the clutch, change gear and engage the clutch. Only all this is done not by the driver, but by the car system.

The robotic box is protected against unintentional actions by the driver. For example, if, when moving forward in mode “A”, you turn on the reverse gear “R”, then nothing destructive will happen. The protection will also not change gears if the driver randomly moves the selector to different modes while driving.

All recommendations for operating AMT on Lada on video:

Another useful video tutorial:

Let us remind you that, in contrast to the cable gearbox (manual transmission 2181), on the AMT the howl is within normal limits. In this article we determine which transmission is better, automatic transmission or AMT. We leave reviews about the robotic box here.

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About the hum or howl of AMT (robot) on Lada cars Reviews of owners about the “robot” (AMT) on Lada cars, general assessment Production of the Lada Granta with a “robot” has started