Miguel Sánchez
PEUGEOT KHAZAR 405 PHOTOS: KHAZAR
We all know the Peugeot 405. It is not that it is brilliant at all, but in general it is a very practical, comfortable and resistant car, as well as with a good chassis. Come on, what is said a car for the needs of the day to day. Precisely that balanced character was what made him a bestseller. Well, what he did to her… And what he's still doing to her. Because yes, the Peugeot 405 has returned to the assembly line thanks to a pact between PSA and the Iranian-Azerbaijani Khazar.
In part, this is not too surprising either. In Europe the Peugeot 405 was manufactured between 1987 and 1997, at which time it was fully replaced by the 406 presented in 1995. However its manufacturing history spread like wildfire to other continents. Let's review. From 1988 to 2001 in Chile. From 1992 to 2001 in Argentina. From 1987 to 2002 in Zimbabwe. And from 1987 to the present in Cairo!
Robust, practical and easy to repair, the Peugeot 405 became one of the perfect cars for developing countries. Beyond refined designs or outstanding features these markets demand robust and affordable vehicles for driving on not very comfortable roads. Roads like those of Azerbaijan, a country that already hosts the production of the Peugeot Khazar 405.
405 KHAZAR. AN ASSEMBLY CHAIN WITHOUT OWN ENGINEERING
Spurred by its rich oil and gas reserves, the Azerbaijani economy demands new vehicles for the massive motorization of the country. A country that was the first secular republic in the Islamic world and that today has strong economic relations with both Tehran and Moscow. In fact, Khazar is a company with plants in Iran and Azerbaijan, planning to export a fifth of the 10.000 Peugeot 405 per year to the Russian market.
Khazar has been able to open new plants thanks to industrial growth in recent years. However his Achilles heel is still design and engineering. So… Why not choose a robust and easy-to-make model that was also dressed by Pininfarina? With this approach PSA gave up the designs of the 405 a few months ago and… Voilà!
And be careful, because from what we have been able to guess diving through your website they have just signed a deal with the Italian bodybuilder for three new models. Okay, surely the Italian brand is not going to make as much effort in these orders as when the client is Ferrari but ... It seems that the car industry in Central Asia is here to stay.
PEUGEOT 405: ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THE 1987
If by any chance you are thinking of acquiring one of these new 405s and feeling as if you had gone 32 years ago in the time warp ... Hold on. Why the Azerbaijani version has some modifications compared to the original from 1987. Firstly, the dashboard and steering wheel have been renewed to house two airbags. A CD player, a USB port and even a rear parking sensor are also mounted. The seats and upholstery have been advanced for millennia and all windows have electric windows.
With the mechanics they have not risked anything. The Peugeot Khazar 405 is offered with an engine 1 liters gasoline injection and 8CV. Or with a 1 liter 6CV turbodiesel. The transmission is manual, although the only option is the possibility of mounting an automatic transmission. Nothing fancy, but all made with bulletproof components. Seeing the national landscape made up of snow and rocky terrain ... This is important.
The invoice stays at about 9.100 euros at the change. Somewhat expensive for a new production classic car, but a great opportunity to enjoy an agile and safe car like few others in its time. As we acquire a 405, we would be more inclined to dive into the second-hand market until we find a good one. Mi16 with its all-wheel drive and about 160CV. But ... Surely in Spain no one has a Khazar yet, and if national units cannot be found at demolition prices!
