Volkswagen California Concept 2023

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Cita

35 years of freedom on wheels: Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles presents the future of the model series with the California CONCEPT

 

• The concept vehicle for a new generation of the California camper van will receive its world premiere at the Caravan Salon trade fair (25 August – 3 September) in Düsseldorf
• The future generation of the California will continue to be fully produced in Hanover
• The premiere of the first California “made in Hanover” also took place exactly 20 years ago at the Caravan Salon

 

In 1988, the first California based on the VW Bus (T3) made its global debut at the Caravan Salon trade fair. Exactly 35 years and 260,000 vehicles built later, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWCV) is once again presenting a world premiere at the industry’s biggest event in Düsseldorf: the California CONCEPT – a look ahead to the future of the model series. The production version of this new California generation will also be built in Hanover from 2024.

 

California CONCEPT – everything new so that everything stays the same. For many, the California Beach, Coast and Ocean models are already the epitome of freedom on wheels. With the California CONCEPT, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles will provide a glimpse into the future of the most successful camper van of all time for all visitors to the Caravan Salon trade fair in Düsseldorf (25 August – 3 September 2023). Based on the long Multivan, the California of tomorrow is once again unique in its class. Additional innovative ideas also reinforce the dual concept of a van that is ideal for day-to-day use but also transforms into a camper van fit for any adventure in next to no time. After all, it is not just the outstanding driving characteristics of the Multivan launched in 2021 combined with 35 years of experience that make it the ideal camper van for our times: for the first time, the California CONCEPT also offers the advantages of plug-in hybrid technology for even more flexibility and a remarkable level of comfort on the road. It is powerful, economical and stands for future-oriented and responsible mobility with its all-electric range. At the same time, its long-distance suitability provides security when driving away from major traffic routes. It is therefore not just the neighbours on the campsite who will enjoy the hybrid drive as the vehicle glides silently past them.  And it goes without saying that this camper van will also be “smart”. In conjunction with the interactive “Cali on Tour” app, the current California 6.1 is already one of the most advanced vehicles in the segment. The concept vehicle will be presented at the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles stand in Hall 16 (D52-01).

California – a way of life. The California is more than just a camper van, it is a motoring way of life, an ambassador for freedom. Over four generations, more than 260,000 units of this compact camper van have been sold to date. They all have one important detail in common: the pop-up roof. A tent at a height of almost two metres. And as one secret that can be revealed before the world premiere, that is why the California CONCEPT will of course be on show in Düsseldorf with a pop-up roof.

Looking back – 35 years of the California. The history of the California began in 1988 with a special camper van model based on the T3 generation of the Transporter. Later that same summer, this first California was showcased at the Caravan Salon trade fair (still held in Essen back then). It was available to order in the two colours “Pastel White” and “Masala Red”. The interior designers demonstrated their sense of style with the cleanly designed white-grey kitchenette. The camper van cost DM 39,900. The attractive price, clever details and robust technology of the Transporter van immediately made the California a bestseller – 5,000 units were sold already in the first year. In the years that followed, the California evolved from a special model into its own model series, becoming increasingly popular and winning over 22,000 camper van drivers in just three years.

The change from the T3 to the T4 in August 1990 was equivalent to a technical revolution. After four decades of rear-wheel-drive Transporter vehicles with four-cylinder flat engines, the commercial vehicle specialists simply turned everything on its head: They moved the engine forwards and powered the front axle from there. This changed everything: the design, the running gear, the engines and the space available. There was now significantly more space, especially in the rear. And the California T4 made perfect use of this extra room: providing more space to travel than any other camper van of that time. The slogan on the adverts for the market launch was: “Hotel California. A quiet location, comfortable equipment, panoramic views guaranteed”, taking its reference from the Eagles song and the West Hollywood hotel featured in it. All in all, the California T4 was yet another hit, selling around 39,000 units by 2003.

The California based on the fifth generation of the Transporter introduced a new dimension of comfort for compact camper vans. However, this California also remained true to the innovative space concept of the original model. By 2015, around 55,000 camper enthusiasts had opted for a T5 California, which had long since become the most successful camper van in its class. Details such as the bed with slatted mattress base integrated into the pop-up roof, the camping chairs stowed in the tailgate, or the camping table clicked into the sliding door gave the California its reputation as the Swiss army knife for campers. The California based on the sixth generation of the Transporter followed in 2015; with its numerous assistance systems, it took sales to a new level: In 2017, the T6 California broke the record of the model series with 15,155 new registrations in one year.

On 30 August 2019, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles presented the California 6.1 – of course at the Caravan Salon. More than 175,000 California vehicles had been built by this time. The new California 6.1 seamlessly continued the success story of its predecessors. One of its new features was a touchscreen in the roof console, which could be used to control all the main camper van settings and call up a wide range of information. On board the California CONCEPT, this display will be transformed into a screen in tablet format and show a new smart side of this camper van. And by the way: no one has ever claimed that a California should have only one sliding door. The Caravan Salon 2023 will certainly be exciting.

 

Cita

World premiere of the new California CONCEPT: concept vehicle provides look into the future of the camper van

 

At the Caravan Salon trade fair in Düsseldorf, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is presenting the world premiere of a concept vehicle, the California CONCEPT

The California Concept has grown: the extra length and width offer more living space, more comfort, safety and flexibility

The basic vehicle with two sliding doors creates a new three-zone concept with a kitchen that can be used from outside the vehicle, giving users the feeling of more living space

Significantly more flexible for everyday use and for camping thanks to more variable interior concept

New MQB technical platform enables use of eHybrid drive, improves ride comfort and offers more assist systems 

Camper van functions can be controlled via a new tablet-style control unit, the “Cali on Tour” app on a smartphone or the infotainment system

The California by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is a statement, a motoring way of life: a full-value VW bus suitable for every day of the year, which can also be converted into a fully-equipped camper van for adventures of any kind from one minute to the next. It is this versatility that has made the California the world’s most successful camper van in its class. And now – after selling 260,000 units of this product line – Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is presenting a world premiere of the new California CONCEPT at the Caravan Salon trade fair in Düsseldorf. The show vehicle opens a window into the future of this iconic vehicle. It features state-of-the-art powertrains and the latest assist and infotainment systems as well as the next generation of camper van equipment. The California CONCEPT is based on the long version of the Multivan launched in 2021, which makes it larger than its predecessor, the California 6.1. The show vehicle will be presented at the VWCV booth in hall 16 (D52-01).

 

A California for tomorrow
First things first: the California CONCEPT will also be equipped with a pop-up roof at a height of almost two metres. This element is shared by all generations – from the first California launched in 1988 to the California 6.1 of today. While the iconic details have remained the same throughout this time, each generation of this product line has featured brand new developments. And the new California CONCEPT marks yet another major step forwards. Its technical features make it the ideal camper van for the modern age. For the first time, the California CONCEPT offers the advantages of plug-in hybrid technology. The concept vehicle has a hybrid drive on board: with its electric range, it acts as a bridge to the world of electric mobility and is able to deliver emission-free driving for everyday urban life, while also offering huge overall ranges for long journeys. Lithium-ion batteries on board the vehicle provide an almost completely autonomous 12 V power supply.

Life in the great outdoors
The camper van’s living and kitchen areas have undergone a complete makeover. For the first time, this California is equipped with a sliding door on the kitchen side as well. This allows extended use of the space around the vehicle and adds a new dimension to summer camping in the great outdoors. In the past, all California models based on the Transporter series had a kitchen area stretching down to the B-pillar on the left-hand side and a sliding door on the right-hand side; this door was the main entrance – both in everyday use and when camping. The folding camping chairs, folding table and awning were therefore always also installed on the right-hand side of the vehicle. From now on, the addition of the extra sliding door on the driver side of the California CONCEPT and the kitchen area that now is now located further back in the vehicle – just like in the larger Grand California – mean that the left-hand side of the vehicle can now be opened up when camping. This means the California as a camper van is now more versatile than ever before. As the concept vehicle is fitted with a folding-arm awning on the left and a sun sail on the right, both sides of the vehicle can be protected from either sun or rain. The sun sail can be set up for use in a matter of moments. The awning also comes with an integrated crank, which is stowed safely in the awning housing.

Three-zone concept
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is presenting a three-zone concept for the first time with the show vehicle. These different exterior and interior scenarios for camping and day-to-day driving significantly expand the possibilities for use of the California.

Zone 1 (outside)
With its sliding door, the right-hand side of the vehicle provides a safe point of entry and exit on the pavement-side of the vehicle, just like in the current California 6.1. Loading and unloading the vehicle is therefore also easy and safe. On the campsite, the sun sail turns this area into an open-sided tent, enhancing the feeling of life in the great outdoors.

Zone 2 (inside)
Behind the height-adjustable front seats – which can rotate through 180 degrees – the entire vehicle interior is an ideal passenger compartment for day-to-day driving, offering the familiar flexibility of a Multivan. Compared with the current California, it is fitted with individual seats that are lightweight, removable and very comfortable. Thanks to these variable seats, boards and bikes can now easily be transported inside the vehicle. When used as a camper van, the California CONCEPT’s seating area can quickly be converted into a flat chill-out area or face-to-face seating for joint mealtimes or games. The solid rear bench seat in the California 6.1 therefore makes way for variable individual rear seats with bed functions in the California CONCEPT. The seats are upholstered with a hard-wearing and haptically pleasant fabric in Mélange design.

Zone 3 (outside)
Thanks to the additional sliding door on the driver side and the new concept for the kitchen unit and awning, a new outdoor area is created on the left-hand side of the vehicle – never seen before in conjunction with an outdoor kitchen in any other California. For day-to-day driving, the second sliding door provides an additional point of entry and exit and an additional loading option on the drive at home or at the supermarket. When camping, this also creates a separate area for cooking and eating and long summer evenings spent under the awning. That is because the kitchen – including the sink, sliding induction hob and refrigerator – is now also accessible from outside. In addition to the 230 V induction hob, there is also an integrated gas cooker familiar from previous generations of the van. A 230-volt socket on the outside of the kitchen and an external folding table add the perfect finishing touch for life at the campsite. The kitchen drawers can be accessed from both inside and outside. Another highlight is the compact grill, which is stowed in the kitchen unit and can be conveniently removed from outside the vehicle. Like in the Crafter-based Grand California, the refrigerator offers practical benefits as it can be accessed from outside and is equipped with a drawer: it now takes even less time to serve breakfast. What is more, fresh summer produce can be loaded straight from the shopping trolley into the refrigerator.
The second sliding door also offers a further advantage for right-hand drive markets like the UK, Australia and New Zealand, where users can now enter and exit the California safely on the pavement side. One thing is certain: the dual concept – use as a VW Bus for day-to-day driving and as a versatile camper van for leisure – has now been enhanced even further thanks to the new three-zone concept.

Intelligent interior design, right down to the last detail
The show vehicle’s interior design has been perfectly thought-out down to the last detail and offers a host of new features and benefits. It all starts at the front: since the Multivan is fitted with an electronic parking brake instead of a manual brake, the space between the driver and front passenger seat towards the rear can be put to much better use. Practical drawers under the front height-adjustable swivel seats and the individual seats at the rear also offer extra storage space. There is now space behind the driver or front passenger seat for items such as a removable dry-composting toilet. There is also plenty of storage space in the top and bottom kitchen cupboards, which are located behind the refrigerator. In addition, there a separate storage area under the bed extension. The vehicle interior is illuminated in pleasant light by all-round, dimmable background lighting in the roof frame. With a range of colours available, the background lighting on the cupboards can be adjusted to suit individual moods. To create the right atmosphere outside, the kitchen unit has an integrated removable table light to create a cosy feel around the camping table. If more light is needed, the LED lights on the awning arms bathe the vehicle’s “terrace” in pleasant light.

Pop-up roof and high-quality roof bed
A VW bus as a California without a classic pop-up roof is inconceivable. So the California CONCEPT is no different. It comprises a lightweight aluminium roof shell and a triple-layered bellows with a large panorama opening at the front. Large windows at the sides provide incredible panoramic views. Like in all California model, the highest position for the pop-up roof is at the front. USB-C sockets and LED lights provide power and light in the pop-up roof. A high-quality roof bed with spring plates also guarantees a good night’s sleep beneath the stars.

Controlled by a camper van control unit, smartphone or the infotainment system
The roof’s pop-up mechanism is controlled using a vertical, multifunctional tablet on the cupboard at the C-pillar. All of the features relevant for camping can be controlled on the touch display. In addition to the pop-up roof, this includes information on the fresh and waste water levels, the interior lighting functions including background lighting, power supply status, refrigerator and auxiliary heater. All of these functions can also be controlled on a smartphone using the “Cali on Tour” app or in the infotainment system. The infotainment system can also be used to access an inclination display that enables the camper van to be levelled.
However, the tablet does not just provide information about the vehicle, but can also provide good entertainment. For instance, it can be swivelled out on an articulated arm and positioned so that it is easily visible from every position in the passenger compartment. It can also be rotated by 90 degrees, meaning there is nothing in the way of an entertaining evening watching your favourite TV series.
The California CONCEPT shows that Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles will accompany all VW bus fans on their journeys across the world in the future as well thanks to its innovative camper van concepts. This future will become a reality in 2024 with all drive systems of the Multivan.

 

Modificato 24 Agosto 2023 da MotorPassion

[Beckervdo]

Ah beh... Se ne sentiva la mancanza 

[zio.luciano]

Tutto molto bello da comunicato stampa...
Ma che motore monta? Quanti millemila euro costerà?

[MotorPassion]

 

 

[Slowmattia]

bello è bello, ma con gli stessi soldi ci prendo un albergo al mare

[MotorPassion]