Volkswagen California Concept: the brand previews the first details of its new "camper"

Today the Volkswagen California is one of the most sought-after and requested leisure vans, a result of the long tradition of camper conversions that the German brand began 35 years ago, when in 1988 it presented at the Caravan Salon held in the German city of Essen the first California, which arrived as a special motorhome model based on the Transporter T3.

This first Volkswagen California was available to order with only two body colours, with a redesigned interior that even included an American-style kitchen in white and grey. Together with the details and solutions, the robustness that characterised the Transporter and its price, this led around 28,000 drivers to choose it. Thus was born the seed that would bring us the California up to the present day.

In 1990 the Transporter T4 arrived, bringing a technical revolution that consequently improved the California version. Until then, Volkswagen engineers had used rear-mounted four-cylinder boxer engines driving the rear axle in the Transporter, switching to inline engines (except in the more powerful petrol versions, which were V-type) mounted at the front, with drive also passing to the front axle. This meant new running gear, new engines, a new design and, more importantly, much more space, especially in the rear, making it the compact motorhome that offered the most at the time.

The Transporter T5 later followed, also with its corresponding California version, faithful to the original concept but incorporating new solutions such as a bed with a slatted base integrated into the pop-up roof, camping chairs that could be stored on the rear tailgate, or a camping table integrated into the sliding door. In 2017 the California T6 succeeded it, introducing numerous safety and assistance systems and setting a sales record. In 2019 the current generation arrived, the California 6.1, much more technological and connected.

This brings us to the Volkswagen California Concept, the next generation of the popular compact motorhome, which the brand will present at the Caravan Salon held in Düsseldorf at the end of this month. For now there are many unknowns regarding the next generation of the California, but Volkswagen has already revealed that it will take the long-wheelbase Multivan as its reference, with new solutions for camping enthusiasts, and will be even more connected and intelligent, with the interactive “Cali on Tour” app as its main feature. The next California will also embrace more sustainable technologies with the introduction of plug-in hybrid powertrains, and we will see whether these will still be accompanied by conventional engines.