Later this month, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles will present the California CONCEPT which previews the future of the most successful camper van of all time. The production version will start rolling out of the carmaker’s factory in Hanover in 2024.
The California is a model line that goes to 1988 when a special camper van model based on the T3 generation of the Transporter was launched.
Available in Beach, Coast and Ocean versions, it gave freedom on wheels and of course, the ‘California’ name also gave the image of the carefree lifestyle of the Golden State in America.
The California concept, based on the long Multivan, reinforces the dual concept of a van that is ideal for day-to-day use but can also transform into a camper van. For the first time, it will have a plug-in powertrain which will allow for quiet and emission-free electric propulsion as well – without range anxiety.
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. Then available to order two colours – Pastel Whit and Masala Red – the interior had a cleanly designed white-grey kitchenette.
The camper van was priced attractively and with clever details and the robust technology of the Transporter van, it 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 3 years.
Changing everything around – literally
The change from the T3 to the T4 in August 1990 was equivalent to a technical revolution. After 4 decades of rear-wheel drive Transporter vehicles with 4-cylinder flat engines, the commercial vehicle specialists changed everything around – literally,
They moved the engine forward and it was the front wheels that were powered. This also required changing virtually everything else. With a new design, the running gear and the engines, there was now significantly more space, especially in the rear.
The California T4 made perfect use of this extra room, providing more usable space 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”, a reference to that well known Eagles song and the West Hollywood hotel featured in it.
Like its predecessor, the California T4 was yet another hit, selling around 39,000 units by 2003 before it was time for a new generation.
New dimension for compact camper vans
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 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 took sales to a new level: In 2017, the T6 California broke the record of the model series with 15,155 new registrations in just one year. By August 2019, more than 175,000 California vehicles had been built.
A smarter California
The California 6.1 as the current model is known, has continued the success story of the Volkswagen model. 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 is transformed into a screen in tablet format and shows a new smart side of this camper van.
To know more about Volkswagen models available in Malaysia, visit www.volkswagen.com.my.