Volkswagen has unveiled the seventh generation of the California, a camper van derived from the long-wheelbase version of the MQB-based T7 Multivan that launched back in 2021. The new California, which was first presented in a concept last August, will go on sale in June 2024. Delivery is scheduled for the second half of the year.
In terms of drive technology, the California is available with two four-cylinder engines, including a TDI diesel with 150 hp (148 hp or 110 kW) or a TSI petrol engine with 204 hp (201 hp or 150 kW) – both drive the front wheels.
New for the California is an eHybrid plug-in hybrid setup with a 1.5-litre TSI evo2 petrol engine, an electric motor, a battery and the company’s 4Motion all-wheel drive system. Exact performance figures weren’t provided, but the company says the California eHybrid is “the ideal companion for all globetrotters, winter campers and campers with a boat or bike on a trailer.”
Due to its multivan roots, the California is larger than its predecessor – the California 6.1 – measuring 5,173 mm in length, 1,941 mm in width (excluding wing mirrors), 1,901 mm in height and a wheelbase of 3,124 mm.
As standard, all versions of the California (we’ll get to that in a moment) come with a pop-up roof and sliding doors on the left and right sides to make loading items easier. According to Volkswagen, the interior height of the former is 1,297 mm with the roof closed and rises to 2,108 mm with the pop-up roof open. The pop-up roof has a front window and a large front opening as well as two side windows in the bellows (all with mosquito nets).
With this equipment, owners can use their California as an open-air terrace for the first time and can optionally order an awning for the left or right side if they want some protection from rain or too much sun.
Also new to the California are individual seats instead of a bench in the rear, which, according to Volkswagen, allow “expensive bicycles” to be stored in the interior. Of course, you can adjust the seats according to your personal wishes, e.g. B. fold over to form a bed.
Speaking of versions: There are five versions available for the California: Beach, Beach Tour, Beach Camper, Coast and Ocean. Each one is equipped with special equipment to suit the campers’ different lifestyles. The Beach has six seats, including 2+2 individual seats in the second and third rows. There is also a mattress for two people under the pop-up roof, which can be opened and closed manually with an easy-to-use mechanism.
The Beach Tour is similar to the Beach, but also has rotating and height-adjustable driver and front passenger seats, two ergonomic folding chairs in the trunk lid, lighting in the pop-up roof and sliding windows in the rear doors. This variant also has a five-inch touchscreen in the C-pillar on the passenger side, which provides access to all camper van functions. Users can also do the same via the in-car app on the infotainment system or via the California smartphone app.
In contrast to the Beach, the Beach Tour is a five-seater with three individual seats in the rear, whereby the two outermost seats can be folded completely back to create two additional sleeping spaces – there is also an additional fold-out mattress on board. A lithium iron phosphate camper battery (LFP) with 40 Ah energy capacity is also included in this version.
Next, the camper is also a five-seater, but has a mini kitchen including 230V power, a single-burner gas stove, a cutlery drawer and additional storage space in the cargo area. This kitchen unit can be pulled out to the rear when the tailgate is open, but otherwise remains inside to protect it from the weather.
The next step up is the Coast, a four-seater that gets a full kitchen on the driver’s side and an additional camper van battery for 80 Ah energy capacity. According to Volkswagen, the redesigned kitchen unit with cupboards, sink and single-plate gas stove offers a similar amount of space as the unit in the previous California model, but does not protrude as far forward.
After all, the Ocean is still the flagship of the California and comes as a four-seater with exclusive equipment. This includes the Melange Raven seat fabric made from recycled material and with embroidered California lettering on the backrests of the front seats.
The luxury variant also receives seat heating for the front seats, an auxiliary air heater, the Climatronic automatic climate control, a roof storage compartment and backlighting in the kitchenette. In addition, Ocean and Coast will receive a larger fresh water tank with a capacity of 28 liters, five more than before. Both also have an outside folding table and an additional 230 V socket.
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