The following-generation Volkswagen California is coming to Australia, and can lastly provide one thing prospects abroad have loved for a while: a kitchen.
Volkswagen Australia confirmed it’ll launch the next-generation California with a alternative of both a five-seat format, or a four-seat format full with a kitchen.
The brand new California comes with twin sliding doorways, which has allowed Volkswagen to supply a model with each the kitchen and right-hand drive.
Volkswagen hasn’t confirmed when the California will arrive right here, however CarExpert expects it to reach no sooner than 2025.
The brand new Multivan it’s primarily based on, which strikes to the corporate’s MQB passenger automobile structure, is due right here within the fourth quarter of 2024.
The corporate has to date solely proven the California, in (just about production-ready) idea kind, at this yr’s Caravan Salon commerce truthful in Düsseldorf and revealed its “three-zone [living] idea”.
In zone one, the first sliding door discovered on the right-hand aspect of the car is sheltered by an overhead awning. This promotes quick access to the outside and rear of the van “enhancing the sensation of life within the nice outdoor”.
Zone two encapsulates the inside of the van, which has up to date seating preparations. The entrance seats are top adjustable and might swivel 180 levels.
That is complemented by new particular person rear seats that are “light-weight, detachable and really snug”. The pliability of the detachable seats permits the rear of the van to be configured for passenger seating, carrying bigger objects akin to bikes, or became a “flat chill-out space”.
Zone three incorporates a kitchen that has been moved rearward and is now extra accessible by new sliding doorways. The kitchen boasts a 230V induction cooktop, built-in gasoline cooker, drawers, sink and fridge, all of which could be accessed from each inside and out of doors.
Along with zone residing, the California idea additionally incorporates a pop-up roof managed by way of a tablet-style interface on the C-pillar.
This will also be used to verify the recent and waste water ranges, management lighting, and verify the facility provide standing, but it surely will also be used to play media.
The pop-up roof incorporates a light-weight aluminium roof shell and triple-layered bellows, with a big opening up entrance and USB-C retailers and LED lights inside.
This new platform allowed Volkswagen to debut the California idea with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, which is a primary for the mannequin.
Within the Multivan, the PHEV drivetrain pairs a 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with an electrical motor and a 13kWh lithium-ion battery.
The system produces a complete of 160kW of energy, despatched to the entrance wheels by way of a six-speed dual-clutch computerized transmission.
Volkswagen hasn’t launched vary figures for the California. Nevertheless, the T7 Multivan has a claimed 50km of electrical vary primarily based on the WLTP cycle.
The corporate has confirmed the brand new California will probably be obtainable with “all drive techniques of the Multivan”.
Volkswagen Australia has to date confirmed solely a 110kW/360Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine for the Australian-market Multivan at launch, although it says one other, as-yet unspecified powertrain will comply with in 2025.
MORE: Volkswagen California idea plugs in for electrified adventures
