SUV Tiger car, civilian version of the jeep

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Published: 06/11/2018

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The Tiger car is deservedly considered one of the best domestic SUVs . Confirmation that the vehicle turned out to be simply incredible is evidenced by the fact that it was immediately adopted by the Russian army. It is the Tiger military jeep that is the main transport of our armed forces.

Brutal appearance, simply incomparable level of cross-country ability, serious design innovations and high quality equipment have made this model one of the most popular SUVs in our country. Moreover, a civilian version of the Tiger SUV is now also available. A high-quality Russian jeep has already proven its worth on real combat missions, becoming an assistant to the Russian army. In this article we will discuss why this car was appreciated so quickly, as well as what exactly its main advantages lie.

• How is the design of the model different?
• Features of dimensions
• Specifications
• How much does a civilian GAZ Tiger cost?
• Interior features
• Main advantages of the model
• Let's sum it up

How is the design of the model different?

An armored SUV is the best solution for small groups of military personnel. With the help of such a vehicle, you can transport several people to the desired location as quickly as possible. At the same time, the military Tiger is also distinguished by increased safety during the move.

First of all, it is equipped with all the necessary functionality that ensures high off-road performance. Almost any difficult-to-pass places are not a problem for this car. Thanks to the camouflage color, it becomes invisible, which is especially important in a military environment.

The five-door version of the car is suitable for transporting from six to nine people. At the same time, there will still be room for other items (1200 kilograms). Including the possibility of transporting weapons and ammunition.

Since the vehicle is single-volume, you should not rely too much on an increased level of comfort. At the same time, due to the frame design, the GAZ Tiger can easily overcome almost any obstacle while driving.

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Among the key design features of the machine, it is important to emphasize:

1. All-metal body . At the same time, both armored and unarmored versions are available;
2. Availability of torsion bar independent suspension with good suspension performance for each wheel;
3. Winch and preheater . As a result, this allows the vehicle to be operated in any conditions, including extreme environments;
4. Rigid body . Thus, road irregularities are not smoothed out, but the reliability of the structure increases several times;
5. Huge wheels . With their help, the car receives a number of advantages when driving through difficult areas.

It is worth noting that the Tiger SUV is exactly the car that immediately amazes with just one glance at its photograph. And seeing such a vehicle in person, you will simply begin to dream of purchasing it.

History of origin

The need to use cars in the army emerged during the Second World War; it was not for nothing that it was called the “war of engines”; not only the transport capabilities of cars were used, but also the mobile characteristics of passenger cars.

It is worth noting the active use of Willis, Dodge and Land Rovers by troops for the purpose of reconnaissance, patrolling and sabotage operations. There are known, for example, facts of installation of artillery mounts and machine guns on cars in order to enhance weapons, and the long and effective patrol service of the “pink panthers” in Africa.

After the World War, the doctrine of mobile forces changed slightly.

Army units required lightweight and maneuverable vehicles with increased cross-country ability. But in Russia they came to this doctrine only at the turn of the century, when it became clear that breaking through tank wedges and using divisions and army formations in a mobile conflict did not justify themselves.

New requirements for an army vehicle were also developed, including:

• the ability to provide light armor protection for the crew and troops;
• installation of weapons, including ATGMs;
• reliable base and engine;
• increased cross-country ability;
• Possibility of use in different climatic zones.

The most famous example of such a vehicle is an armored car of the HMMWV type, manufactured in the USA; its civilian version, the Hummer, is known to almost everyone. But, at the time of the adoption of the new doctrine, vehicles like Humvees were not available in the Republic of Armenia. The Ministry of Defense received an armored car in a rather interesting scenario.

King Abdullah II of the Kingdom of Jordan decided to organize its own production of military equipment in the country. The company was named King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau, translated: design bureau of King Abdullah II. The design bureau was faced with the task of designing national models of combat vehicles, including a light armored vehicle like the Humvee.

The development of the project was entrusted to the Arab company Bin Jabr Group Ltd, which in turn turned to the Russian company GAZ for help in creating a multi-purpose vehicle. The contract price was $60 million.

According to the terms of the contract, Russian designers committed to build three prototypes with different body styles.

The export order was initially planned as an analogue of the HMMWV, and a civilian version of the vehicle was not discussed. The main requirement of the technical specifications for the armored car was the following:

• low production cost;
• the ability to operate in desert conditions, which means high temperatures and large amounts of dust, which the American Humvees could not withstand;
• high maneuverability and maneuverability;
• large volume for transporting personnel or special equipment;
• the ability to install armor to protect personnel from small arms or minefields.

The prototype for the new army SUV was the civilian Hummer. Some design bureaus of Russian enterprises were involved in the creation of the armored car. After a short period of time, the terms of the contract were fulfilled, and the finished models were shown to the customer. The prototype was designated GAZ -2975 “Tiger”.

The created prototype met the terms of the order and was accepted by the Arab side without any complaints. Three units of new equipment were presented at the international arms exhibition IDEX-2001, held in Abu Dhabi (UAE) from March 18 to 22, 2001. The car was called Tiger HMTV (High Mobility Transportation Vehicle).

The success inspired the partners for joint production, which was planned at the BJG and GAZ enterprises.

In the Middle East, they began producing HMTV independently in 2005, and the number of assembled equipment amounted to 500 units. The car was named "Nimr".

At the same time, Russian industrialists still have the necessary drawings and developments for the development of a project for an armored car of this class, but already adapted for Russian conditions. During the tests that took place at the end of 2002 at the Moscow SOBR, the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs became seriously interested in the Tiger armored car.

The first order was made for a batch of SUVs, which was entrusted to the Arzamas Machine-Building Plant. The plant produces and repairs armored personnel carriers, and it was quite practical to entrust the development of a light armored vehicle to this enterprise, which had significant experience in the production of armored hulls.

Specifications

The Auto Tiger is distinguished by simply excellent parameters related to its cross-country ability, but at the same time, its quality could be better. This is especially due to manufacturing defects and poor build quality (this happens extremely rarely, but it does happen).

At the same time, comparing it with the legendary Hummer, you can see that the domestic jeep is a serious winner. For example, a car is more compact, has a good interior, and is much more comfortable to drive.

The vehicle was able to achieve such advantages thanks to:

• the most durable and proven engines ever used by the GAZ automaker (Cummins);
• gearbox with low range;
• huge functionality, which provides solid performance indicators related to cross-country ability and operation, regardless of conditions;
• high power equipment;
• incomparable traction characteristics;
• differential locking using an electrical system;
• all the features available in modern SUVs.

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All this makes the Tiger a good choice. At the same time, the car is also equipped with a modern power steering, which greatly facilitates the process of driving the vehicle. These advantages complement the vehicle's original military design.

You can purchase a civilian Tiger only by individual order, and only if a number of conditions are met. First of all, this concerns the manufacturer’s workload (when GAZ does not have orders from the army). As a result, owning such a car is more than prestigious.

The cost of a military SUV of this type is about 2 million, while the civilian version will cost even more. Now about this in more detail.

Pros and cons of the new armored version of the Tiger

From June 25 to 30, the military-industrial forum “Army-2019” will be held in Kubinka near Moscow. At it, Russian military-industrial complex enterprises must present the latest new technology. One of these promising demonstration models should be the second generation Tiger all-terrain armored vehicle.

The first shots of the new army armored vehicle "Tiger Next" - this is the name it appears in the press - first appeared in mid-June: then Military Review made a brief overview of the vehicle and what can be expected from it. The downside was that it was difficult to fully see the new generation Tiger - it was covered with tarpaulin, under which the contours of the car were hidden.

The new car (it is assumed that its official name will be “Tiger AMN-2”), like the previous one, was designed by the Military Industrial Company.

The first generation of the car had different responses and turned out to be quite controversial. First of all, the question concerned the reservation. Initially, it was stated that the “Tiger” would be able to withstand protection class 6A according to GOST R 50963-96 or level 3 according to STANAG 4569. It was also planned to enhance mine protection to Level 2A STANAG (6 kg of explosives under the wheel and 3 kg of explosives under the bottom of the body).

However, the initially stated characteristics remained on paper. In reality, the maximum "Tiger" could withstand about 600 g of TNT equivalent under the wheel. This, if TPK can put it, adds to the collection of minuses. It is worth noting that in 2011, LiveJournal user k_a_r_d_e_n posted a detailed photo report and comments about the combat qualities of the police version of the car.

The build quality and ergonomics of the SPM-1 (“Tiger” in the “Special Police Vehicle” version) were not of high quality. It was noted that the car did not pull up on the serpentine road, despite the Cummins B205 engine. Problems with armor, inconvenient footrests, and the braking system were not properly adjusted were also highlighted. It is unknown whether these comments applied to the military version of the vehicle.

The new version should inherit the frame, axles, 4.4-liter YaMZ-5347-10 turbo engine producing 215 l/s with all-wheel drive. The vehicle's carrying capacity should increase to 1.6 tons (previously it was 1200 kg). They are also planning to assemble the hydromechanical six-speed automatic transmission GAZ-1K0808 (first introduced in 2022): it should replace the 5-speed manual transmission and 5-speed automatic transmission of the Allison 1000. It is worth noting that this is not GAZ’s own development: it was completed in six months Zoerkler Gears (Austria) was created for a Russian enterprise.

Photos and videos that appeared online show that the Military Industrial Company is preparing to present 3- and 5-door versions of the car. It is also noticeable that the body has acquired a V-shape, which helps dissipate the blast wave, and the overall appearance of the radiator grille (which has acquired a trapezoidal shape) and the hood (a noticeable handle has appeared on it) have changed. The exhaust pipe is brought to the roof level - apparently to facilitate crossing water barriers. This adds up to a lot of advantages.

By the appearance of the wheelbase, one can judge the presence of an automatic tire pressure regulation system. The ergonomics of the car look much more thoughtful compared to the first version; it is clearly more convenient to climb onto the door steps. Apparently, the creators also worked on the handling - in the video published the other day, you can see that the heavy car enters a sharp turn, although not without effort, but neatly and clearly.

Some reviewers take note of the seemingly low ground clearance. At the same time, it is often adjustable on such machines, and it is not possible to fully evaluate it from photos and available videos.

There are conflicting data regarding the mine protection of the new vehicle. Most likely, exact figures will be presented tomorrow, at the presentation of the car at the Army-2019 forum.

There are also questions regarding the implementation of improved ergonomics.

According to preliminary data, the vehicle's reservation level may change at the request of the customer.

It is noted that since 2017, all research and development work on this vehicle has been funded by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.

How much does a civilian GAZ Tiger cost?

If you were able to order a civilian Tiger car, then you will have to fork out some money . Since this vehicle is an exclusive highlight of the manufacturer, it is worth understanding that you cannot count on the usual equipment. Among the “bells and whistles” for which you will have to pay extra, it is worth highlighting:

• leather interior trim;
• a large number of electronic devices (for example, climate control);
• options for comfortable driving in urban conditions.

As a result, the jeep will seem very expensive. However, its benefits outweigh the cost for many. The final price can be found out only after the specific configuration has been determined. It is precisely because of its enormous cost that this vehicle is not particularly popular among civilians.

In addition, it is worth remembering that you will not be able to purchase a similar car with camouflage paint for yourself - this option is provided exclusively in the case of a government order. The vast majority of civilian models are black.

Cool video test drive of the Tiger SUV:

If we sum up the cost of the car, it is worth saying that it will be possible to purchase such an amazing vehicle for an amount of approximately 3-6 million rubles.

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GAZ-SP46 "Tiger" - the ceremonial vehicle of the Russian army

In 2007, they decided to use Tiger cars as a passenger ceremonial car. For this purpose, GAZ "Tiger" was modified in accordance with the requirements for ceremonial vehicles.

The ceremonial "Tiger" received a convertible-type body with two doors, the ergonomics of which were designed for easy entry and exit of the parade commander-in-chief. The convertible is equipped with a removable roof.

Only natural materials of the highest class were used in the interior decoration; the seats have leather trim. In order for the parade host to stand quietly while the vehicle is moving, the parade “Tiger” is equipped with a special handrail that can be adjusted in height. In the trunk there is special communication equipment for the parade and a spare tire (which is removed during the parade).

GAZ Tiger on parade

Since it was necessary to ensure a smooth ride for the ceremonial car, the Allison Transmission 1000 series was chosen as the automatic transmission; it is this type of automatic transmission that is equipped with the H-1 Hummers. The engine on the GAZ-SP46 “Tiger” is a standard Cummins B. The weight of the parade vehicle is significantly reduced, but it is still heavier than the civilian versions (4,750 kg).

In 2008, ceremonial modifications were demonstrated to the Minister of Defense, as a result of which 3 vehicles were purchased, which were sent to the Leningrad Military District to participate in subsequent Victory Parades.

Interior features

If you expect that a monster with an angular exterior cannot please you with an exquisite interior, you will be very surprised. Modern trends demand their own, so the interior of civilian models is very, very comfortable. In addition, since exclusive cars are made only to order, everything is limited solely by the finances of the buyers.

Basically, the finishing material and type of design are discussed separately, so you can customize the car as you wish. In addition, this version also differs from the military version in a number of additional equipment, which increases comfort, including:

• ABS system;
• air conditioner;
• electric windows;
• rear view camera.

Additionally, you can install many other devices.

Main advantages of the model

If you still decide to purchase a Tiger jeep, then you can get a car with the following advantages:

• relatively low fuel consumption (as for military jeeps);
• innovative technologies that guarantee vehicle cross-country ability in any environment;
• high reliability under normal operating conditions;
• an SUV that can easily overcome any obstacle;
• original design not available for other vehicles.

Let's sum it up

Innovative technologies, excellent performance and a stylish, incomparable appearance - this is how you can characterize the Russian Tiger SUV. It is for this reason that such cars appeal to fans of brutal technology. The fact that it is the main vehicle in service with our army adds even more confidence to the vehicle.

At the same time, the GAZ plant has repeatedly made mistakes that led to curious results. For example, it happened that a broken clutch did not allow these beauties to overcome a curb or a small hill. However, if we exclude such shortcomings, we can safely call this vehicle one of the most impressive SUVs in the world.

Video review of the civilian tiger:

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