The Stalker APAL-21541 is a plasticky Niva SUV that costs $19,500

Apal, a small coachbuilder firm based in Tolyatti, Russia, has launched sales of a new SUV it calls the Stalker APAL-21541. The car is based on the Lada 4x4 (“Niva”) chassis and tech, but sports a composite body.

Apparently, the project to build a plastic-bodied Niva began in early 2000s, but the company soon put it on hold and only resurrected it a few months ago.

The tuner reports that using polymer body panels resulted in a significant weight reduction compared to the standard Niva, but provides no numbers to support that claim. An interesting new feature comes in the shape of detachable/collapsible rear body for extra convenience getting in and out of the vehicle.

The SUV is 3,550 mm (11.65 ft.) long, 1,646 mm (5.4 ft.) wide and 1,751 mm (5.74 ft.) tall, making it negligibly shorter and taller than the Lada 4x4.

Powering the car is the standard 1.7-liter four-cylinder Niva engine rated at 83 hp (62 kW). The four-wheel drive is also stock.

The company intends to limit the production quantity to 150 units priced at 1,233,000 Russian Rubles, which amounts to $19,500 in the USA. This is quite a premium to ask for, since the regular Lada 4x4 retails for only 520,000 RUB (8,250 USD).