The new model will be offered as a drop-side truck with standard and long cargo platforms and will serve as the base for a full range of light commercial vehicles with GVW of 2.8 to 5 tonnes, including passenger/cargo modifications with a two-row cab, frame buses with 19 seats, full-metal vans and minibuses, as well as more than 100 types of specialty vehicles.

GAZ Group’s president Bo Andersson said: ‘The GAZelle NEXT family has state-of-the-art technical solutions applied in vehicle design. High active and passive safety, as well as excellent cockpit ergonomics, make GAZelle NEXT the customer’s best choice. Lifecycle durability and quick payback in operation for any business application are underpinned by a warranty extended to three years, low maintenance costs, high fuel efficiency and best-in-class price.’

Due to increased width, the truckbed now holds five standard cargo pallets (six for the long version). Aluminium platform body sides, floor lining of water-resistant plywood, rectangular design and increased height of the canvass top with strengthened space frame ensure efficient cargo haulage and long useful life of the new platform.

The cabin is equipped with an anatomic driver’s seat with 5 adjustments and lumbar support. Wide door opening and foot step lowered 85 mm provide for easy ingress/egress.

New independent double-wishbone front suspension is as or more robust than leaf spring, while ensuring a smoother ride, excellent stability and response at high speeds.

There’s also rack-and-pinion steering and modularised steering gear and wheel suspension to eliminate understeer.

Special emphasis was placed on vehicle safety in engineering GAZelle NEXT. Cab structural elements incorporate programmed crumple zones absorbing frontal crash energy. Drop-sleeved steering column assembly, optional airbags (available from late 2013) and new pretensioner seat belts ensure high driver and passenger safety in case of a front-end crash.

Speaking at the launch event, Dmitry Medvedev, Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, said: 'The release of a new model is always an exciting moment. But most importantly this model is really investing in the future and the name of the model proves that. It is crucial that you modernized the technologies and facilities and integrated "flexible production." This approach allows you to quickly change production and respond rapidly to changing market needs. Over the past 10 years, labor productivity has increased by 4 times at GAZ. This growth should be an example for our economy. Now we are making these changes in all production industries, and GAZ is an absolute model for them. GAZ has always been one of the flagships of our Russian car industry, and I'm absolutely sure you will stay so.'