Abstract: A relatively high strength dual phase steel for a cold-rolled or hot-rolled steel strip with excellent forming properties, in particular for lightweight vehicle construction, contains the elements (contents in mass-%): 0.1 to <0.16 of C, 0.02 to <0.05 of Al, 0.40 to <0.60 of Si, 1.5 to <2.0 of Mn, <0.020 of P, <0.003 of S, <0.01 of N, 0.01 of Nb, 0.02 of V, remainder iron including common incidental steel elements with optional addition of Ti. The demanded dual phase microstructure is produced during continuous annealing, wherein the cold-rolled or hot-rolled steel strip is heated in the continuous annealing furnace in a one-step process to a temperature in the range of 820 to 1000° C., preferably 840 to 1000° C., and the annealed steel strip is then cooled down from the annealing temperature with a rate of cooling between 15 and 30° C./s.