The “California” identify alone makes it appear as if Volkswagen is trolling us. The corporate that introduced us one of many first tenting prepared vans, the Microbus, and later iterations of the Vanagon and even the underrated Eurovan, sells a van purpose-built for tenting and residing out of, calls it the “California,” appears to be like on the booming marketplace for overlanding autos and camper vans within the US, and nonetheless refuses to promote it right here. It’s as in the event that they haven’t heard of #vanlife.
That is significantly annoying as a result of VW simply launched particulars concerning the latest model of the California van, and it appears to be like near-perfect. The setup is an offshoot of the Transporter van, which you’ll’t purchase within the US, most likely the rationale they received’t promote the California right here both—extra on that in a second—and the brand new California is the T6.1 model.
In addition to the ingenious camper-friendly and little question camper-designed guts of this factor, there are two essential bits of envy-inducing particulars to share: all of them include a 2.Zero-liter diesel engine, and you may have one with AWD.
Primarily it’s as for those who took a Vanagon Westy Syncro and modernized and electrified all the pieces and gave it a torquey, fuel-efficient diesel motor. This factor would promote like hotcakes within the US.
You would contemplate this a “sensible camper.” A complicated management system handles issues just like the onboard fridge, lighting programs, and the pop-up tent. All of which is displayed and operated by means of a clean-looking show above the windshield. There’s even a setting that exhibits the van’s angles when parked, serving to the driving force dial in essentially the most degree tenting place with out having to eyeball it or use a line degree.
That is the “Ocean” trim — every trim degree will get a beach-y themed identify.
Much better than the tactic I take advantage of when leveling, the ole’ drive over a rock and eyeball it.
If desired, perhaps on a chilly and gray morning, when excessive privateness is needed, or simply to maintain out a soul-penetrating early mun solar’s glare by means of the home windows, you may set an alarm that may steadily increase the inside LED lights to imitate the dawn.
The within is styled out in wooden and aluminum trim, which feels like one thing out of a hipster farm-to-table restaurant, however appears to be like clear and applicable right here. There’s a two-burner range, the entrance captain seats swivel, the rear bench seat reclines, the tables stow simply for enormous quantities of flooring house.
So why can’t we get this factor right here? Nicely, it’s exhausting to say precisely, however appears to be that VW doesn’t assume there’s a sufficiently big market within the US and that potential patrons would balk on the value. The bottom mannequin begins at almost $50okay, with out transport expenses, which, certain that’s some huge cash. However persons are climbing over one another to drop twice that on a Sprinter van, shopping for far, much more van most really need, and Mercedes isn’t complaining. If reminiscence serves, the Eurovan has all the time been a very costly van too, and VW has offered loads of them within the US.
Good, with out being too flashy. That rear bench seat reclines too.
Two adults can match up right here, really, with a second mattress down beneath.
Michigan radio interviewed the press relations professional at VW, Christian Buhlmann, just a few years in the past when the California first debuted and right here’s what he needed to say about retaining the van out of the US:
“It’s both love ’em or hate ’em. Individuals who these days nonetheless drive a T2, T3, T4, you identify ‘em – these vans that we used to have till the 2000s – most of them are lovers that run these autos in excellent climate circumstances. These are people who find themselves hardcore followers for this section, however they’re simply too few to justify making a brand new model of this just for this market.
“The second downside is presently we make these vans in Europe, and even with the rising greenback and weaker Euro share, it isn’t sufficient models to make up for an inexpensive value. We’re promoting vans, very well-equipped vans with four-wheel-drive, with kitchenette, with all the pieces that you really want for costs of $50,000 and up, which isn’t the place the market right here is, or the place the tenting market is. There’s an RV market, true, however these RVs are a lot bigger in measurement than what we presently provide.
“Let’s say you’re taking your common camper van and also you’re going to Italy, take a U.S. van, you wouldn’t be capable to entry all these little alleys, these streets that they’ve – you’ll be caught.
So that you want one thing compact to be able to get the place you wish to go. Over right here, the place all the pieces is accessible, even for big RVs, there may be simply not this demand. Subsequently, folks within the majority would somewhat go for one thing greater, in the event that they’re in search of RVs.”
Buhlmann went on to clarify that VW is conscious folks love vans within the US, however they’d have to promote 200,000 models to make it worthwhile, economically. Due to their small market share, VW doesn’t assume they’ll do it. Ford can promote boatloads of Transit vans, for instance, however they’re one of many Massive Three, to allow them to promote a ton of something they make. VW must be extra selective.
So, we get the, uh, Tiguan. Europe will get the California. Nice.
Nicely, California vans have often been noticed within the US, so perhaps, simply perhaps some enterprising van lover can get their arms on one. Or simply transfer to Europe. Within the meantime, VW is promising the electrical new bus, the “ID Buzz” will hit US sellers in 2022.
The parents at Jalopnik did a pleasant walkaround of final 12 months’s mannequin that’s extra illustrative of what this van can do than the inventory VW pictures above. Test it out beneath.
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