The previous-generation California was undoubtedly a huge success, with over 200,000 sold up to 2024. It changed little internally over T5, T6 and T6.1 generations from its launch in 2005, although cab and engine spec improved to match customer demands and environmental legislation. It would have been easy, therefore, for VW to simply repeat the recipe in the new Transporter, the joint venture van produced at Ford’s factory in Turkey.
We first got a glimpse of the future of Volkswagen’s own in-house camper at the August 2023 Caravan Salon Düsseldorf, where the California Concept broke cover. Instead of being built on the Transporter, here was a California based on the Multivan people-carrier.
In fact, until recently, the California (offered in Beach Camper, Coast and range-topping Ocean specs) was the only…
