All-terrain vehicle “VOLYN”

Residents of villages and small towns, where asphalt roads have not yet reached and where “Volgas” and “Moskviches” start skidding after just a few meters past the outskirts in rainy weather or spring mud, have long dreamed of such a vehicle.

Compact, maneuverable, economical to operate, and highly off-road capable — that’s how rural drivers and designers in Zaporizhzhia envisioned this off-roader. They were given the task of creating it based on the serially produced “Zaporozhets”. Today, this vehicle exists — the “VOLYN”.

It is already running through the streets of Ukrainian towns and villages. And although it’s still considered experimental, it clearly represents the prototype of a future mass-produced vehicle.

There is also a factory that has started manufacturing the “Volyn”. It is located on the outskirts of the rapidly growing city of Lutsk. Currently, the plant’s workforce is still in the formative stage, with many processes not yet streamlined for modern conveyor production. Indeed, the annual output of the “Volyn” is not yet in the tens of thousands. But this is just the beginning. The future is already taking shape: new buildings are being erected, equipment is being delivered, and the main design office is working on future components and assemblies.

Let’s talk about the “Volyn” as it is now — the ZAZ-969 version, a designation that highlights the continuity of our automotive industry’s development. Just as ZIL once supported the formation of MZMA, and that in turn — the Zaporizhzhia car plant, now the Zaporozhians themselves are guiding the young Lutsk automotive team.

The “Volyn” is a cargo-passenger vehicle with high maneuverability and off-road capability. It’s designed for rural use in various climate conditions. Engineers achieved very low ground pressure, which combined with high ground clearance and a short wheelbase, allows this small all-terrain vehicle to adapt to any road situation. The car uses a 4×4 system, meaning all-wheel drive. The front axle is always engaged, while the rear one is auxiliary.

Currently, the vehicle is equipped with a 27 hp engine mounted at the front. The cooling system is forced air — the fan operates by a blowing principle. Due to rural road conditions, a high-capacity air filter has been installed.

The powertrain includes the engine, clutch, and gearbox. The main drives use differentials from the serial “Zaporozhets”. A transfer case with a low gear and rear axle engagement mechanism is mounted to the gearbox housing. The low gear helps overcome steep climbs, swamps, and sand, allowing a minimal steady speed of 2.5–3 km/h. Torque is delivered to the rear axle via a driveshaft inside a closed casing. The rear axle’s differential features a locking mechanism.

The large ground clearance — 290 mm with an overall height of just 1770 mm — is mainly due to the use of portal gear hubs, which consist of a pair of spur gears with a ratio of 1:1.44.

The vehicle rides smoothly thanks to its independent torsion bar suspension with transverse torsion bars and longitudinal wheel articulation.

The “Volyn” body features a load-bearing base and a soft removable roof, and it has four individual seats. The two rear seats are mounted along the sides on the wheel arches and can be folded to create a cargo platform. The tailgate folds down, increasing the usable cargo area.

On dry, even roads, the car can also tow a trailer with a total load of up to 300 kg.

Replicating the “Volyn” car is of great interest to modelers building electric models, internal combustion engine models of 1.5 cm³, and even radio-controlled versions. The front-engine layout makes it easy to install a micro motor, and the large cargo platform offers room for batteries. The open body provides easy access. A drive to the auxiliary axle can earn extra points during inspection. With its straight lines and simple design, this model is especially ideal for beginner modelers — and we highly recommend it to them.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS OF THE VOLYN VEHICLE

• Payload … 2 persons (including driver) and 250 kg of cargo or 4 persons and 100 kg of cargo
• Dimensions in mm (nominal):
  length … 3270
  width … 1560
  height (loaded) … 1770
• Wheelbase in mm … 1800
• Track width in mm:
  front … 1325
  rear … 1320
• Ground clearance (loaded) in mm … 290
• Minimum turning radius (by front wheel path) in m … no more than 5
• Maximum speed in km/h … 75
• Fuel tank capacity in liters … 34
• Fuel type — A-72 gasoline (GOST 2084–56)
• Vehicle weight in kg:
  dry … 780
  loaded … 840
  gross … 1240

Y. Bekhterev