In 1986 Volkswagen introduced all-wheel drive on the Golf Synchro. Four years later, the Wolfsburg brand decided to market a model that could take full advantage of the off-road capabilities of this system and the Golf II Country was born. To produce the Country, Volkswagen sent Synchros to Steyr-Daimler-Puch in Graz, Austria, where the cars were raised 12cm to a total ground height of 18cm. The suspensions were modified as well as various body elements, such as the bumpers. The engine was the 1781cc 98hp at 5400 rpm. The Country was produced for only two years, in 1990 and 1991, just before the transition to the third generation. Only 7735 examples were marketed; even rarer is the Chrome version, with chromed bumpers and revised passenger compartment, produced in approximately 550 units.