# Volkswagen K70
The **Volkswagen K70** (factory code Type 48) is a four-door mid-range saloon produced from 1970 to 1975, and the first [Volkswagen](https://www.edgepedia.org/volkswagen) with a front-mounted engine, front-wheel drive, and water cooling.[1](https://www.volkswagen-group.com/en/publications/more/volume-7-volkswagen-chronicle-1752/download?disposition=attachment) It was developed by NSU, passed to Volkswagen with the 1969 takeover of NSU, and was built at the newly erected [Salzgitter](https://www.edgepedia.org/salzgitter) plant.[2](https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/en/k-70-19701975-19700)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Production | 1970–1975[2](https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/en/k-70-19701975-19700) |
| Significance | First front-wheel-drive, water-cooled Volkswagen; pioneer of the layout later used by the Passat and Golf[1](https://www.volkswagen-group.com/en/publications/more/volume-7-volkswagen-chronicle-1752/download?disposition=attachment) • [3](https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/de/pressemitteilungen/happy-birthday-k70-der-stille-gamechanger-wird-50-6513) |
| Engines | 1.6-liter four-cylinder water-cooled, 55 kW (75 PS) or 66 kW (90 PS); 1.8-liter 74 kW (100 PS) from 1973[4](https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/en/vehicle-data-k-70-profile-19702) • [2](https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/en/k-70-19701975-19700) |
| Dimensions | Wheelbase 2,690 mm; length/width/height 4,420/1,685/1,450 mm (4,455/1,665/1,435 mm from 1971)[4](https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/en/vehicle-data-k-70-profile-19702) |
| Launch price | From 9,450 DM in Germany, October 1970[5](https://www.volkswagen-group.com/de/volkswagen-chronik-17351/1961-bis-1972-boom-und-krise-des-ein-produkt-unternehmens-17357) |
| Designer | Claus Luthe, then NSU chief designer, who also shaped the Ro 80[2](https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/en/k-70-19701975-19700) |
## Origin at NSU
In the second half of the 1960s, a camouflaged mid-range saloon appeared in the German press, first identified as the NSU 1700 and then as the NSU K 70. The production car was a four-door saloon with three side windows, designed by Claus Luthe, NSU's chief designer, who had also given the rotary-engined Ro 80 its shape.[2](https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/en/k-70-19701975-19700) The name carried NSU logic: the "K" stood for Kolbenmotor (piston engine), distinguishing it from the "Ro" rotary models, and "70" indicated a car smaller than the Ro 80.[6](https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/motoring/features/volkswagen-k70-5531417.html)
NSU, strained by the cost of building the Ro 80, accepted a takeover by Audi in March 1969. The [Volkswagen Group](https://www.edgepedia.org/volkswagen-group) thereby acquired NSU's entire vehicle range, including the K 70, which was almost ready for series production.[2](https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/en/k-70-19701975-19700) Volkswagen decided to sell it under its own mark rather than the NSU badge, keeping the NSU model designation.[6](https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/motoring/features/volkswagen-k70-5531417.html)
## Production and launch
The first K 70 left the assembly line at the new Salzgitter plant on July 1, 1970, and the car was presented to the public with the plant at a press conference on October 20, 1970; the German market launch followed in October 1970.[1](https://www.volkswagen-group.com/en/publications/more/volume-7-volkswagen-chronicle-1752/download?disposition=attachment) • [5](https://www.volkswagen-group.com/de/volkswagen-chronik-17351/1961-bis-1972-boom-und-krise-des-ein-produkt-unternehmens-17357) • [3](https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/de/pressemitteilungen/happy-birthday-k70-der-stille-gamechanger-wird-50-6513) The plant was built specifically for the K 70, and its engine shop in shed 1 employed more than 2,000 of the site's 5,108 workers at the end of 1970.[1](https://www.volkswagen-group.com/en/publications/more/volume-7-volkswagen-chronicle-1752/download?disposition=attachment)
For Volkswagen, building the K 70 required substantial change: sales staff and customers had to be convinced of the front-engine, water-cooled system, the rear-engined Types 3 and 411 had to be positioned alongside it, workshops needed a large set of special tools, and a new plant had to be constructed.[2](https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/en/k-70-19701975-19700) [Advertising](https://www.edgepedia.org/advertising) by Doyle Dane Bernbach introduced the car with the headline "Er ist da." ("It is here.").[5](https://www.volkswagen-group.com/de/volkswagen-chronik-17351/1961-bis-1972-boom-und-krise-des-ein-produkt-unternehmens-17357)
## Design and engineering
The K 70 carried a 1.6-liter four-cylinder water-cooled OHC engine, developed on the basis of the engine from the NSU 1200, mounted longitudinally at the front and driving the front wheels.[2](https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/en/k-70-19701975-19700) • [4](https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/en/vehicle-data-k-70-profile-19702) Two outputs were offered at launch, 55 kW (75 PS) and 66 kW (90 PS) with twin carburettors.[2](https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/en/k-70-19701975-19700) The engine could not be enlarged further in its original form, so in 1973 Volkswagen redesigned the block, increasing the bore to 87 millimeters by modifying the cooling channels; the resulting 1,800 cc unit produced 74 kW (100 PS) in the K 70 S/LS and replaced the 90 PS version.[2](https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/en/k-70-19701975-19700)
The suspension used independent wheel suspension all round with a trailing-arm rear axle, a long 2,690 mm wheelbase, and a 600-liter boot.[3](https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/de/pressemitteilungen/happy-birthday-k70-der-stille-gamechanger-wird-50-6513) • [2](https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/en/k-70-19701975-19700) Safety features included a reinforced passenger cell, crumple zones front and rear, a fuel tank in a protected rear position, and standard preparation for seat belts at all seats.[3](https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/de/pressemitteilungen/happy-birthday-k70-der-stille-gamechanger-wird-50-6513)
## Annual changes
- **1970**: Planned estate and hatchback variants were dropped to avoid multiplying similar vehicles within the group.[2](https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/en/k-70-19701975-19700)
- **1971**: From August, bumpers shared with the [Audi 100](https://www.edgepedia.org/audi-100) and seat backs from the [Volkswagen Type 4](https://www.edgepedia.org/volkswagen-type-4) were adopted; a diagnostic connector was fitted, and a right-hand-drive version became available.[2](https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/en/k-70-19701975-19700)
- **1972**: The bonnet was flattened to reduce the drag coefficient, the 90 PS version received a longer gear ratio, the L model gained halogen twin headlights, and an automatic start system replaced the manual choke.[2](https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/en/k-70-19701975-19700)
- **1973**: The 100 PS K 70 S/LS arrived; a special K 70 LS with side stripes, a matt black rear panel, and sports steel rims was built in only 5,000 units.[2](https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/en/k-70-19701975-19700)
## Market performance
The K 70 was advertised as allowing a top speed of 158 km/h, and the 1.8-liter version just exceeded the psychological 160 km/h mark.[5](https://www.volkswagen-group.com/de/volkswagen-chronik-17351/1961-bis-1972-boom-und-krise-des-ein-produkt-unternehmens-17357) • [7](https://www.autoweek.nl/autotests/artikel/toen-volkswagen-aan-de-middenklasse-begon-te-ruiken-volkswagen-k70-vs-opel-rekord/) Contemporary tests criticized its fuel consumption, which ranged between 11 and 14 liters per 100 km, a consequence of the angular body's drag coefficient of 0.52.[8](https://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/oldtimer/vw-k-70-typ-48-1970-1975/)
Sales were modest by Volkswagen standards. The car competed internally with the VW 411, similar in size, and the Audi 100, similar in appearance, both of which had an 18-month head start; the arrival of the Passat and [Audi 80](https://www.edgepedia.org/audi-80) in 1973 crowded the range further.[6](https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/motoring/features/volkswagen-k70-5531417.html) Production ended in January 1975 after 211,127 units.[2](https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/en/k-70-19701975-19700) The Salzgitter plant's car assembly ceased in September 1975 amid the recession, by which time the site had produced more than 400,000 vehicles, of which the K 70 accounted for 210,891.[1](https://www.volkswagen-group.com/en/publications/more/volume-7-volkswagen-chronicle-1752/download?disposition=attachment)
## Significance
Despite its modest volume, the K 70 marked Volkswagen's transition from air-cooled rear engines to water-cooled front-engine, front-wheel-drive models, a concept later established successfully by the Passat and Golf.[3](https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/de/pressemitteilungen/happy-birthday-k70-der-stille-gamechanger-wird-50-6513) In the 1970s it was regarded as a model for space efficiency and all-round visibility, and Claus Luthe's angular, clear-lined design influenced later Volkswagen models such as the Golf and Polo.[9](https://medienportal.autostadt.de/en/w/volkswagen-k70-ist-klassiker-des-monats-automobile-mit-besonderen-geburtstagen-im-jubilaeumsjahr-der-autostadt) • [3](https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/de/pressemitteilungen/happy-birthday-k70-der-stille-gamechanger-wird-50-6513)
## References
1. [Volkswagen Chronicle, Volume 7, Volkswagen Group](https://www.volkswagen-group.com/en/publications/more/volume-7-volkswagen-chronicle-1752/download?disposition=attachment)
2. [K 70 (1970–1975), Volkswagen Newsroom](https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/en/k-70-19701975-19700)
3. [Happy Birthday K70! Der stille Gamechanger wird 50, Volkswagen Newsroom](https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/de/pressemitteilungen/happy-birthday-k70-der-stille-gamechanger-wird-50-6513)
4. [Vehicle data K 70 profile, Volkswagen Newsroom](https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/en/vehicle-data-k-70-profile-19702)
5. [1961 bis 1972 – Boom und Krise des Ein-Produkt-Unternehmens, Volkswagen Group Chronicle](https://www.volkswagen-group.com/de/volkswagen-chronik-17351/1961-bis-1972-boom-und-krise-des-ein-produkt-unternehmens-17357)
6. [Volkswagen K70, The Independent](https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/motoring/features/volkswagen-k70-5531417.html)
7. [Volkswagen K70 vs. Opel Rekord Autotest, AutoWeek](https://www.autoweek.nl/autotests/artikel/toen-volkswagen-aan-de-middenklasse-begon-te-ruiken-volkswagen-k70-vs-opel-rekord/)
8. [VW K70 (Typ 48, 1970 bis 1975) Kaufberatung, auto motor und sport](https://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/oldtimer/vw-k-70-typ-48-1970-1975/)
9. [Volkswagen K70 ist Klassiker des Monats, Autostadt Media Portal](https://medienportal.autostadt.de/en/w/volkswagen-k70-ist-klassiker-des-monats-automobile-mit-besonderen-geburtstagen-im-jubilaeumsjahr-der-autostadt)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Technology and the built world › Transport and spaceflight › Road transport › Automobiles › German automobile models › Volkswagen models*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 15, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 15, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license