Izh 2125
| Industry | Automotive |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1966 |
| Headquarters | Izhevsk , Soviet Union / Russia |
| Products | Automobiles, firearms |
| Parent | AutoVAZ (partial stake from 1995–96) |
The Izh 2125 "Kombi" (Russian: ИЖ-2125 Комби, an abbreviation for "combination") is a small family car manufactured by the Soviet and later Russian company IZh from 1973 until 1997. Recognized as the first liftback originating from Russia and the Soviet Union, it was developed from a modified version of the Moskvitch 412 produced in Izhevsk, with the initial prototype unveiled in 1966. While frequently referred to as a hatchback, its design more closely resembles a station wagon featuring a reinforced "D" pillar, categorizing it as a liftback. The term "Kombi" derives from the German and Polish words for station wagon; in Russian, this vehicle type is commonly known as универсал (universal).
Between 1974 and 1980, the Kombi enjoyed considerable popularity across the USSR, attributed to its robustness, off-road performance, and expanded cargo capacity. This model also marked IZh's entry into export markets. Its success was supported by limited competition from station wagon versions of Lada, Moscow-produced Moskvitch, and Volga automobiles. In 1982, the Kombi underwent a facelift alongside the IZh-manufactured Moskvitch-412 and the Izh 2715 panel van, emerging as the 21251 variant with enhancements such as improved seats and headrests.
Sales of the updated Izh 2125 persisted into the 1990s. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, IZh transitioned into an open joint stock company and gradually diversified production toward other sectors including firearms manufacturing. During 1995–96, amid financial difficulties at AZLK, AutoVAZ acquired a partial stake in IZh, rebranded it as "IZhAuto," ceased production of earlier models, and launched the new hatchback Izh 2126 "Oda," which effectively succeeded the Kombi.
Kalashnikov CV-1
On August 23, 2018, the weapons manufacturer Kalashnikov introduced an electric car heavily inspired by the Izh 2125’s design. This electric vehicle was reported to offer a driving range of approximately 350 km per charge; however, no subsequent progress or commercial launch followed.
References
- IZh-2125, "Avtolegendy SSSR" Nr.54, DeAgostini 2011, ISSN 2071-095X