Volkswagen K70

VW K 70 (1970-1975)

The VW K 70 was the first Volkswagen developed with a front - line engine, front-wheel drive and water cooling systems and was developed by NSU. He came in the summer of 1970 to the market and marked the first major break in automotive technology at Volkswagen.

Model history

Development at NSU

After a board resolution of the NSU Werke AG began on January 12, 1965 under the direction of NSU development chief Ewald Praxl and later head of the design department Claus Luthe the development of a sedan with a notchback and four doors and an estate version with three doors that the larger NSU Ro should complement 80.

On July 30, 1965, the first draft of the Combined done ( contrary to the original design with four doors) and was led into the work file under the working title "Type X I". Due to a foreseeable trend shift NSU made ​​in October 1965 to a so-called fastback body on the basis of the NSU Type 110 or NSU in 1200 with the designation study I 77. Simultaneously, a successor to the Type 77, which was "Type X II", with two doors, front engine and front wheel drive. Parallel to this development the NSU designers worked on the new model " type X III " or 70 K (where " K " stand for piston or reciprocating as opposed to " ro " for rotary piston in the NSU Ro 80 with a Wankel engine ).

Built by VW in Salzgitter new work

The presentation of the K 70 was planned for March 1969 to mark the International Motor Show in Geneva. Shortly before the NSU AG was taken over by VW and canceled the show in Geneva - as the K 70 would have shown an in-house competition to the then new Audi 100 also.

Protests potential buyer against this measure were for VW reason to reverse the decision and bring the car as a VW model on the market. In the fall of 1970, the vehicle was presented after minor changes under the name VW K 70 and built in the newly built factory in Salzgitter. The already completed draft of the station wagon version was not implemented, as to the in-house VW 411 Variant should not be a competition model arise.

The K 70 ( VW internal designation: Typ 48) set new standards for passenger cars offer the Volkswagen plant. Thus the space of only 4-door sedan was not only compared to the VW Beetle or the VW 1600 extremely generous, but it was also larger than the comparably priced, but about 7 cm longer VW 411 There was a large trunk in the rear ( volume 585 l, measured with blocks of 200 × 100 × 50 mm), the all-round visibility was due to the large windows very good, lot and parking were easy, because thanks to the relatively high seating position, the body limits were also to look good. The heating of the water-cooled 70 K was more effective than non- VW - models with air-cooled rear engine.

Trendsetting concept

The water-cooled front-engine, front-wheel drive sat down at VW a few years later as a technical concept guiding through ( from 1973 VW Passat and 1974 the VW Golf I).

The K 70 possessed - as Citroen, Audi and the Ro 80 - via internal front disc brakes on the transmission housing. Although the reduced unsprung masses, but made ​​it difficult to access for maintenance. Rear drum brakes were fitted with a Radialverrippung for heat dissipation. For passive safety of the car had a bent steering column; the tank was in the protected area underneath the passenger compartment in front of the rear axle. The hood was chipped to improve crash safety front. Belts cost charge, which is essential for retrofitting threaded sockets were standard.

In order to achieve a favorable weight distribution of the longitudinally -mounted engine was arranged inclined to the right on the common housing of the gearbox and differential, so that the entire drive lay over the front axle. In addition, this type of construction, clutch and transmission enabled independently of the engine build.

There was the K 70 with 1.6 -liter engines and a power of 55 kW ( 75 hp ) or 66 kW (90 hp) and from 1973 ( K 70 S / LS) with 1.8 liter displacement and 74 kW (100 hp). The derived from the engine of the NSU 1200 units with 1.6 liter had a five -bearing crankshaft and an overhead camshaft with chain drive. A further development of the VW was later offered 1.8 -liter engine. With the end of production of the K 70 and the production of the engine was set - the engines for the Passat, Scirocco, Golf and Polo have been newly developed or acquired by Audi ( EA827 ).

The 75 -horsepower engine of the K 70 could be operated with normal petrol, but had a high consumption. The more powerful 1.6 - liter engine with 90 hp and the 1.8 -liter engine required premium gasoline and offered better performance, but consumed - due to a relatively high standards for the time vehicle weight ( 1060 kg empty) and the angular shape of the front end - likewise much fuel. In a test of 70 K with 90 - PS-1 ,6 -liter engine 12.5 l/100 km on average were determined ( October 1970 ); the top speed was 159 km / h A later test ( December 1970 ) returned an average fuel consumption of 14.1 l/100 km, which was possibly due to a non-optimal setting of the Solex twin carburettor.

From August 1970 to February 1975 211.127 pieces were produced. Due to its special status ( no common parts with other vehicles of the Group ) had become unprofitable manufacturing. With its " two-story " motor gear unit and the elaborate rear trailing link axle he was already expensive to manufacture. There was no official successor; The Passat was ranked a class below, and was the successor of the VW in 1600.

Facelift

Due to the relatively short construction period of 70 K the visible facelift measures were low:

  • From August 1971 bumpers of the then current Audi 100 were assembled, recognizable by the rubber pad.
  • As of August 1972, a larger wind deflector made ​​under the front bumper for improved cooling of the brakes and - along with a slightly modified bonnet - for improved aerodynamics. The L- model was equipped with dual halogen headlights. A year later, all K 70 received a modified steering.

Rear view

Specifications

Literature and sources

  • Auto, motor und sport. United Motor Publishers, Stuttgart, folders 18, 22 and 26/1970
  • VW brochure 24025.061.19008.00 8/72
  • Volkswagen Chronicle An idea makes history. Volkswagen public relations, 375.802.194.00
  • Car models. Catalogue 1970/71, United Motor Publishers, Stuttgart
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