GAZ will release a 12-ton modification of Valdai car

Gorky Automobile Plant has created a heavy version of Valdai truck, the premiere of which is expected this autumn. The flagship modification will have a gross weight of 11,990 kg so that the car can drive on federal highways without paying for the mileage traveled through the Platon system, writes Quto.ru portal. As an option, it will be offered an extended cabin equipped with an outside sleeping compartment for carriers. To increase the tonnage, the engineers had to completely revise the aggregate base. The long-range Valdai 12 is equipped with a power line similar to PAZ buses: the truck borrowed a 4.5-liter YaMZ-534 turbodiesel with a capacity of 170 hp, a 6-speed manual gearbox and a rear axle from the passenger Vector Next.

If there are orders, Gorky Automobile Plant is ready to equip Valdai 12 with a 6-band automatic transmission of its own design, although Russian carriers traditionally prefer "mechanics". It is worth adding that Valdai family can be recognized as one of the most highly localized trucks in the Russian market. After all, even the cabin is welded by the forces of the Gorky Automobile Plant. The main competitor, cabover KamAZ "Compass" (nee JAC) continues to be largely a product of Chinese auto industry. As AVTOSAT previously reported, Gorky Automobile Plant transferred Valdai truck to a new engine and increased it carrying capacity. Due to the fact that the gross weight grew by 790 kg to 7.5 tons, and the carrying capacity grew by 840 kg (up to 4628 kg), from 2023 the model will not be called Valdai Next, but Valdai 8.

Since Valdai was built on the platform of the heavy GAZon Next, there was no need to make changes to the chassis. But the driver's comfort was taken care of: the parking brake lever was shifted 170 miles back so that the front seats could be used for recreation. A new option will also appear - a full-fledged cabin with a factory "sleeping bag".