Closely related to Volkswagen's T7 Multivan, the all-new California has been revealed with much pomp and circumstance. It joins the Caddy California, the slightly larger California 6.1, and the Grand California. The latter is based on the Crafter, which is the largest van produced by Volkswagen.
First and foremost, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles hasn't offered any pricing information for the California T7. The order banks will open for European customers in June 2024, with first deliveries to be carried out in the second half of 2024. This, in turn, makes the California T7 a 2025 model. As we sit here, patiently waiting for the German automaker to confirm the starting price, bear in mind the Caddy California and the Multivan T7 start at €35,604.80 and €53,604.80 in Germany.
Extremely similar in exterior design and interior appointments to the California Concept shown at the Caravan Salon trade fair in Dusseldorf back in August 2023, the MQB-based camper van is the first Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles camper van to be offered with all-wheel drive in combination with a plug-in hybrid setup. It's also the first California to feature two sliding doors as standard.
In the first instance, Volkswagen will offer five versions with a standard pop-up roof, those versions being the Beach, Beach Tour, Beach Camper, Coast, and Ocean. The Beach flaunts a manual pop-up roof and seating for six, as well as enough space for two people to sleep under said roof. The pop-up roof's bed measures 2,054 by 1,137 millimeters.
Beach Tour sweetens the deal with rotating and height-adjustable seats for the driver and front passenger, folding chairs in the boot lid, lighting for the pop-up roof, sliding windows for the sliding doors, and the camper van control unit. Said control unit comprises a 5.0-inch touchscreen display integrated into the front passenger-side C pillar. The Beach Tour also stands out by means of an additional 40-Ah camper battery and an additional mattress that can be folded into a luggage shelf.
Photo: Volkswagen
California Beach Camper is a five-seat affair with a 230-volt shore power connection and a kitchen module that comprises a gas cooker, a cutlery drawer, and some additional storage space. California Coast means two individual rear seats, a fresh water tank, an exterior folding table, a kitchenette on the driver's side, a second camper van battery, plus a fold-out bed.
Last but not least, California Ocean stands out from the California Coast by means of Melange Raven recycled seat fabric with California embroidered onto the backrests, heating for the driver and front-passenger seats, Climatronic, an auxiliary air heater, a roof storage box, and kitchenette lighting.
As for the oily bits, prospective customers have a choice between TSI and TDI muscle. The gasser is good for 204 ps or 201 mechanical ponies, while the sensibly more frugal diesel engine is rated at 150 ps or 148 mechanical ponies. These powerplants cannot be had with 4MOTION all-wheel drive. That's exclusive to the plug-in hybrid, which combines the 1.5 TSI evo2 with an electric motor.
It puts out a combined 245 pferdestarke (242 horsepower), and it enables a maximum towing capacity of 2,000 kilograms (4,410 pounds), therefore mirroring the maximum towing capacity of the Multivan. VW hasn't said a word in regard to the California eHybrid 4MOTION's driving range.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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