Remember the infamous Russian Lada Niva 4 x 4? It became momentarily trendy in the early 1990’s, almost as a back to the future trend of what we would now see with the mini SUV craze. 

Born in 1976, the Lada Niva pioneered monocoque construction that was lighter than the conventional body and frame construction. 

It’s set for a renaissance with owner, Groupe Renault, set to introduce the next incarnation in 2024.

Groupe Renault bought Lada in 2008 and also owns Dacia, while Lada still has 20 per cent market share in its home market in Russia, a large chunk of that is made up with Niva sales.

Groupe Renault seems to think with the Mercedes-Benz G-Class and Land Rover Defender craze at a luxury level, and the Suzuki Jimmy at the budget level, there is room for a resurgence in Lada.

Pictures of the proposed next model show a body with circular headlights and oblong styled indicators. Little details are known yet but we wait with interest.