GAZ Group, a company of Basic Element, one of Russia’s largest diversified industrial groups, launched GAZelle Next with a diesel engine with increased power and torque. Increasing the power of the engine up to 149 h. p. and the torque up to 330 Nm provides a significant improvement in the dynamics of the vehicle acceleration and other traction-dynamic characteristics. The project upgraded a number of important components and systems in GAZelle Next, first of all – the gearbox and the rear axle, allowing to improve the performance characteristics and to increase the operating life of the vehicles.
The Gorky Automobile Plant has started production of modernized GAZelle Next. The vehicle is equipped with Cummins ISF 2.8 diesel engine, the power of which is increased from 120 up to 149 h. p. and the torque – from 270 Nm up to 330 Nm. These changes improved the traction and speed characteristics of GAZelle Next in all operating modes. For instance, the improved dynamics of acceleration in all gears, the increased slope of the maximum lift with a full load, the increased elasticity of the engine. The acceleration time to 60 km/h and 100 km/h is reduced by 15%, the acceleration time in the 5-th gear from 40 km/h to 100 km/h – by 30%.
A new reinforced gearbox is installed in the modernized GAZelle Next. The use of additional bearings with increased payload capacity and new synchronizers, the increased width of the gears ensured the transmission of the increased torque, as well as made it possible to increase the overall strength of the structure and the durability of the component. To utilize the increased torque, the rear axle was redesigned using stronger steel and optimized heat treatment of the half-shafts plus the reinforced pinion gear.
Increased traction and speed characteristics of the Cummins ISF 2.8 diesel engine is achieved by changing the settings of the turbocharger and the new software of the engine control unit. The increase in engine power required the installation of a new ZF Sachs clutch with an increased outer diameter of the driven disc from 240 mm to 280 mm.
The engines with increased power and torque are equipped into all diesel-powered models and version of GAZelle Next except A63R42 and A64R42 small buses.
