2006 Russo-Baltique Impression

The Russo-Baltique Impression Concept was first introduced to the world at the 2006 Concours d'Elegance Villa d'Este held on April 21st. This monumental introduction by the Russian based company is its first in over eighty-years. Though if you are rushing down to your local Russo-Baltique dealership, you may be a little disappointed when you arrive. The companies goal is to produce three a year and the vehicles will come with a 50 million ruble price tag - this equates to about 1.8 million dollars. A very hefty sum. The design is elegant and daring with styling cues that are inspired by pre-World War II vehicles. The large rear wheel's are mostly covered while the front of the vehicle comes to a point and flows gracefully to the rear of the vehicle. The vehicles two doors open backwards which provide ample room for its occupants to enter and exit.

The long and graceful hood conceals a Mercedes-Benz V12 engine. Further power comes from a Bi-Turbo which increases the engine output to 555 horsepower. The engine is matted to a six-speed manual gearbox which sends that power to the rear wheels.

This is a brilliant and daring concept with potent engineering, elegant design, exclusivity, and a steep price.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2006

It is the honor of Russo-Baltique Company of Russia to present to the honorable public a coupe called Impression - the first model of the Russo-Baltique brand after a long intermission. On the eve of its 100 th anniversary, the Russian antique car brand - the supplier of His Highness the Emperor's Court - is returning to the market of luxury and high-powered cars with this model. The Russo-Baltique car brand's history begins in 1907 when a domestic autocar manufacturing was established by one of the largest industrial concerns in the Russian Empire. Two years had passed before the first car was built - a 30-hp open two-seater Russo-Baltique 24-30. First years of its existence were marked by outstanding performance in automotive sport competitions building up the reputation of a reliable, ideal and elegant model producer. In 1912, a special sport model, Russo- Baltique C24-50, won two first awards in the Monte-Carlo Rally, and the second award in the rally in San-Sebastian a year after that. In 1913, Russo-Baltique was granted a title of an official supplier of His Highness the Emperor's Court. In 1914, the Russo-Baltique concern built the biggest aeroplane in the world - Ilya Muromets - developed by a remarkable Russian engineer Igor Sikorsky. The First World War became a turning-point in the Russian history in general and the Russo-Baltique future, in particular. The subsequent Revolution brought an end to the Russo-Baltique production for many years. According to our estimates, there are 3 complete samples of different historical models of Russo- Baltique remaining in the world. Please, click here www.russobaltique.ru to view the Russo-Baltique history in more detail in Russian, English and French. In 2003, a decision to revive the legendary Russian brand and to resume the Russo-Baltique cars production was made in Moscow. In 2005, the Russo-Baltique Company was officially registered. The main office of the company is located in the historical center of Moscow, close to the old Church of the Ascension at Úspensky Vrazhek. Today, the Russo-Baltique company, for the first time in its history, has the honor to present the prototype of its new model - Impression, a luxury comfortable 4-seater with classic set-up. It manifests perfect style and quality attributed to all subsequent cars and brands of Russo-Baltique. With the cars of this level of perfection, the company will strive for returning its position lost in 1917.The Impression coupe has been under construction in Moscow since 2003. The style of Impression is a mixture of the Russo-Baltique designers' impressions from the Golden Age of the automotive industry - the 1930s - when car shapes won hearts both by their elegance and by their monumental size. For comfortable boarding, the car is equipped with rear-hinged doors. The radiator grille of the Russo-Baltique Impression is crowned by the historical heraldic sign picturing the Russian two- headed eagle - the official emblem of a supplier to His Highness the Emperor's Court. The dash board of Impression is hand-made of a one-piece exotic African tree trunk, Zebrano, with naturally alternating black and white stripes. The steering-wheel rim and interior side panels are made of the same material. In combination with white metal these parts create both a unique and ergonomic interior ensemble. While in the 20th century the dominant feature of Russo-Baltique cars was the Russian heritage of all their parts and their unique adaptation to Russian bad roads, in the 21st century the priority has shift- ed to innovations, perfection, and high technology of the car design and materials. The car quality, as it was before, will be a match to its unique title of the Court's supplier reinforced today by new technological capabilities. Technical data on Russo-Baltique Impression Engine..........................................................555 hp bi-turbo V12 Gearbox.........................................................6-speed automatic Suspension...................................................pneumatic, adjustable ride height Wheels .........................................................R22 inches, wheel rim of original design Length...........................................................5.50 m Wheelbase....................................................3.00 m Width.............................................................1.88 m Height............................................................1.43 m Russo-Baltique Impression is ready for a limited-series production - 10-15 cars. Each car production, including the preparation and approval of its exclusive specifica- tions, will take 12 to 18 months. The company is able to build 2-3 Russo-Baltique Impression cars annually.

Source - Russo-Baltique