The GAZelle () is a series of light commercial vehicle—pickup trucks, vans and minibuses—made by Russian car manufacturer GAZ. At the time of the dissolution of the Soviet Union and transition to a market economy, the Russian automobile industry had not produced a much-demanded LCV similar to the Ford Transit or VW T4 class. The GAZelle shares many parts with the company's passenger cars (especially GAZ-31029); in fact, models produced until 1998 had the same grille, and the engines for the Volga were still used in the GAZelle until 2010. Riga Autobus Factory, which formerly manufactured minibuses for the whole USSR, remained in Latvia, and now required its vehicles be sold to the now-foreign Russian market for hard currency. Responding to this market opportunity, GAZ swiftly developed its own LCV called GAZelle (the name is a pun on "gazelle"), which, taken together with its lighter version, Sobol, now account for the majority of the Russian van and light truck market and have strong positions in the markets of other CIS countries, ranking as GAZ's most popular and successful products.

The GAZelle's design is superficially reminiscent of the 1986 Ford Transit, but the two cars have nothing in common. The project could only be pursued further by GAZ after the collapse of the Soviet Union. In August 1993 the GAZelle was presented at a motor show in Moscow, production started in July in Nizhny Novgorod. and the Philippines.

In 2010–2011 the GAZelle family underwent a serious upgrade. The upgraded model was renamed GAZelle Business. The changes affected 20 main vehicle units and systems, including steering, brakes, gearbox, cooling system, transmission and interior.

In 2013 GAZ started serial production of the new generation GAZelle NEXT light commercial vehicle that features box van, van, minibus and other versions of different sizes.

Generations

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| GAZelle || 1994start of production of the first generation. Initially only panel vans were manufactured. The headlights and grille are from the GAZ-31029, alongside the engines and transmission.

1996production of minibuses started.

1998production of a scaled-down version called the Sobol started.

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| GAZelle || 2003production of the second generation started. The changes include new teardrop-shaped headlights instead of rectangular ones, new grille, which were very similar to the ones used in the GAZ-31105, new front bumper, increased space under the hood, rear colorless lenses turning lights, combined with the reversing light lenses. A new dashboard and power steering, steel versions are available with all-wheel drive.

2004ABS introduced.

2006side repeaters turning lights moved from the front wings to the side mirrors, which were painted body color.

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| GAZelle-Business || 2010a large-scale modernization, 130 constructional changes including a new grill combined with the bumper. Inside, the new family of vehicles differs from their predecessors by way of a front panel, steering wheel, standard audio head unit from Blaupunkt, new cab heater control unit or the front of the cabin.

Engine UMZ4216 (fresh family car commercial - UMZ - 4216.10 ) got a new injection control program, whereby the maximum torque (220.5 Nm) is achieved at fairly low (for a gasoline engine) 2500 rpm. The family of "GAZelle Business" engine mountings were introduced Anvis Group, radiator with aluminum core TRM, Bosch electrical components and Brisk spark plugs. The drive brakes used Bosch products (in particular, the brake master cylinder and the brake servo), the drive clutch components and ZF Sachs, power steering from ZF Lenksysteme was introduced along with defroster door mirrors as standard.

New modification of the car with 2010 was equipped with a turbocharged diesel engine (Cummins ISF American development).

2011In the factory catalog, the first appearance of a shuttle van with a high roof.

2013production of modifications with bi-fuel petrol-gas engine started.

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| GAZelle Next || 2013production of a completely new LCV started, while the production of the 2010 version continued.

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Models

  • GAZ-3302 dropside truck and chassis, rear-wheel drive, regular three-seat cab
  • GAZ-33021 dropside truck and chassis, improved, RWD
  • GAZ-33023 dropside truck and chassis, all-wheel drive
  • GAZ-33027 dropside truck and chassis, six-seat "King Cab" extended cab, RWD
  • GAZ-330237 dropside truck and chassis, extended cab, AWD
  • GAZ-3221 minibus, 8 seats, RWD
  • GAZ-32213 minibus, 13 seats, RWD
  • GAZ-322132 minibus, 13 seats (marshrutka, for shuttle services), RWD
  • GAZ-2705 panel van, RWD
  • GAZ-27051 ambulance, RWD
  • GAZ-27052 Combi panel van, extended cab, RWD
  • GAZ-27057 Combi panel van, extended cab, AWD

Variants

The GAZ Sobol is a lighter duty version of the GAZelle, built on a shorter wheelbase. It was introduced in 1998.

The GAZ Valdai is a heavier duty version of the GAZelle, built on a longer wheelbase. It was introduced in 2003 and was discontinued in 2015.

The GAZelle cabin is also used for building tracked all-terrain carriers such as GAZ-3409 «Bobr» (Beaver).

Before GAZ introduced its own GAZelle-based minibus, various smaller Russian factories launched rebuilding of panel van GAZelles into minibuses ("Pskova-2214", "STG-01") and different custom vehicles. A few Russian and Ukrainian factories still produce custom buses and ambulances based on GAZelles of "Business" and "NEXT" generations.

Trim levels

Before the 2010 upgrade, customers were not given the opportunity to select options. Currently the Gazelle-Business can be ordered with a rear differential lock, ABS braking system, "de luxe" instrument panel, and the "Package" option that includes fog lights, electroproof mirrors, front electric windows, dashboard "de luxe" (radio control buttons on the steering wheel and audio package) and central locking of the front doors.

The succeeding GAZelle NEXT generation of LCVs has its own schedule of basic trim levels and options.

<gallery class="center">

File:Integrated Safety and Security Exhibition 2013 (502-4).jpg|GAZelle Next ambulance

File:GAZel 2705 school bus.jpg|GAZelle 2705 school bus

File:Gaz-Gazel-Taxi-322133-1.jpg|A white GAZ-322133 GAZelle taxi minibus

File:Скорая помощь ГАЗ.JPG|GAZelle ambulance in Kharkiv

File:Ambulance in Tomsk.jpg|GAZelle ambulance in Tomsk

File:GAZ GAZelle in Prague, 2012.JPG|GAZelle in Prague

File:Interpolitex 2013 (535-22).jpg|The shorter GAZ Sobol as a police van

File:GAZelleBusiness.JPG|GAZelle-Business (2010–present)

File:Газель пожарная машина-сзади.jpg|A firefighting GAZelle van in Saratov

File:Interpolitex 2011 (404-39).jpg|GAZ-27527 Sobol all-terrain camper

File:Interpolitex 2011 (404-40).jpg| Sobol'-based camper van

File:Gazel Farmer dumper GAZ-330232.JPG|Pickup utility truck

</gallery>

See also

  • FIAT Ducato
  • VW Crafter
  • Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
  • LDV Maxus

References

  • GaZ's official GAZelle Page (English)
  • Official site of plant in Turkey
  • Club car owners Gazelle (Russian)