GAZ, the Russian automaker, announced at the Moscow Auto Show (who knew!) this past week the arrival of a new SUV that appears to include some style elements not entirely its own. In fact, depending on which direction you're looking at it, it looks alternately like an H3, a Jeep Commander and a Nissan Xterra. Although none of us speak fluent Russian, we were able to consult one of our friends to find out whats up with this GAZ-guzzler. Here's our back n' forth IM convo, along with more pics after the jump:
Jalopnik: You have second? Can you translate this for me — it's about a new car in Russia by GAZ called the "Tiger-2."
Russian Friend: It's about another shame of the Russian automotive industry. Do you really want me to translate it for you?
Jalopnik: Its about another shame of the Russian automotive industry? That doesn't make sense.
Russian Friend: Yes:-) They have released a new jeep car that is actually is a very poor copy of a Hummer and costs about $50 000- 60 000.
Jalopnik: In the US, we'd call that Standard Operating Procedure for an automaker — create a new model by building something off of others ideas, just build it bigger and cheaper than everyone else, and oh yeah — sell it for more money.
Russian Friend: No, you can't even imagine how BAD Russian cars are. No American car can be as bad:-) Russia is unbeatable in this field:-)
-2
[Cardesign.ru via Autoblog]
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