TagAZ Aquila

Exterior

The styling seems to have worked out. The image is really impressive and attracts attention. In this price class, it is hard to find a more aggressive and dynamic body. In the design of the TagAZ Aquila one can clearly see character and sharp shapes with predatory lines, which are characteristic of Western sports cars. In general, despite the risk of combining different styles, the car looks quite proportionate and not too sharp.

Thanks to the engineers' efforts, typical budget-car flaws such as badly fitting parts or a poor paint finish were avoided, which already bodes well for the company. And in the structure of the car body, the company has applied another technology of the West - mass application of plastic in particular parts of the bodywork.

As a result, fitting and removing various parts during repair or maintenance of the car takes much less time. The overall weight of the car is also reduced. From the side, the Aquila shows a curved surface that flows smoothly into the rear wings, interesting door design and sculpted sills, which look good and also improve the car's aerodynamics. On the back side there is a rounded bumper with a lower contrast insert, and underneath them there are stylish rear headlights. The trunk capacity is 392 litres.

Interior

The interior is far from primitive and meets European standards. When you open the door, you immediately notice the leather seats in a sporty style. Excellent lateral support will give confidence on turns. The designers matched the interior colour to the body colour, which gives the sedan a unified look. The interior materials give no cause for complaint.

There is plenty of space in the TagAZ Aquila, especially at the rear. After such an attractive interior, however, the dashboard is slightly disappointing. Still, the Aquila's dashboard gives the driver all the information needed and is easy to read. You feel spacious inside, everything is ergonomic.

The seats are adjustable in only two directions, which can make some people uncomfortable. Still, there are places where engineers have clearly saved money. You can see the rivets of plastic parts, cheap steering wheel, plain door trim, and the doors are also very small, so getting into the car can take some effort. Only the vents with imitation chrome trim look at all stylish.

Specifications

The TagAZ Aquila is supplied with a 16-valve 1.6-litre engine that produces 80 kW (107 hp). The engine, developed in China under licence from Mitsubishi Motors, is paired with a five-speed manual gearbox. Such modest figures show that the TagAZ Aquila looks like a sports car only because of its aggressive styling. As for the chassis, the car uses modern suspension.

At the front there is independent MacPherson strut suspension with an anti-roll bar. At the back is a dependent coil-spring suspension with hydraulic telescopic dampers. The suspension copes well with poor roads and small potholes.

So far, the TagAZ Aquila is offered only with front-wheel drive and a single petrol engine. This engine is equipped with a fuel injection system, and it fully meets the Euro-4 environmental standards. With such an engine it clearly cannot compete with sports cars, but the Aquila holds its own among sedans of its class. The top speed is 180-190 km/h, and 0-100 km/h takes 12 seconds.

The company's management planned that, if demand for the new model was steady, versions of the TagAZ Aquila with 93 kW (125 hp) and 112 kW (150 hp) could be added in the same year. The more powerful engine would have a displacement of 2.0 litres and could be turbocharged. For the 112 kW (150 hp) engine, the engineers planned a coupe version of the Aquila, in which, in addition to the mechanical gearbox, an automatic gearbox will be available.

The suspension is broadly comparable to a sports set-up, but it is hard to say how well it will work in everyday use. The brake system is equipped with hydraulic, double-circuit brakes with disc brakes on all wheels. The steering is rack-and-pinion with hydraulic power assistance.

Safety

Even before series production of the Aquila began, the prototype passed all the required safety tests. Crash-test was held at the popular Dmitrov proving ground. After the tests, the car received type approval, which confirmed the level of safety required to start production and sales. The most important element, which ensures the safety of the driver and sedan passengers, is a system of hydraulic brakes, with automatic clearance adjustment.

Both the front and rear were fitted with durable disc brakes. The car also has ABS, an airbag, modern seatbelts and child seat anchorages. Generally speaking, the safety features work quite well, which already increases the degree of safety, especially compared with other budget cars of the time.

Trim levels and prices

So far there is only one trim level, but the company promises to add more soon. The base version includes electric windows and remotely adjustable door mirrors, mirror heating, fog lights, audio system and the possibility of opening the fuel tank and trunk with the remote control. The TagAZ Aquila is priced from $6507,20.

TagAZ Aquila also includes 18" light alloy wheels, ABS, air conditioning, electric windows and mirrors, and an audio system with MP3, AUX and CD support. The cabin also has artificial leather seat upholstery, a driver's airbag, three-point safety belts, central locking and fasteners for the Isofix child seat. You can choose from a variety of colours: red, white, black and yellow. Here too, the designers decided to paint the car only in "sports" colors. So far, the car is available only with a 1.6-litre engine of 80 kW (107 hp) and a 5-speed manual gearbox.

Pluses and minuses

We sum up

Among the drawbacks we can mention the weak engine, an unattractive dashboard, small mirrors and uncomfortable rear doors. Its advantages: good build quality, acceptable driving characteristics, spacious interior, stylish appearance and low cost.

We advise you to read the article: Taganrog Automobile Plant - history of formation, produced models