The California is an iconic campervan. After producing more than 280,000 units of this best-selling model, Volkswagen has launched the seventh generation of California campers. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles naturally retains key California details, such as the pop-up roof and well-planned interior, down to the smallest detail. Of course, New California is also the ideal Volkswagen bus for everyday use, and a campervan for the ultimate journey of life at all times. Now, all of this is even more successfully achieved with the latest powertrain, assistance and infotainment systems, as well as a new campervan architecture.
For the first time ever, all California vehicles will come standard with two sliding doors, providing more options for use. Another debut in New California is the plug-in hybrid all-wheel drive system. This means that campervans temporarily become electric while allowing for a longer overall driving range. Future pre-sales for New California and the most successful camper ever, will begin in June.
Beach, Coast & Ocean – The Ideal Camper for Every Situation Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles will be available in New California Beach, Beach Trips, Beach Campervans (with mini kitchens in the rear), and Coast & Ocean versions (each with a full kitchenette on the driver's side). This means that the complete range of campervans can once again meet the most diverse needs and living situations. New California is also one of the three pillars of the German automaker's largest range of campervans; It is located between the smaller Caddy California and the larger Grand California. Within this overall range, New California is the perfect all-rounder, perfectly combining the functions of a multi-purpose Volkswagen bus and a multi-purpose camper for everyday use.
Always equipped with a pop-up roof, always with two sliding doors All versions of the New California feature a pop-up roof with a front window and a large front opening, as well as two additional side windows in the bellows (both with mosquito nets). Another common feature is the sliding doors on the left and right sides – in California 6.1, this feature is only available on the front passenger side in the Coastal and Marine Gear Package. So, in everyday life, New California can now be loaded and unloaded from both sides. For the first time, the sides of the vehicle can also be used as open-air terraces when traveling. An optional awning can now be ordered for the left or right side to keep out rain or excessive sunlight.
There's also a new feature: individual seats in the rear instead of long seats in the rear. In other words, expensive bikes can now be ridden inside, and the seats can also be positioned individually according to personal preference. Last but not least, starting with the Beach Tour version, all New California vehicles also feature a brand new camper control unit at the passenger-side C-pillar. All campervan functions can be controlled and checked via the display. Alternatively, these functions can be operated via the corresponding in-car app on the infotainment system and the California app on the smartphone. A small technical detail shows how thoughtful New California has been in every aspect: Simply double-click one of the many light switches to turn off all LEDs and background lighting in the car at the same time – a feature that is not often found even in luxury hotels.
Multivan is New California's state-of-the-art foundation From a technical standpoint, all New California vehicles are based on the innovative Modular Lateral Matrix (MQB) platform and are therefore based on the current long-wheelbase version of the Multivan. The campervan is 5,173 mm long (former: 4,904 mm); The width without exterior mirrors is 1,941 mm (former: 1,904 mm). Including the lowered pop-up roof, the height is 1,990 mm, which is the same as its predecessor, which means that it once again fits into multi-storey car parks.
spans between axles up to 3,124 mm; This ensures that there is more space on board than the predecessor. With the roof closed, the interior height is 1,297 mm; When the pop-up roof is opened, this height increases to 2,108 mm. Thanks to the MQB platform, New California is equipped with a variety of driver assistance systems that provide additional safety and comfort – from braking features for oncoming vehicles when cornering to travel assistance systems that provide semi-autonomous driving assistance for an enhanced driving experience. Comfort for long drives.
First California with Plug-in Hybrid Drive and 4MOTION A new feature of California is the new plug-in hybrid drive (eHybrid) with a system output of 180 kW (245 PS). The New California is the first Volkswagen Group MQB model to combine a plug-in hybrid drive with a 4MOTION all-wheel drive system.
Plug-in hybrid drives allow New California to temporarily transform into electric vehicles for everyday use. The combined efficiency of the electric motor and the high-tech TSI (1.5 TSI evo2) also allows for a long total driving range and a maximum trailer weight of up to 2,000 kg. This makes the New California eHybrid 4MOTION the ideal companion for all globetrotters, winter campers, and campers using bikes on a boat or trailer.
Three-Zone Concept In New California, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles presents a new three-zone concept for campsites with two sliding doors. The spacious interior and the space to the left and right of the sliding doors merge to create a living space surrounded by nature in the summer.
Zone 1 – New California's Living Area: Behind the height-adjustable front seats – swivel 180 degrees (from beach trips and beyond) – the entire interior of the vehicle is the ideal passenger compartment for everyday driving, offering familiar flexibility. Thanks to these variable seats, skateboards and bikes can now be easily transported on board. When used as a campervan, New California's seating area can be quickly converted into a flat recreation area or face-to-face seating for shared mealtimes or games. As a result, the sturdy rear seats of the predecessor of New California gave way to variable individual seats weighing only 24 kg. Thanks to the pop-up roof, the vehicle has an impressive maximum headroom of 2,108 mm.
Zones 2 & 3 – New California's Terraces: Sliding doors on the right side of the vehicle provide a secure entry and exit point on the sidewalk side of the vehicle, just like the predecessor. As a result, loading and unloading vehicles is also simple and safe. At the campground, this area enhances the feel of outdoor living, just like the previous California 6.1. The highlight, however, is that the new California also has a sliding door on the driver's side that opens to create additional exterior space.
Since the kitchen and fridge (which can also be accessed from the outside) are located on this side, the area is likely to be used for dining or spending the evening – almost like a terrace. To maximize variability, an awning can be ordered for the right or left side of the vehicle. For example, if one side of the kitchen is used as an awning, a sun sail can be set on the right side to open up the area for playing or reading in the shade. There is no doubt that the option of using this vehicle as a Volkswagen bus for daily driving or as a multi-purpose camper for leisure is now further enhanced thanks to the two sliding doors.