Why did the Lada have a rear windscreen wiper? To remove the flies that crashed into it. Yes, comedians everywhere will be cheered to not the Lada brand is returning to the UK

Some would say it did not comply with style standards either, and it was the butt of ‘skip on wheel’ type jokes. But its competitive pricing made it a popular choice with the budget conscious consumer, and that is what the manufacturer hopes to tap into now as the UK enters an era of austerity.

Renault now holds a 25% stake in the Lada manufacturer, AvtoVAZ, and the new model will have little in common with its predecessors boasting a new design and higher safety standards.

But with a price tag of around £4,500 Renault is confident it will again be popular. Said a spokesman, “The UK was one of the few markets outside the Soviet Union where Lada was a success. I’m confident this is the right time to bring it back.”

Skoda, the Czech car-brand, is proof it is possible to brings brands back from the realms of ridicule. Now owned by Volkswagen it too was the butt of jokes but it now known for its rigid reliability. Past jibes included: "How do you double the value of a Skoda? Fill the tank."