PR: Volkswagen Announces the Golf K2
(November 12, 1996)

Graphic: Volkswagen ®

AUBURN HILLS, Mich.-- In a move that could defrost the "cold war" between snowboarders and skiers -- at least get them to a snowy summit -- Volkswagen is introducing a special alpine version of its Golf model, complete with either skis or a snowboard as standard equipment. Volkswagen calls this limited edition model the Golf K2, a car that incorporates the name of the famous U.S. ski manufacturer and gives customers a choice of K2 skis or a K2 snowboard. It also comes equipped with a custom roof rack system designed specifically for Volkswagen.

The Golf K2 is a special winter version of Volkswagen's popular five-door hatchback that has been Europe's top seller for nearly two decades. Special styling cues set it apart from other Golfs. Available in Tornado Red, Candy White and Black, the Golf K2 adds special "Siesta" style wheel covers, a roof-mounted whip antenna, front fog lights and special K2 badging.

What makes this partnership such a natural fit is that Volkswagen's and K2's target audience share nearly the same demographics, mindset and attitude," said Steve Keyes, Volkswagen's project manager for special models. "As a matter of fact, skiing and snowboarding are at the top of the list of activities for Volkswagen buyers."

Keyes said Volkswagen will use print and TV advertising to promote the Golf K2 during the fall and winter, satirizing what has always been an uneasy on-slope relationship between snowboarders and skiers.

"They don't agree on anything: music, clothes ... even their slang is different. And yet they are forced to share the same slopes," said Keyes. "We hope that by offering the Golf K2 with either a snowboard or skis, we can show both groups they can live in harmony."

Inside, the Golf K2 also distinguishes itself with a special limited- edition "Spirit" cloth interior, custom carpet floor mats, and sport instrumentation gauges with silver faces. Special cold weather features include heated front seats and heated windshield washer nozzles. Power side mirrors include automatic defog. All-season tires complete the package.

Audio entertainment is also standard on the Golf K2 with a premium, eight- speaker cassette AM/FM radio.

Skiers who decide on the Golf K2 will get a pair of K2 El Camino skis from K2's New School Series -- a new generation of ski designed for a highly energetic, athletically radical style of skiing. With its hourglass design, the K2 El Camino is an all-mountain, free-carving ski for high speeds on hardpack and off-piste.

Snowboarders catch a ride on one of K2's most popular professional boards, the K2 Juju with Clicker BLT bindings. The K2 Juju uses a double glass cap, vertical lamination, metallic top sheet, and an ultra light wood core with the shortest tip/tail in the K2 line. Perfect for freestyle riders, the Juju offers more predictable take-offs and landings and carves a smooth and solid edge.

The MSRP for the Golf K2 is $14,275. A quintessential world car, the Volkswagen Golf's appeal goes well beyond its renowned versatility: it's also a lot of fun to drive. It is powered by a newly refined 2.0 liter four- cylinder, overhead cam engine that produces 115 horsepower and 122 ft. lbs. of torque for responsiveness across a wide rpm band. Precise handling you would expect in a car bred for the autobahn comes by way of power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering and a four-wheel independent suspension system that employs Volkswagen's unique track-correcting bushings -- a feature designed to minimize unwanted steering effects from the rear wheels during cornering. Other notable features include dual airbags, power central locking and an anti-theft alarm system.

The Volkswagen Golf K2 is on sale now.