With the Moscow International Automobile Salon now underway, Russian car makers are on the podium—and mainly AvtoVAZ, better known as Lada. The company has launched a new concept car, and the result is astonishing. This Russian manufacturer that sells its vehicles under the Lada brand is known mainly for its Niva, a rugged 4x4 that has been on the roads now for 35 years. But in terms of design and concept, it has never had grandiose ambitions and most of its prototypes have never seen light of day. Part of the Renault-Nissan club since 2008, the Russian car maker, however, will now be leading from the front. Since October 2011, it also has a new head designer of Mercedes-Benz and Volvo fame on board. This is Steve Mattin, to whom we owe the Volvo S60 and XC60 and the Mercedes-Benz ML, SLR and A Class, among others.