The Izh 2126, also known as the "Oda" (Russian: Ода, for ode), is a compact hatchback produced by the Soviet automotive maker IZh (later Russian "OAO Izhmash", and eventually "IzhAuto") between 1990 and 2005.
History
The Oda was designed to serve as a practical replacement to the 1982 Izh 2125 Kombi, and was the last of the Izhevsk-designed vehicles. A pick-up truck/panel van variant, known as Izh 2717, was also produced from 1991 to 2005. The first prototype appeared in 1977, but production was delayed for several years. Early prototypes, conceived in the late 1980s, implemented the base of Moskvitch Aleko, with notable borrowings in the body style, while the powertrain featured an upgraded 2125 Kombi engine and transmission. As planned, the Izh Oda entered production in late 1991 alongside the Kombi. Also like the Kombi, it was also planned for export release, but this never occurred.[1]
In the wake of the dissolution of the USSR, AZLK (effectively IZH's parent factory at the time) began losing significant revenue before being privatised, resulting in the decision for IZH to convert the production of about half its lines to other industries (such as the production of firearms) in order to keep its automotive market running.