IZ 2125

Friday 23 May 2014
Izh 2125 "Kombi" (Russian: ИЖ-2125 Комби, short for "combination") is a small family car produced by the Soviet automotive maker IZh from 1973 to 1997. It was based on an Izhevsk-modified Moskvitch 412, with the first prototype released in 1972 to meet small family needs. It was considered to be the first Soviet hatchback (released about a decade before the well-known Lada Samara), though the car actually possessed a body between a hatchback and a station wagon. The back did not profit from weight reduction, which would position the model rather in the liftback family. For the same reason, the car was given the "Kombi" nickname, which in a way alludes to the Combi coupé (it was a station wagon in German, while in Russian a station wagon is universal).
The Kombi knew a notable success in sales within USSR between 1974 and 1980 due in large part to limited competition - station wagon variants of the Lada, Moscow-built Moskvitch and Volga were not easy to buy, however, due to absence of upmarket components export models were never produced and the car did not sell outside the country. In 1982, the Kombi received a face-lifting, along with Izh-produced Moskvitch 412 and Izh 2715 panel van and was then rebranded as 21251. Among notable features, the car borrowed a dashboard from the Moskvitch 2140, featured improved seats and headrests were now installed.
Izh 2125 sold into the 1990s. As the Soviet Union collapsed, Izh was first privatized as "OAO Izhevsk" and slowly started converting their automotive production lines to other kinds of produce, such as firearms. In 1995—96, when AZLK's revenue decreased drastically, the company was partially reacquired by AutoVAZ and renamed "IzhAuto". Vaz then discontinued all of IZH's previous models and run their own ones into production. A new hatchback version was branded Izh 2126 and ultimately replaced the Kombi.


Technical data:
- engine: 4 cylinders
- capacity: 1480 cc
- horsepower: 75 HP
- gearbox: 4+1
- top speed: 145 km/h