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Tuesday, September 04, 2007
It seems it’s not just Premiership football teams that catch the eye of Russian billionaires. Now that the new Chrysler Sebring has been launched, the super-rich owner of Russian car-maker GAZ, Oleg Deripaska, has snapped up the rights to build the last generation car at a new factory in his native Russia.
Along with a subtle facelift and a name change – the new Russian Sebring will be called Siber, since you asked – GAZ has enlisted the help of British engineering firm Ultramotive to prepare the car for the rigours of the tough Siberian winter. Stiffened, raised suspension and traction control should see off the worst of the weather, while an upgraded heater will keep occupants warm.
The Siber is due to be launched next March and GAZ plans to sell just 18,000 examples in 2009. However, their new factory has capacity for building 100,000 cars a year, so keep an eye out for more ‘new-old’ American saloons hitting Russian roads soon.
Tom Phillips
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