MARUSSIA – Russian for sports car

By Anthony Crawford | October 15th, 2009

A cool looking sports car from Moscow wasn’t something I expected to see at the recent Frankfurt Motor Show.

Its not that the Russians don’t build cars, they do: Lada, Moskavitz, UAZ and Gaz are all Russian marques, but they just don’t build sports cars, until now.

I did a double take as I walked past the well-hidden MARUSSIA stand, and grabbed one of their brochures after a quick sticky beak, before rushing off to another hall.

I have to admit it does look good, better in the metal than any of these photos illustrate, but other than a few specs from the brochure, there isn’t a lot I can tell you about the car.

From what I can gather from the brochure, the MARRUSIA is a mid-engine sports car powered by a 3.5-litre V6, which produces 182 kW (245 bhp) and 330 Nm of torque at 3600 rpm.

Thankfully, it will be rear wheel drive with a 5-speed automatic transmission.

It’s very light at 1100 kilograms, so I I’m not surprised at the performance claims of 250km/h and 0-100km/h, in 5 seconds flat.

The fuel tank will hold 80 litres and is listed as FIA homologated and recommends “super” as the preferred fuel type.

Wheels are 20-inch alloys with a central nut fit, and are shod with 245/35 up front and 285/35 at the rear.

Apparently, they have also completed a racing version of the MARRUSSIA “comprising up-to-date world motorsports technology” and “the expansion of manufacture is intended to offer different classes of the MARRUSIA brand luxury cars such as the extremely popular 5 seater SUV etc.”

One of two founders of the MARUSSIA is Nikolai Fomenko, a Russian celebrity who is a movie star, game show host, pop star and a winning FIA-GT racecar driver with plenty of time on his hands.

Oh, and Nikolai also hosts Top Gear Russia on REN-TV, if you’re interested.

CarAdvice will keep you posted on the company’s progress, perhaps even a road test, once the car is available in Europe.

timmy201

182kw V6? hahahahaha
And that steering wheel is hilarious!

http://aussieexotics.com/photos/ashsimmonds Ash Simmonds

In Soviet Russia, steering wheel laughs at you!

vid_ghost

In Soviet Russia, cars drive you!

Trump

Does TopGear Russia have a “What were they thinking” segment?

Rommi

Not exactly but the idea of “they all are idiots” is all through the show.

Dion

Oh cmon, a V6????
Yanzo

exterior… i think looks alright. a bit extreme but it’s ok. interior sucks but damn i’ve never heard of any russian car brands. and isn’t that quite crap for 182kw pretty crap for a 3.5 v6?

Bor’ka

182kW from 3.5L engine isn’t great, but its ok, Aurion gets 200kW. Exterior and interior is either love it or hate it, I think, and I’m not a fan. But hey you don’t compare Kia to a Merc so what can you expect from this. Also Russia’s first sports car, possibly ever.

Martin

Who cares about its power, if its light enough to do 0-100 in 5 seconds, whats the problem? And such low down torque.

Take Lotus for example!

But any excuse to hate on Russia. Typical.

Dingo

or anything not European.

Aim

H hint of reventon…
Golfschwein

I particularly like the Lada. Cute, but also gruff.

Rommi

… and completely unreliable.

Golfschwein

How do you know? JD Power rankings?

Rommi

I live there and own one of these

These cars are on pruduction without significant modifications for tens of years.

Check out this car:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_124
It is _still_ on production in Russia in this shape:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/95/Riva.jpeg

Lada samara (shown on the post video) was like this since 198x till the beginning of 200x and still almost like this (with different front and back lights) right now on production.

Lada Niva (could be bought used in Australia) is absolutely unmodified and is still on production.

The only “major” modification these cars got is fuel injection, which fits them like a saddle fits a cow.

http://caradvide brussia

k’mon aussies ,its not like you guys are any gud at making cars so plzz stop bashing russia.they’ve got their own car manufactures,may be not as gud as the europeans but at least they’ve got something THEY OWN.

Rommi

Kidding? We all are sleeping and dreaming to see these “zombies” die and stop manufacturing their junk. So that russian incredible import taxes would finally go down and descent foreign cars wold be more affordable.

miumiumi

It is really eye opening to see the first Russian sports car, and to listen to someone who had the driving experience of Russian cars.
I can tell it is very light by looking at the cabin, because I can see heaps of cheap plastics. Perhaps this car is good for a car chase scene in a budget movie, as you can crash as many as you like without breaking the budget.

Rommi

There is another one, and it is in fact on production for some little while and there is even a racing cup named the same as the car:
http://images.google.com/images?q=lada+revolution

http://caradvide brussia

yeah really,dont worry mate just move to forign country,much easier.

Rommi

True. Just got my Oz pre-grant on wednesday…

t39

Good point, this is their own brand not foreign owned. Equivalent of Elfin or Nagari here in Oz. If you compare this to Elfin or Nagari it does not look too bad.

http://carz.com/ Carz

I think producer overdid themselves with this one hehehe if exaggerated can be described for a car, this is one exaggerated car! I have to agree with the steering wheel, it surely looks wierd…
Tolik

I think Marussia B2 (blue one) is absolutely fabulous. There is no point to speak about cheap plastics and not powerful enough engines. These cars are only prototypes. When the production versions will be ready, then we will all see how good or nad they are.

…here you can enjoy design development sketches
http://www.cardesign.ru/articles/marussia/2009/09/20/3333/
RdS

i reckon the blue one looks awesome.. :$
ElecEng

Look at that huge gear know….hahaha
http://Caradvice.com.au Baddass

182kw is pretty disappointing, should have a V8. I’m a strong believer that certain numbers for, say engine litres and power outputs just sound bad. For example, I stay away from anything with a 2.7L V6, thanks to Hyundai’s examples with dismal power. The 96kW Mondeo Diesel and the 92kW Swift Sport don’t do much for me either.
Tolik

They are developing an engine together with the sorcerers from Cosworth. The base will GM 3.6L V6, which is supposed o give out 400 bhp. Well, it is not too far away from basic Audi R8.
http://www.ye-dir.com/ alyemen

very nice

thank you
AAA

cccccccp russky power ~
Tom

I love it! This is a really nice design. The standard body is great. I just hope they can make it at a reasonably good price point! If they can I’ll be buying one for sure. Please export them to Aus!
Recruit

I drove the car – I also drove Lotus, Corvette, 370ZX, Lambo and few others.
This car smokes them all – I’m not partial – just educational – hey you dumb convicts
on that pathetic continent called Australia – Russia is in Europe all the way Ural mountains – past Ural is in Asia. I know it is not your fault it is your educational system
or perhaps your IQ.
In USA the there is no worse cars than English – well maybe YUGO.
Meh

Marussia must be the most purposeless car ever – not a good commuter and rubbish ot track. I mean, what’s the purpose of this peace of “magnificance”? Lada C tho looks promising…
nuno

Two of the most beautiful cars in the world, yes it´s russian. Cosworth 2.8 turbo 400 hp motor. Remember americans copy russian military technology.
sam

ISN’T ALL AUSSIES CARS GOT THERE MOTORS AND TRANNY FROM US, FOR GOD SAKE PEOPLE STOP TALKING ABOUT OTHERS CARS AND START MAKING YOUR OWN.