The launch of a new automobile brand is reported by AGR Automotive Group (AGR LLC), the company that purchased the former enterprise of the Korean manufacturer, located in St. Petersburg.
At the full production cycle enterprise, which recently changed its name to LLC Automobile Plant AGR, the production of four “new products” has started. Cars roll off the assembly line under a new (albeit sounding very familiar) brand – Solaris. The lineup includes a pair of sedans – Solaris HS and KRS, the “raised” Solaris KRX hatchback, as well as the compact Solaris HC crossover.
In the photo: Solaris HS
It is worth noting that the letter indices obviously hide the “donors” of the current new products: the Hyundai Solaris and Kia Rio sedans, the tall five-door Kia Rio X and the Hyundai Creta SUV. Production of these models at the plant in St. Petersburg was stopped in the spring of 2022. Last year, the Korean company sold local assets; the buyer was Art-Finance LLC, the parent company of AGR Automotive Group (“AGR”).
Now the company’s press service has announced the start of sales of Solaris brand models; the cars have already reached the dealership centers of the AGR company. General Director Alexey Kalitsev suggests that the brand will be able to “quickly increase market share” due to the “wide geography of the dealer network and the production capabilities of the plant in St. Petersburg.” Let us remind you that “donor” models previously often appeared on the list of best-selling cars in the Russian Federation.
In the photo: Solaris KRS
The length of the five-seater Solaris HS sedan is 4405 mm, width – 1729 mm, height – 1469 mm; wheelbase (like the “donor”) – 2600 mm. The base engine is a 100-horsepower 1.4-liter naturally aspirated gasoline engine with a maximum torque of 132 Nm. More expensive versions received a 123-horsepower 1.6-liter engine (151 Nm). These engines are paired with either a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic. The model is available in Active Plus, Comfort and Elegance trim levels, as well as a special Sportline version.
At the same level in the brand hierarchy is the Solaris KRS sedan; it has comparable dimensions (length – 4420 mm, width – 1740 mm, height – 1470 mm, distance between the axles – 2600 mm), but a different exterior design. The four-door is available in Classic, Comfort and Prestige versions. There is no “junior” engine available for the KRS, so it is offered only with a 1.6-liter gasoline engine producing 123 hp. It comes with only 6 automatic transmission.
In the photo: Solaris HC
According to the brand’s official website, the same engine range as the HS – 1.4 and 1.6 liter engines – is provided for the “raised” Solaris KRX hatchback (in the title photo), which has an unpainted plastic body kit around the perimeter of the body. At the same time, only an automatic transmission is offered in combination with both engines. The overall length of the five-door is 4275 mm, width – 1750 mm, height – 1535 mm; The wheelbase is similar – 2600 mm. The hatchback is offered in Comfort, Luxe, Style, Prestige and Premium versions.
The Solaris HC crossover, unlike its closest relatives, is available not only with front-wheel drive, but also with an all-wheel drive system. For SUVs, the base is a 123-horsepower 1.6-liter engine, and more expensive versions are equipped with a 2.0-liter engine, the output of which is 149.6 hp. (191 Nm). For the first option, both manual and automatic transmissions are available, for the second only 6-automatic transmission. The length of the SUV is 4300 mm, width – 1790 mm, height – 1620 mm; The wheelbase is 2610 mm. The compact SUV can be purchased in Classic, Family and Lifestyle trim levels in the regular version and the N-Line sports version.
Prices for Solaris brand models have not yet been indicated either in the press release or on the official website.
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