Volkswagen is ready to unveil the new California Concept on August 25 at the Caravan Salon trade fair in Dusseldorf, previewing a Multivan T7-based production model for 2024. While VW only showed us a single sketch, our spy photographers spotted the camper during testing without any sign of camouflage, revealing its exterior design before the official debut.
No sane camper owner would take their California to the Nurburgring, but VW engineers have to test the handling abilities of the new variant before it is ready for production. The black-painted prototype has a number of upgrades compared to the standard Multivan T7, making it better suited for camping.
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Exterior changes are focused on the roof extension, featuring a pop-up tent and extendable awnings on each side. Predictably, the campervan is based on the long-wheelbase Multivan T7, taking full advantage of the 5,173 mm (203.7 inches) long bodywork. Interestingly, the prototype looks ready for production with smaller-than-usual alloy wheels and chrome accents around the bodywork, meaning that the concept will most likely be nearly identical to the final product.
The heavily tinted windows prevent us from peaking inside, which is exactly what you want in a campervan. The cabin is expected to come fully equipped with amenities for cooking, eating, sleeping, and chilling, plus plenty of storage compartments. VW showed sketches of a tablet-style touchscreen that will give access to all of the controls (temperature, lighting, etc). We don’t know how many people will be able to sleep inside the California Concept but our educated guess would be anywhere between 2 and 4 individuals thanks to the pop-up roof.
VW has confirmed that the MQB-based California Concept will come fitted with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. This will allow it to drive in silent zero-emission mode in campsites, reserving its petrol tank for long-distance travel without the need for charging stops.
The current Multivan T7 eHybrid (PHEV) comes fitted with a 1.4 TSI petrol engine, a 6-speed DSG, a single electric motor, and a 10.4 kWh battery. It remains to be seen if the California Concept will upgrade to the newer setup featuring the 1.5 TSI engine, a 7-speed DSG, a single motor, and a larger 18.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The latter which can also be found in the PHEV variants of the upcoming next-gen Tiguan and Passat, allows a significantly longer electric range of around 100 km (62 mph) between charges.
The California Concept’s debut coincides with the celebrations for the 35th anniversary of the introduction of the nameplate. The T7 PHEV will be the latest addition to the California family next to the similarly-sized T6.1, the smaller Caddy, and the larger Crafter. Following the debut of its first electrified campervan in 2024, the automaker will focus on the upcoming fully electric ID.Buzz California, which is expected to debut in the second half of the decade.
