AvtoVAZ installs ten new machining centers for updated engines in Togliatti

AvtoVAZ has commissioned ten new machining centers at its Togliatti plant for finish machining of cylinder heads destined for updated 1.6‑liter and 1.8‑liter engines. The equipment installation, carried out during the factory's scheduled corporate vacation period, is part of the preparation for serial production of the modernized power units. Over 13,000 technological operations were completed during the shutdown, a significant portion tied to retooling lines for the new engines. Engine changes The modernization extends beyond the cylinder heads. According to the manufacturer, the revised engines will receive: an updated intake system; a modified connecting‑rod‑and‑piston group; piston‑cooling oil jets; new fuel‑delivery equipment; a higher‑capacity oil pump. Several solutions are shared between the 1.6‑liter and 1.8‑liter variants, reducing parts‑count complexity for inventory and service. For the first time on the 1.6‑liter engine, a variable valve timing phaser will be fitted, allowing valve‑timing adjustment across load and speed ranges to broaden the effective operating envelope without adding control‑system complexity.