New VW California T6 camper van opens its doors ~ station of gear

Volkswagen's latest generation of camper van is unveiled with European specs, set for release later in 2015 with new tech and features

2015-06-15 10:55

After the debut of the Volkswagen T6 Transporter van earlier this year, we've now got our first glimpse of the VW van that lifestyle fans have been waiting for. The new Volkswagen California Camper has been unveiled and is set for release at the end of the year.

We're awaiting full UK specs of the new California, but like the Transporter this is more of an evolutionary step than a complete overhaul. But neat features include LED daytime running lights, plus the option of full-LED headlamps to give it more of an upmarket look. Grilles and bumpers are tweaked all-round, but the exterior remains faithful to the old T5 version.

• Best panel vans to buy now

The new California will be available in three trim levels, dubbed 'Beach', 'Coast' and 'Ocean' in a nod to its traditional popularity with surfers and outdoor enthusiasts. But even the entry-level car gets space for seven adults to travel and five to sleep in comfort, with space maximised by the familiar manual pop-up roof and seats that swivel, fold and lift out altogether. A foldout table and chairs are handily integrated into the tailgate.

Image 4 of 6

Mid-spec 'Coast' adds aluminium storage units trimmed in pale wood and loses two seats, with the usual kitchenette featuring a gas hob, sink and fridge taking the extra space. Fully-loaded 'Ocean' adds auxiliary heating and a climate-controlled cabin, double glazing and neat kit such as an electric roof and ambient lighting. The California's trademark feature, a fold-out camp bed in the pop-out roof, is retained. There's even a new 'Multi-functional holder' that is a cupholder, ashtray and towel rail all-in-one.

We know the latest safety tech, such as a Driver Alert tiredness detection system, post-collision braking and adaptive cruise control. Engines, now just the 2.0-litre TDI diesel in states of tune from 83bhp to 201bhp, are now Euro-6 compliant, with stop-start and the usual Bluemotion tech contributing to a 15 per cent improvement in efficiency. It's not clear yet which units will be available in the California as yet, but we expect the entry-level units won't be able to handle its extra bulk.

Let us know what you think of the Volkswagen California in the comments section below...

Lawrence Allan

Thank you for reading the article about New VW California T6 camper van opens its doors in blog station of gear If this article was helpful please bookmark this page in your web browser by pressing Ctrl + D on your keyboard keys.