Longer, higher, smarter: VW is expanding the T7 Multivan into a “California” motorhome. The new edition of the camper van classic is to increase significantly in terms of driving comfort, variability and homeliness. The California Concept study at the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf is now giving a very concrete foretaste of the leisure van. The production model will celebrate its premiere next spring and will be on the market in August.
At the premiere in the run-up to the leading camping fair, VW’s commercial vehicle boss Carsten Intra describes the mobile home study as a “real apartment on wheels”. A new living and sleeping concept finally turns the camper into a mobile three-room apartment. And at a comparatively spacious one: on a floor space of 5.17 by 1.94 meters and with a height of almost two meters, it offers a noticeably more airy feeling of space than the predecessors of the California family. Because the T7, unlike the T6 van, is based on the flatter car chassis, it gains headroom in particular. Because the California will always have two side sliding doors in the future, the kitchenette module can now be used on both sides. Because you should also be able to get into the vehicle from the left sliding door, it was shortened slightly. Cooking is done in the classic way with gas or, with an external power supply, with induction or on a contact grill. The four individual seats inside can be positioned as usual to form a seating group, and the two at the back can be converted into beds. The pop-up roof offers a second double bed. There is also an outdoor shower under the tailgate, which also houses the camping furniture. As usual, VW does not have an on-board toilet.PHEV, diesel and petrol enginesThe drive in the study is an unspecified plug-in hybrid. A revised version of the 1.4-liter e-hybrid currently available in the Mutlivan should be available in the series variant. As an alternative, at least the 2.0-liter diesel and a pure petrol engine will probably be used. The assistance systems of the Multivan car are also available in the California. VW has not yet announced prices for the T7 California. In view of the move from the van to the car platform, however, they should at least rise slightly. The T6.1 California is currently on the price list as the “Ocean” basic model for just under 100,000 euros. At best, however, there are still remaining items available – the motorhome is already sold out before the announced end of production next year. VW has alternatives in its range in the form of the smaller Caddy California and the California XL based on the large Crafter transporter. Whether the electric ID.Buzz will also come onto the market in a motorhome variant in the second half of the decade remains to be seen.
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