It is a camping legend and so popular, even when used, that it is almost unaffordable: the VW California. Now the New California has celebrated its world premiere – and it does many things even better than its predecessor. Always with two sliding doors, always with individual seats instead of a back seat and optionally as a partially electric all-wheel drive vehicle.
The VW New California is based on the 5.17 meter long version of the Multivan (predecessor: 4.90 meters) and therefore offers more space than ever before and probably more of a car feeling than ever before. Right down to the assistance systems, which optionally include Travel Assist, which is intended to provide relief on long journeys with automated driving. There are a total of five variants in different “camping escalations”, all with a pop-up roof including a large front opening and now all with two sliding doors : Offer “Beach”, “Beach Tour”, “Beach Camper” (with a mini kitchen in the rear) as well as “Coast” and “Ocean” (each with a full kitchenette on the driver’s side). With the roof closed, the interior height is 1.30 meters and the exterior height is 1.99 meters as before. The roof bed basically measures 2.05 by 1.14 meters and is equipped with disc springs. Thought out down to the last detail. For the first time, an awning can be ordered either for the left or right side. Thanks to the individual seats, bicycles can be transported inside. The seats are removable and weigh 24 kg each. There are drawers underneath and in the driver and front passenger seats. Numerous 45-watt USB-C interfaces supply mobile devices. From the “Beach Tour” version onwards, all California are equipped with a completely newly developed camper control unit in the C-pillar on the passenger side. All camper functions can be controlled and checked via the display. Alternatively, they can be operated via the infotainment system or via a smartphone app. All LED and ambient lighting in the interior can be switched off together with a quick double tap on one of the numerous light switches. Diesel, petrol, plug-in hybrid The drive is freely selectable and always linked to a dual clutch transmission: a diesel with 150 hp, a 204 hp petrol engines – each with front-wheel drive – and the “eHybrid” with a system output of 245 hp are available. This is the first MQB model to combine plug-in hybrid drive with all-wheel drive. It also has the highest trailer load of up to two tons.The California variantsCalifornia Beach: The entry-level model is the California Beach with car registration – it is basically a multivan with a manual pop-up roof. It offers six seats (2+2 individual seats in the second and third row) and two sleeping spaces under the roof.California Beach Tour: The second expansion stage. It – and this connects it with the “Beach Camper”, “Coast” and “Ocean” – comes standard with a rotating and height-adjustable driver and passenger seat, two ergonomically optimized folding chairs in the tailgate, lighting in the pop-up roof ( including a gooseneck light and 45-watt USB interfaces), sliding windows in the left and right sliding doors as well as the newly developed camper control unit (screen) in the C-pillar on the passenger side. The “Beach Tour” also has an additional camper -Battery on board (40 Ah LiFePo). The five-seat New California Beach Tour is equipped with three individual seats in the rear; The backrests of the two outer rear seats can be folded back completely – unlike in the “Beach” and Multivan. This creates the prerequisites for two additional sleeping spaces to be created in the living room. The California Beach Tour also has an additional fold-out mattress (1,980 x 1.33 m) on board, which rests on the folded down individual seats and is folded compactly as a luggage rack in the trunk when not in use. The “Beach Tour” also has car registration. From the “Beach Tour” version onwards, all New Californias also have a folding table on board (locked in the cargo area while driving).California Beach Camper: With motorhome approval. Like the “Beach Tour”, it is a five-seater, but is also equipped with a compact mini kitchen and a 230-volt shore power connection. The kitchen with a single-burner gas cooker, cutlery drawer and additional storage space is located in a permanently installed module in the cargo area. For use, the kitchen is pulled out to the rear with the tailgate open (at the same time as a rain cover).California Coast: Motorhome approval. The four-seater California Coast is equipped with two individual seats in the rear, a full kitchenette on the driver’s side and a second camper battery (a total of 2 x 40 Ah LiFePo). The same applies to the “Ocean”. The kitchenette was completely redeveloped. One of the differences from its predecessor is the fact that, thanks to the greater external length of the New California, the kitchen block with cupboards, sink and single-burner gas cooker offers a similar amount of space as its predecessor’s counterpart, but does not protrude as far forward. And that has numerous reasons Advantages: There is still space for entry and exit through the sliding door on the left; Taller drivers have significantly more scope for optimal seat adjustment; The driver’s seat, which is now also height-adjustable, can also be rotated completely through 180 degrees; and there is space for the refrigerator, which opens as a drawer at the front like the Grand California. The latter can not only be used better, but can also be operated from outside the vehicle in order to load and unload breakfast or chilled drinks. The fold-out bed in the living room measures 1.98 by 1.06 m. When unfolded, it lies on the right of the folded seats and on the left on a step integrated into the kitchenette.California Ocean: Still the top model in the series. Compared to the “Coast”, the “Ocean”, which is also four-seater, is equipped with numerous additional standard details, including heated seats for the driver and front passenger seats, independent air heating, automatic climate control (“Climatronic”), a large roof storage compartment above the load space and ambient lighting in the kitchen block. The fresh water tank of the “Coast” and “Ocean” is now five liters larger and has a capacity of 28 liters. Both versions also have a practical outdoor folding table (can also be used inside and as an extension of the worktop) and another 230-volt socket with shore power to the outside for an electric cooking area. Pre-sales for the New California begin in June 2024, with the first deliveries scheduled for the second half-yearly.
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