Why Did Everyone Want This Soviet Hatchback?

Video Description

The Lada Samara was supposed to be the car that dragged the Soviet auto industry into the modern era. And against all odds - it worked. In this documentary, we explore the full story behind the USSR’s first truly modern front-wheel-drive hatchback. How it was developed, why Porsche engineers got involved, and how the Samara suddenly became one of the most desirable cars in the Soviet Union - and later, an unexpected symbol of the wild 1990s. We’ll look at the forgotten prototypes, the engineering challenges, the export versions built in Europe, and the surprising criminal reputation the car gained after the fall of the USSR.