Gazelle-NEXT
Gazelle-NEXT Gazelle-NEXT
Director of the plant Vadim Sorokin asks one of thirty “loyal” customers by telephone who received “Next” in January:
- Sergey, how much did you drive? What do you complain about, what do you like, what did you put your hands on?
- I spin a steering wheel sometimes for 18 hours. Before, my knees hurt, my back ached, now I forgot about it. Spacious, comfortable, very convenient. It was as if he had moved from a close odnushka to a room apartment. Surprisingly, the route time was reduced. The consumption of a loaded car of 15 liters is quite fine with me. Wound in a month more than 6000 km. Everything is working fine, it works like a clock. I'm glad I moved to Next. There are practically no comments. Here are just a tool annoyingly rattled under the seat - I tightened his belt. I also noticed right away that the omyvayki tube was pinched by a clamp. Replaced it in 30 seconds. How much ship? Fair? Up to three tons, I can’t do otherwise. The customer is demanding.
Such a telephone meeting with gazelists Vadim Sorokin holds every Friday. Next to those responsible for the design, quality and marketing, everyone hears with their own ears. A useful meeting, does not allow you to relax and rest on our laurels.
Crawl into the body
By the number of boxes and niches, Next can compete with a family-level car
By the number of boxes and niches, Next can compete with a family-level car. By the number of boxes and niches, Next can compete with a family-level car.
The pride of Nizhny Novgorod is the cabin. Everything is there for people, and by the most modern standards, from landing in an imported chair to an inconspicuous lever. There are no trifles. Take at least the door handles. They are large, you can grab hold even in a mittens. Plastic pad protects against scratches.
The door is fixed by powerful hinges (of a foreign manufacturer) in two positions - 45 and 82º. Here, it’s not so much a matter of convenience as reliability. Try to pull the door of the imported truck even further - you will see how the rack walks, where the hinges are screwed. In “Next” the stance does not even twitch.
In the steering adjustments refused to adjust the departure: the range of the seat should be enough for a driver of any height. It's nice that they left the column tilt adjustment. Ergonomists also wanted to abandon it, as was done in most foreign analogues, but they left it at the request of the working people.
The box is convenient, the lid does not puff. But it’s worth the wait for summer: what if the sun suddenly warps?
The box is convenient, the lid does not puff. But it’s worth the wait for summer: what if the sun suddenly warps? The box is convenient, the lid does not puff. But it’s worth the wait for summer: what if the sun suddenly warps?
The seat has a ton of settings. In addition to the traditional ones, there is also an adjustment for the height and tilt of the seat cushion, lumbar support, and burning out (although in option). In a word, everything is like in “Sprinter”. After all, the supplier to Mercedes and GAZ is one and the same (by the way, he is preparing seats for the DAF and Volvo).
But the passenger seats on the right are domestic. But they are also quite comfortable, in any case more convenient than in Ducato. If you lie down on the seats, you can stretch to the full height. For the sake of this, even the armrest on the door was shortened so as not to interfere with the legs - also the wish of the customers.
The instrument panel is rich, but not overloaded. Bright and crisp. Additional data - in the trip computer, which can be synchronized with the head unit (a 2DIN place is provided for it), built, for example, on Android. In the meantime, they offer as an option a simple receiver, but with a USB input. There is audio training on all "neksts": an external antenna and speakers in the doors.
The instrument panel is saturated, but it’s impossible to “walk” through the board computer menu using the handle on the instrument glass
The instrument panel is saturated, but it’s impossible to “walk” through the board computer menu using the handle on the instrument glass. The instrument panel is saturated, but it’s impossible to “walk” through the board computer menu using the handle on the instrument glass.
An important feature of the Nekst cab is hidden from view - it is almost entirely galvanized: floor, front flap, sills, hood, doors, power elements. The exception is the roof and the back wall.
The gaps of the mating parts are minimal, the fit is precise. This is not the merit of the assemblers, but verified stamps and tooling for welding. Everything is imported, from Korean LG. There is no gas or electric arc welding, only spot welding, which means that there is no overheating, tempered, warped metal - future likely foci of corrosion.
The box is convenient, the lid does not puff. But it’s worth the wait for summer: what if the sun suddenly warps?
The box is convenient, the lid does not puff. But it’s worth the wait for summer: what if the sun suddenly warps? The box is convenient, the lid does not puff. But it’s worth the wait for summer: what if the sun suddenly warps?
CHARIOT
In the chassis, all that was promised was realized. First of all, an independent front suspension. True, skeptical customers still require the return of the front dependent axle, at least as an option - they doubt whether the double-link on our roads can handle. But the factory workers assure that there is no need. The new suspension is even more energy-intensive and with a long resource, it will swallow pits and will not choke.
The steering gear is rack and pinion. Progress is not even in the type of construction, but in the fact that it is attached to the "subframe". Indeed, before the steering gear was on the side member and there were additional, unnecessary movements of the gear and rods.
Independent suspension mounted on a single beam with rack and pinion steering. The design is modern. The best steering accuracy in the class
Independent suspension mounted on a single beam with rack and pinion steering. The design is modern. The best steering accuracy in the class. Independent suspension mounted on a single beam with rack and pinion steering. The design is modern. The best steering accuracy in the class.
Envy and brakes. The ventilated front discs are larger than the previous ones. The list of retrofitting anti-lock braking system (since July). In the summer, it is possible to offer a stabilization system. Then, probably, traction control will appear - there would be a demand.
The motor is a well-proven 2.8-liter 120-horsepower Cummins diesel engine, but with its own firmware. On "Next" is the same gear ratio of the main pair. The environmental class of cars with an exhaust gas recirculation system, but without an expensive particulate filter - Euro-4. Clutch "Sax" - diaphragm. Own gearbox, reinforced by "Business", but now everywhere with imported bearings and seals. They promise that not a single drop of oil irrigates the earth for the entire resource of the machine. Believe it?
The platform is expanded by 100 mm. Now five euro pallets fit in with a good clearance, and six with an elongated base
The platform is expanded by 100 mm. Now five euro pallets fit in with a good clearance, and six with an elongated base. The platform is expanded by 100 mm. Now five euro pallets fit in with a good clearance, and six with an elongated base.
Platform on the Next with sides made of aluminum profile. Locks - a sight for sore eyes: with a preload in the closed position. The floor is made of yacht, especially durable plywood. They don’t do it here, they’re being taken from Finland. Finally, convenient loops for securing cargo and holes for the tent frame on the body frame appeared. Now the awning will not hang out like the roof of a wagon during a chase in American Westerns.
It is inconvenient to refuel - the neck is hidden under the body
It is inconvenient to refuel - the neck is hidden under the body. It is inconvenient to refuel - the neck is hidden under the body.
IN THE METEL
The day for the test was a success - a blizzard with hurricane gusts of wind. On the Nizhny Novgorod Ring, asphalt is covered with dense snow with gouges. Without sweeping movements, I drive the box tight lever to the first step and with the wheel turning I taxi out onto the track.
The car became noticeably quieter than in the prototype, which I drove in the summer. During this time, put a different sound insulation and worked with the suspension of the cab.
I’m already entering the first turn with a fan, and at the same time I have great control over the car, despite the fact that there are half a ton of ballast in the back. Independent suspension fulfills bumps and tenaciously holds the car on a trajectory. NEXT doesn’t dance along bumps, as did Business. The Neckt’s pendant is stiffer, but at high speed it doesn’t toss up to the ceiling at large bumps.
And everything would be fine, but here's the bad luck - the box lever is a bit short for me. To switch, you have to break away from the back.
One circle, the second … I was pleased with the controllability of the machine and the dynamic pickup of a diesel engine from any speed. But "Gazelle Next" is not for sports tricks. It does not set records, but earn. But the only way to evaluate design achievements or failures. I have not found the latter.
Next is just the first sign in a big new family. A whole line of various machines is already ready, which we will see before the end of the year
Next is just the first sign in a big new family. A whole line of various machines is already ready, which we will see before the end of the year. Next is just the first sign in a big new family. A whole line of various machines is already ready, which we will see before the end of the year.
First of all, “Next” with a 7-seater double cab. In the summer there will be an 18-seater bus. Next - vans with bodies of various sizes, as is customary with industry leaders
First of all, “Next” with a 7-seater double cab. In the summer there will be an 18-seater bus. Next - vans with bodies of various sizes, as is customary with industry leaders. First of all, “Next” with a 7-seater double cab. In the summer there will be an 18-seater bus. Next - vans with bodies of various sizes, as is customary with industry leaders.
