Volkswagen has revealed the seventh-generation California, a camper van derived from the long-wheelbase model of the MQB-based T7 Multivan that launched again in 2021. First previewed by a idea final August, the brand new California will go on sale in June 2024, with deliveries set to happen within the second half of the 12 months.
By way of powertrains, the California is on the market with two four-cylinder engines, together with a TDI diesel making 150 PS (148 hp or 110 kW) or a TSI petrol with 204 PS (201 hp or 150 kW) – each drive the entrance wheels.
New for the California is an eHybrid plug-in hybrid setup that includes a 1.5 litre TSI evo2 petrol engine, an electrical motor, a battery and the corporate’s 4Motion all-wheel drive system. Precise energy figures weren’t supplied however the firm says the California eHybrid is “the perfect companion for all globetrotters, winter campers and campers with boats or bikes on a trailer.”
Given its Multivan roots, the California is bigger than its predecessor – the California 6.1 – and measures in at 5,173 mm lengthy, 1,941 mm broad (with out exterior mirrors), 1,901 mm tall and with a wheelbase of three,124 mm.
As customary, all variations of the California (we’ll get to these quickly) include a pop-up roof in addition to sliding doorways on the left and proper sides to make it simpler to load gadgets. On the previous, Volkswagen says the inside top is 1,297 mm when the roof is closed, and will increase to 2,108 mm when the pop-up roof is open. The pop-up roof comes with a entrance window and huge entrance opening as well as two aspect home windows within the bellows (all with mosquito nets).
With these options, homeowners can use their California as an open-air terrace for the primary time, with an elective awning out there for order for the left or proper aspect if they need some safety in opposition to rain or an excessive amount of solar.
One other new facet of the California are particular person seats as an alternative of a bench seat within the rear, which Volkswagen says permits “costly bikes” to be saved inside. You’ll be able to after all modify the seats to fit your private desire, like folding them all the way down to type a mattress.
On the subject of variations, there are 5 out there for the California, particularly Seaside, Seaside Tour, Seaside Camper, Coast and Ocean. Every one comes with particular gear to swimsuit totally different camper existence, with the Seaside having six seats that embody 2+2 particular person seats within the second and third row. There’s additionally a mattress that matches two folks beneath the pop-up roof that may be opened and closed manually with an easy-to-operate mechanism.
The Seaside Tour is just like the Seaside however provides on rotating and height-adjustable driver and entrance passenger seats, two ergonomic folding chairs within the boot lid, lighting within the pop-up roof and sliding home windows within the rear doorways. This variant additionally comes with a five-inch touchscreen within the C-pillar on the passenger aspect, which gives entry to all camper van features. Customers also can do the identical by way of the in-car app on the infotainment system or through the use of the California smartphone app.
In contrast to the Seaside, the Seaside Tour is a five-seater with three particular person seats within the rear, with the 2 outermost ones capable of fold again fully to create two extra sleeping areas – there’s additionally a further fold-out mattress on board. A lithium iron phosphate (LFP) camper battery with 40 Ah of power capability can also be included with this model.
Subsequent up, the Camper can also be a five-seater however comes with a mini kitchen that features a 230V energy provide, a single-ring gasoline cooker, cutlery drawer and extra space for storing within the load compartment. This kitchen unit may be pulled out to the rear when the tailgate is open however is in any other case stored inside to guard in opposition to the weather.
The following step up is the Coast, a four-seater that will get a full-fledged kitchen on the driving force aspect and a further camper van battery for 80 Ah of power capability. Volkswagen says the redesigned kitchenette, which options cupboards, a sink and a single-ring gasoline cooker, affords comparable area to the unit fitted within the California’s predecessor, however doesn’t protrude as far ahead.
Lastly, the Ocean is the flagship model of the California because it has been up to now and comes as a four-seater with unique options. These embody Melange Raven seat material made out of recycled materials and with California lettering embroidered onto the backrests of the entrance seats.
The luxurious choice additionally will get seat heating for the entrance seats, an auxiliary air heater, Climatronic automated air-conditioning, a roof storage field and background lighting within the kitchenette. The Ocean and Coast additionally get a bigger recent water tank with 28 litres of capability, which is 5 greater than earlier than. Each even have an exterior folding desk and a further 230V energy socket.
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