Aviar R67, the Russian electric car that wants to be a 1967 Mustang

The cars we remember from the former USSR are city cars, cheap and designed to fulfil their purpose: getting from one place to another, with no intention of offering an image of luxury and exclusivity. After the fall of the USSR, Russia’s automotive industry went fairly unnoticed, but it seems that is changing little by little. Russian models are becoming more and more common, and they focus on the opposite of what has been the case until now: luxury and exclusivity.

One of those new Russian cars is quite special, and they want to pay tribute to a classic car from automotive history. For example, the first Mustang in history, from 1967. That is the Aviar R67, which we saw a couple of years ago and which is now almost ready to go on sale. This car does not hide its inspiration, and its bodywork takes us back to this classic car. But it does have certain differences that make it a very special vehicle.

A tribute in electric form

The Aviar R67 has an electric powertrain, so this is a vehicle that wants to play its part in electric mobility technology. Although aesthetically it recalls this classic model, its bodywork is made of carbon fibre, which makes it very light and helps it not to consume much energy, and helps achieve an adequate range and a rational energy consumption.

As for the interior, although it keeps to this classic line, it offers technology worthy of the 21st century. That is, it has a high-tech cabin, with a large multimedia screen placed in a vertical position, plus a screen with digital instrumentation that can also be configured in different views.

It also has adaptive suspension, LED lights, keyless entry and start, six airbags and Wi-Fi connectivity. And, although it is a car with electric traction, it has a sound system that imitates the combustion engine so as not to lose that hallmark, the sound of a powerful engine.

Electric traction

Another of the surprises we find in the Aviar R67 is the powertrain itself. Under the 2,810 kg chassis is fitted the same system that drives the Tesla Model S Performance. That is, a set of batteries and electric motors that delivers power equivalent to 850 CV and a maximum torque of 950 Nm.

This system can also include the driver-assistance system Autopilot. The 0-100 km/h acceleration this model will achieve is 2.2 seconds, and its top speed will be electronically limited to 250 km/h. The range of the Aviar R67 will be 507 kilometres, somewhat less than the Tesla Model S Performance due to an aerodynamics that does not match current needs, as it reproduces the shape of the classic model.