Volkswagen shows us how the new generation of its California looks, an iconic model that, between a car and a motorhome, now boasts more space, details, and a plug-in hybrid engine.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles presents the new generation of the bestseller of which more than 280,000 units have been manufactured: the new California. Orders will open in June and the first units will arrive in September.
It is based on the long version of the Multivan. The model has been redesigned from all angles. It gains in size and is now more spacious and versatile. Unlike the current T6 model, the new California measures 5.17 meters in length (+27 cm), 1.94 m in width (+4 cm), and 1.99 meters in height (no changes). The wheelbase increases by 12 cm to 3.12 meters. With the roof closed, the interior height is 1,297 mm; with the pop-up roof open, it increases to 2,108 mm.
Despite its many changes, the brand retains the characteristic details of the California, such as the pop-up roof and the interior full of details. It is a very versatile vehicle, as it can be easily transformed into a motorhome for long trips and, for the first time, all models will be available with two sliding doors as standard.
Much more practical
The new California will be offered with the “Beach”, “Beach Tour”, “Beach Camper” versions (with a mini kitchen in the rear) and “Ocean” (with a complete kitchen on the driver’s side). The vehicle’s expansion with this generational change has allowed, in addition to an increase in interior space, the integration of new storage spaces. Instead of a rear bench, the rear seats are now individual and removable (24 kg each) for greater modularity. They have, like the front seats, drawers under the seats.
In the Beach Tour trim level, the vehicle is equipped with a 5-inch touchscreen integrated in the C-pillar on the passenger side. This tablet allows you to control equipment like interior lighting, the refrigerator, or the auxiliary heating, but also access information like water tank fillings and camping battery charge levels. These functions can also be accessed from a specific smartphone app or through the van’s multimedia system.
The California Beach Camper is already approved as a classic motorhome. Like the “Beach Tour”, it is a five-seat motorhome, but with the addition of a compact mini kitchen and a 230-volt power outlet. The kitchen, equipped with a single burner gas hob, a cutlery drawer, and other storage spaces, is located in a fixed module in the cargo area.
The California Ocean, on the other hand, with four seats, comes standard with the exclusive fabric of the “Mélange Raven” seats made from recycled material (the “California” logo is embroidered on the front seat backs), heating in the driver’s and passenger’s seats, auxiliary air heating, automatic air conditioning (“Climatronic”), a large overhead storage compartment above the cargo area, and ambient lighting in the kitchen unit.
Zero Emission label for the California
Technically, all new Californias are based on the innovative MQB platform and, therefore, on the current Multivan in its long version. Thanks to the MQB base, the new California is equipped with a wide range of assistance systems, increasing its safety and comfort. These range from a lane-changing assistant to the “Travel Assist” system, which allows for semi-automated driving for greater comfort on long trips.
In terms of engines, it will be available with three different systems. Without electrification, it features a 150 hp direct injection turbo diesel (TDI) and a 204 hp direct injection turbo gasoline engine (TSI), both with front-wheel drive. As a novelty, it adds the plug-in hybrid version (eHybrid) that develops a power of 245 hp. The new California is the first MQB model from the Volkswagen Group that combines the plug-in hybrid powertrain with 4MOTION all-wheel drive, and its towing capacity is up to 2,000 kg. All versions are paired with a dual-clutch automatic transmission.
