- The new VW California is 10.5 inches longer than the previous model and leaves enough space for two sliding doors and a kitchenette.
- The model is offered with enough beds for four people as well as awnings to create outdoor living spaces on both sides of the vehicle.
- A PHEV powertrain ensures purely electric driving on short journeys.
The Volkswagen California is back and has more doors and batteries, making it a better RV than ever. Offered in five tent variants with impressive technology and enough space for four people, it is sure to be a staple at campsites across Europe.
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Based on the VW Multivan, the new California will benefit from either a diesel four-cylinder engine with 148 hp (110 kW / 150 hp), an inline four-cylinder petrol engine with 201 hp (150 kW / 204 hp). or, for the first time ever, a plug-in hybrid powertrain that produces 241 hp (180 kW / 245 hp) and can tow up to 2,000 kg (4,409 lbs). The all-electric range of the powertrain has not yet been announced, but a concept version of the California offered 25 miles (40 km) of silent driving.
Read: The good night package transforms the VW Multivan into a bedroom on wheels
The new California is 203.6 inches (5,173 mm) long and 76.4 inches (1,941 mm) wide, making it 10.5 inches (269 mm) longer and 1.4 inches (37 mm) wider than its predecessor, which for provides additional comfort in the interior. When folded, the tent is 1,990 mm (78 inches) high, making it suitable for parking garages. However, when the tent is folded up, the occupants enjoy a headroom of up to 2,108 mm (approx. 2.10 m).
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Standard in the California range, the pop-up tent offers sleeping space for two people with a large front door and side windows (all with mosquito nets). The bellows can be finished in one of three colors: Toffee Brown, Glacier Blue or Basalt Gray. Additionally, optional awnings can be installed on either side of the vehicle to create two outdoor living spaces as the California now features sliding doors on both sides.
That’s pretty much all you get in the base model California Beach, which comes with six seats. From the Beach Tour trim level onwards, the camper van is also equipped with swivel front seats as standard to transform the cabin into a living room. It also has a touchscreen on the C-pillar that controls the interior lighting and other camping functions, which can also be controlled via a smartphone app.
The California Beach Tour also comes with an additional camping battery (40 Ah LiFePo), and the seats can be converted into a platform for a fold-out mattress, thus providing sleeping space for two additional people. Importantly, the above models are classified as passenger cars, which means they can be driven by anyone with a normal driving license.
On the other hand, the Beach Camper and higher-equipped models are approved as motorhomes. This classification means that they include a compact mini-kitchen with a single-burner gas cooker and a pull-out cutlery drawer that can be accessed and used under the open tailgate.
The California Coast model, on the other hand, is equipped with a kitchenette with cabinets, a sink and a 7.3 gallon (28 liters) water tank. The model also has a second camper battery and a refrigerator, but is only equipped with four seats. The California Ocean has the same camping amenities, but residents benefit from additional amenities such as heated seats, additional air conditioning, backlighting in the kitchenette, nicer upholstery and more.
Prices for the new VW model have not yet been announced, but pre-sales for the new Transporter are scheduled to start in June 2024. The first deliveries will take place in the second half of the year. The California Camper is offered in 11 solid colors and four two-tone (top/bottom) options: Mono Silver/Energetic Orange metallic, Deep Black Pearl/Fontana Red metallic and Candy White solid/Starlight Blue metallic.
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