VEPR (Ukrainian: Автомобіль Високо-Ефективної ПРохідності (Avtomobil Vysoko-Efektyvnoyi PRokhidnosti) is a Ukrainian multi-purpose off-road vehicle designed and assembled by the Kremenchuk Automobile Assembly Plant. (The name is a pun:Ukrainian: Вепр, wild boar.)
| VEPR | |
|---|---|
| Type | Armoured personnel carrier |
| Place of origin | Ukraine |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2006 |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Kremenchuk Automobile Assembly Plant |
| Designed | 2002 |
| Manufacturer | Kremenchuk Automobile Assembly Plant |
| Unit cost | $50,000–250,000 |
| Variants | Hunter, Commander, C |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 3.56 t and up depending on the armour |
| Length | 5.3 m |
| Width | 2.5 m |
| Height | 2.1 m |
| Crew | 5-9 |
| Armor | 10 mm. D6, D7 class |
| Engine | 4-cylinder 3.9-liter diesel |
| Payload capacity | 2 t |
| Drive | 4x4, 18–20-inch wheels |
| Transmission | Iveco manual |
| Suspension | independent |
| Ground clearance | 300–600 mm, adjustable |
Operational range | Fuel consumption per 100 km: city: 14 L highway: 11.5 L |
| Maximum speed | 140 km/h |
The designers' goal was to create an SUV-type vehicle which would have the same terrain ability traditionally reserved for larger cargo vehicles, such as the KrAZ and Ural. The patent has been received for the passenger-cargo vehicle.
The per-unit price of the VEPR is estimated to be between $50,000 and $250,000.
Description
editFuel consumption is said to be modest for a vehicle of this size, with 14 liters per 100 km in urban areas, and 11.5 liters per 100 km on highways. This makes the VEPR more fuel-efficient than the smaller Hummer.[1][2]
Standard modification includes:
- Adjustable pressure tires for use on all terrains
- A/C and heat independent of the engine
- Drum brakes of closed type, for harsh temperatures and driving over ford crossings, can clear up to 1.5 meter water level
- Stainless steel frame and parts
- BTR-94 wheels [3][4]
Variants
edit- VEPR-K "Commander" (ВЕПР-К «Командир»)
- VEPR-K "Sport" (ВЕПР-К «Спорт») - unarmored rally car, at least one was made in 2013[6] photo
- VEPR-M "Hunter" (ВЕПР-М «Мисливець») - Fully enclosed unarmored cab-forward truck photo
- VEPR-S "Special" (ВЕПР-С «Спеціальний») - fully enclosed cab-forward multi-purpose armored vehicle with «Кольчуга» passive sensor or «Мандат-Б1Е» electronic countermeasure system. Only 15 were made. Not produced since May 2011[7] photo
Production
editAt least 10 vehicles have been produced for the Siberian Tyumen and Yakutiya regions, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan until 15 March 2006.[8]
Operators
edit
Current operators
edit
References
edit- ^ (in Russian) VEPR Parameters Archived October 9, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ (in Russian) В Киеве представлен первый украинский бронированный внедорожник // Podrobnosti news agency March 13, 2006
- ^ (in Russian) Interview with a director of VEPR, LLC. Vladimir Ivanovich Pilipenko Archived 2012-02-18 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ (in Russian) VEPR Production Article[dead link]
- ^ Commander SUV targets hummer, Autoexpressnews (February 15, 2007)
- ^ В Киеве презентовали раллийную версию кременчугского внедорожника «Вепр-К» // "Кременчуг online" от 24 апреля 2013
- ^ "директор Кременчугского АТП-15356 Владимир Пилипенко прекращает собирать панцирные автомобили «Вепрь», оборудованные «кольчугами». Последний, совместно со своими коллегами, соберет в мае на «Николаевском заводе бронетранспортеров» и все — на этом история кременчугских бронированных автомобилей высокоэффективной проходимости, на которые устанавливали «кольчуги», или более современные «МАНДАТ 1 БЕ» должна завершиться... Всего удалось выпустить полтора десятка таких комплектов"
Бронированных "Вепрей" в Кременчуге больше не будут собирать // "Новости Украины" от 31 мая 2011 - ^ (in Russian) Украинский автомобиль ВЕПР - Steer.ru (March 15, 2006)
- ^ a b Греция и Грузия обзавелись кременчугскими «Вепрями» // "Кременчуг online" от 26 мая 2008
External links
edit- http://vepr.com.ua/ - official site of VEPR (in Ukrainian)
- http://forums.finalgear.com/automotive-news/ukrainian-vepr-14023/ - forum discussion on VEPR (in English)
- http://video.aol.com/video-detail/-vepr/1194143355 - test-drive video of VEPR (in Ukrainian)