Putin shows off new 4x4

Sochi - Prime Minister Vladimir Putin tried to give a boost to Russia's struggling car industry on Saturday by driving his four-wheel-drive Lada Niva, painted in camouflage colours, to talks at his Black Sea residence.

Putin in March told workers at AvtoVAZ, in which France's Renault owns 25% , that he had bought a Niva car, which is made by AvtoVAZ.

The car also featured in Putin's tax declaration in contrast to many other government ministers who declared expensive Mercedes or Porsche cars.

Putin said he was driving the car for the first time that he might go fishing with it. He said the price he paid for the car was "a secret".

"Such cars are on sale now, you can go and buy it for yourself," Putin told a reporter who tested the Niva.