Base 2020 VW California Beach Camper Gains Hideaway Mini Kitchen

As part of the world premiere of the facelifted California 6.1 camper van at the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf (August 31 – September 8), Volkswagen has announced that the base Beach model will, for the first time, come as standard with a mini kitchen.

Previously, this was reserved for the more exclusive Coast and Ocean trim levels, but now the base Beach grade will get one as well. However, unlike the large row of kitchen units in the Coast and Ocean, the Beach offers a completely reworked fold-out mini kitchen.

By saving space compared to the broader kitchen in the Coast and Ocean, the facelifted California Beach can be ordered with a three-seater bench. This opens up the possibility for families of five to go camping with it and have an onboard kitchen as well.

Also Read: Facelifted 2020 VW Multivan Detailed, On Sale This Fall From €31,000

When not needed, the hideaway mini kitchen is stowed in the side panel between the B- and C-pillars. To use it, you just pulled it up and slide it out. The stainless steel unit has a single-hob gas cooker on the left and a worktop on the right.

There is also a cover plate over the gas cooker that, when lifted up for cooking, serves as a splashback. Under the hotplate/worktop against the side wall there’s a large, open storage compartment and an enclosed compartment for the 1.8 kg gas bottle.

VW will continue offering a California Beach without a mini kitchen and with passenger car type approval. It will carry the “Tour” designation to help customers differentiate it from the one with mini kitchen and motorhome type approval which will be named the Camper.

Another difference between the two models will be the fact that the California Beach Tour will offer two sliding doors as standard (on the left and right). Finally, both California Beach models gain a new digital camper control unit in the roof console as standard and hydraulic operation of the pop-up roof as an option.

Prices in Germany for the California Beach Camper start at €48,795.95 (approximately $53,940).