Interior tuning is the easiest modification method. By spending a few minutes, the “internal appearance of the car” can be changed very significantly. To immediately obtain a visible result, individual interior details are modified, including standard decorative elements, etc. This covers various trims, interior door handles and trim. In addition, the presence of covers that protect the seats, if their design is chosen correctly, will help improve the subjective perception of the interior. Let's look at solutions that relate to tuning Kalina-2 and look quite successful.
Pasting with vinyl based film
The outer surface of the vinyl film can imitate carbon. This material is also offered in different colors. Each element subject to modification is first dismantled. In Kalina-2, this action is simple to perform: the linings snap off, and the door handles are attached with self-tapping screws. Each step of the work performed is shown in the photo:
Refinement of air duct covers
Every detail needs to be covered.
Installation of decorative elements completed
Result of revision
By the way, no one says that you need to limit yourself in choosing colors. White carbon fiber in Kalina-2 also looks good, even if vinyl is actually used again:
This is how it all started
We paste over each element
Door armrest trim, pasting
The most suitable tone, its choice
The owners have already tried all the options shown above on their cars. But no one forbids trying to invent something new.
When working with vinyl, the workpiece is cut along the contour, leaving an allowance of up to 10-15 mm. After gluing, the surface sometimes has to be leveled, for which hot air is used. Use a regular household hair dryer.
Basics of restyling and quality improvement
After eliminating possible nuances, you can begin more global changes to your beloved Kalina. As mentioned earlier, there are a lot of options and the limits are only limited by our imagination and wallet. If we move from small to large, then it is possible to highlight the following points when tuning the Lada Kalina:
- installing deflectors on the doors - this allows you to drive in rainy weather with the windows slightly open, ventilate the car without excess moisture, and even smoke;
- a mesh in the luggage compartment - useful when transporting a large number of small items that can be secured from unnecessary rattling and rewinding;
- battery mat – prevents body corrosion that may occur under the battery due to the possible consequences of acid leakage;
- pedal covers – prevent feet from slipping, which can help to prevent accidents;
- roof rails and crossbars – complement the appearance of the car and allow you to carry additional cargo on the roof;
- door sill covers – give an additional aesthetic appearance and protect the body from corrosion;
- covers for headlights and radiator grille – give an additional aesthetic appearance;
- front and rear bumpers - available today in a wide range, designed to modify the appearance of the car, as well as strengthen it;
- overlays for arches - again change the appearance and protect against aggressive influences, such as impacts from small particles of the road surface;
- moldings – give an aesthetic appearance to the car and protect from damage;
- Spoilers - in addition to giving the car a sporty look, in some situations they can affect its aerodynamics.
I would also like to mention the options for tuning the interior of the Lada Kalina, depending on the capabilities of its owner.
You can deliver additional seat covers, heating elements, various sensors, music, anti-reflective coating on windows and much more.
With a solid budget, tuning Kalina cars can turn it into a rocket. Like any other modern car, Kalina can be changed by chip tuning the on-board computer.
The theme with “white carbon” and its continuation
If pasting decorative elements does not seem enough, you can remove the plastic door trim and modify it later. For example, additional linings are made from wood, which are subsequently covered with vinyl film and attached to the standard part from the inside. Note that the pad can be the body of the speaker system. The result is shown in the photo:
Additional upholstery trims Front sports seats Rear seat upholstery
As you can see, the final stage of tuning was reupholstery of the rear seats. The front seats were replaced with branded ones, equipped with serious lateral support. And we can say that the result was worth all the money spent.
The solutions considered so far would be suitable for tuning the “second Lada Kalina” in any body, both station wagon and hatchback. The differences will manifest themselves when it comes to installing a subwoofer, that is, a subwoofer.
Standard option
Standard interior tuning involves purchasing all the necessary parts and simply replacing the old ones with them. Let's look in order at what exactly can be changed and how to do it yourself.
Let's start with the most important part - the dashboard. To improve it, you can use two options. The first, cheaper option, is to buy a panel trim and install it on top of the factory dashboard. This option is cheap because during its installation, difficulties may arise with the dimensions, and the overlay will have to be trimmed. This is a rather difficult process, which, if done incorrectly, can ruin the entire look of the salon. The second option is to buy a new dashboard. In this case, installation will not take much time, but you will spend a lot of money.
Instrument panel trim
The next step is replacing the door cards. This element of the interior trim is attached quite simply, so there can be no problems with the installation of new cards. Also, this version of the part will allow you to choose the material and color of the cladding that matches the rest of the color scheme.
A simpler process than installing cards can only be replacing the seats or installing covers on them. But the hardest thing you will have to face is reupholstering the ceiling. When carrying out this procedure, it is necessary to ensure that the sheathing material is constantly in a tense state. Otherwise, folds may appear that will spoil the entire appearance of the interior of the Lada Kalina car.
The final touch will be tuning the bottom and rear shelf. This process is also very simple. To replace the floor covering in a car, you need to remove the seats and remove the old covering. Next, lay down a new one and put the seats in their places. The shelf is also quite easy to change.
So we looked at the standard interior tuning in the Lada Kalina car. In principle, there is nothing heavy, and all the work can be done with your own hands. But, as mentioned earlier, this requires a large investment of money.
How to take up trunk space
In Kalina-2, as in most other hatchbacks and station wagons, the trunk and interior are separated by a removable shelf. This shelf can be dismantled, or you can use it to install speakers. True, then there will be little space left for the subwoofer, especially if we are talking about a hatchback:
Subwoofer housing in the trunk of a hatchback
Everything looks great in the station wagon, especially if the shelf has been removed:
Homemade subwoofer housing in the trunk of a station wagon
The amplifier in both cases is mounted on the back of the rear seat. In fact, it is not recommended to do this - the cladding elements are not designed for significant loads.
First stage: wheels and rims
Often the happy owners of a Lada Kalina experience a strong temptation to install solid wheels of fifteen radius on their car. Don't give in to him! Yes, it looks good, but the disadvantages of such an initiative are an order of magnitude greater than the advantages: in combination with the unprecedented quality of Russian roads, you will get an even worse ride quality, in addition, do not forget that the Kalina arches are not designed for fifteen-inch wheels, and the wheels can simply touch them at every hole. Obvious damage to both rubber and metal.
The use of carpet and leatherette
Need a simple tuning option - please. Try fixing the fabric, called “carpet”, to the inner surface of the glove compartment:
The glove box of Kalina-2 is covered with carpet
If everything works out, the same material will be used to cover the door pockets and individual trim elements:
Refinement of door trim
The carpet sheet is held on the plastic with glue. The necessary materials are available at parts stores. By the way, instead of carpet you can use leatherette. We will leave the choice to the owner.
Carbon interior sticker
If you have been driving for a long time, then, most likely, you have already heard about the special carbon fiber coating that is used for tuning car interiors. In addition to the body, some parts of the interior are also covered with this material. Many specialists at a car dealership will do this type of tuning quite efficiently and for little money. However, such work can be done with your own hands. It will not take much time, but will require extreme care and accuracy. When purchasing carbon film, you should be careful, as it is available in different textures. There are several types of carbon film:
- painted film;
- relief film.
Embossed film has improved quality and a presentable appearance, but is more expensive. It is also worth considering that this material cannot be used for the entire interior. It is best to use carbon film to cover parts with a smooth transition that do not have sharp corners. Carbon tuning usually requires the following tool:
- carbon film;
- scissors;
- blade or stationery knife;
- construction hairdryer
Before starting work, it is necessary to dismantle those parts on which the film will be glued. We first lay out the carbon fiber, place the parts and trace the contours with a pencil. Cut out the circled pieces, making a small margin. Next, we apply the carbon coating to the part and bend the edges. Using a hair dryer, heat the coating. When heated, the film will become elastic and easily stick to the part. All excess parts and edges must be removed using scissors or a blade.
By performing this operation yourself, your Lada Kalina will be transformed and acquire a bright, original appearance.
