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Volkswagen California
Volkswagen
aka Type aka here, not up there
Production produced from when to when+total units made (optional)
Class Van
Body Style how many doors+how many seats+what type of body
Length length - type here
Width Width - type here
Height Height - type here
Wheelbase wheelbase - type here
Weight Weight - you get the point
Transmission transmission + drive
Engine engine
Power N/A hp @ N/A rpm
N/A lb-ft of torque @ N/A rpm
Similar similar (competition)
Designer Designer (lead designer if it was a team effort)

The Volkswagen California is based on the T5 Multivan by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWCV). It is the first campervan designed and built in-house by VWCV Special Business Unit, a subsidiary of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.

The "California" name was previously used by Volkswagen for the Westfalia-built campervans since 1988. Westfalia was the Official Manufacturer of motorhomes for VW. When the Westfalia company was bought by DaimlerChrysler in 2001, VW decided to build and design their own campervan range, based on the legendary Transporter range.

The California launched in August, 2003. In 2004 two design studies were presented at the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf: California Beach and California Tramper. VWCV expanded the range in 2005 with the California (Multivan/Kombi) Beach, to bridge the gap between the Multivan/Kombi people carriers and the California.

At the 2007 Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf, VWCV launched the new California Beach with pop top bed, as seen in the of the California range.[1]

See Autopedia's comprehensive Volkswagen California Review.

Recent Changes[]

  • The 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show will play host to the unveiling of a facelifted and minor repackage of the T5 family', including the Transporter, Caravelle, Multivan and California. Aesthetically, the facelift focuses on the front fascia, reshaped to bring it into line with Volkswagen's current corporate face. Other updates include a range of common rail TDI engines, new rear-light clusters, more aerodynamic side mirrors, touchscreen navigation, USB connectivity, updated ESP, 4MOTION AWD and a hill-start assist feature. Plus, a manual gearbox can be optioned. Speaking of the new turbo diesels, the 2.0 TDI can be selected with four different power outputs:
    • 62 kW (84PS) and 220Nm of torque @ 1250rpm
    • 75kW (102PS) and 250Nm of torque from 1500rpm
    • 103kW (140PS) and 340Nm of torque @ 1750rpm
    • 132kW (180PS) and 400Nm of torque @ 1500rpm feat. two-stage charger with bi-turbocharging technology

All the engines have a particle filter and all will be attached, standard, to a 7-speed DSG dual clutch gearbox (unless the aforementioned Manual is specified). [1]

Styles and Major Options[]

VW California (Multivan/Kombi) Beach[]

  • ABS brakes
  • Acceleration Slip Regulator (ASR) - a traction control system
  • cruise control
  • air conditioning
  • power front windows
  • heated doors and mirrors
  • remote central locking
  • CD player with 6 speakers
  • alloy wheels with full size spares
  • dimmable dashboard illumination
  • storage nets[2]here.

Bedding The "Good Night Package" comes with curtains, and the ability to fold the seats into a bed for two.[2]

Indoor/outdoor features A folding table integrated within the sliding door is able to be used outside and inside with two folding chairs.

Combined with the rear seats, the front seats swivel 180 degrees, so you can have a meeting/meal/break with the rear seat passengers.[2]

Other options California Beach now has the option of the elevating "pop top" aluminium roof, with bed space of 120x200cm in Germany.[3]

VW California specs & features[]

  • satellite navigation system
  • 3 Zone Climatic airconditioner
  • alcantara and leather upholstery
  • 6 disc CD changer
  • single seat for living area
  • parking sensors for front and rear
  • rain sensing wipers
  • auto dimming rear view mirror
  • headlamp washers
  • electric sliding door
  • privacy glass for rear
  • removable towbar
  • 4motion four-wheel drive system[4]

Bedding The California comes with an electro-hydraulically elevating aluminium roof with bed space of 120x200cm.

The rear seating in the California can be arranged to make lower level double bed measuring 200x114cm.[4]

Kitchen The kitchen comprises a sink, a two burner gas cooktop powered by a 2.8 kg gas cylinder, a 42 litre compressor fridge, two kitchen storage cupboards with drawers integrated in the design are also standard.[4]

Indoor/outdoor features A standard fitment twin water tanks both hold 30 litres of water, one for drinking water, the other for foul/waste water.

There is an optional 250 cm awning which mounts above the sliding door, and a foldaway table and two chairs are hidden in the tailgate hatch.[4]

Pricing[]

Add more fields as necessary.

MODEL Trims
Trim1 Trim2 Trim3 Trim4
MSRP
$Price1 $Price2 $Price3 $Price4
Invoice
$Price1 $Price2 $Price3 $Price4

Gas Mileage[]

Add more fields as necessary.

As seen on the FuelEconomy.gov website, the City/Highway MPG averages are as follows:

Trim
Trim1 Trim2 Trim3 Trim4
MPG
c/h c/h c/h c/h

Engine and Transmission[]

Specifications, details, graphs, pictures and other information regarding the powertrain is placed in this section.

Performance[]

Please make sure to write information of the vehicle's performance in a third-person point of view. This section should include information about the car's acceleration figures, handling, braking, etc.

If using information gathered from Road Test articles from a reputable automotive source, then please make sure to cite the quote.

Reliability[]

Warranty options and scheduled maintenance information should be mentioned here.

Safety[]

This section should reference points on safety ratings and features of the vehicle.

Photos[]

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Add Photos of the vehicle here.

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Colors[]

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Main Competitors[]

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Hybrid Models[]

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Unique Attributes[]

If there are any features of this vehicle that sets it apart from other vehicles in its class, then mention those unique attributes here.

Interior[]

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This section should include information on the interior's design, build quality, ergonomics, space (head and legroom, front and rear), features, stowage compartments and overall comfort and livability. Add pictures wherever applicable and keep information in a third-person point of view.


Resale Values[]

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<MODEL> Year
Year X Year X-2 Year X-3 Year X-4
Resale Value
$ $ $ $

Criticisms[]

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Generations[]

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Current Generation: (YYYY–present)[]

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Fifth generation (YYYY–YYYY)[]

Fourth generation (YYYY–YYYY)[]

Third generation (YYYY–YYYY)[]

Second generation (YYYY–YYYY)[]

First Generation/Origins (YYYY–YYYY)[]

Worldwide[]

If the vehicle is sold in other markets worldwide, then this is the section to mention that information. Also, mention if the <MODEL> goes by another name in these other markets.

Design quirks and oddities[]

Refer to any pop-culture tidbits about the vehicle in this section.

Awards[]

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See Also[]

Fv2
VOLKSWAGEN

Volkswagen Group


Volkswagen | Audi | SEAT | Škoda | Bentley | Bugatti | Lamborghini | Ducati | Porsche


Current

Cars: Golf · Golf R20 · Golf GTI · Jetta · Passat · New Beetle · Eos · Touran · CrossTouran · Golf Plus · CrossGolf · Fox · Polo · CrossPolo · Polo GTI · Phaeton · Sagitar · Passat Lingyu · Santana 3000 · Santana · Lupo · Passat CC · Scirocco · Lavida · Gol · Parati · Gol Country · Saveiro · New Mid-Size Sedan · Vento · Passat NMS · Up!

Vans/SUV/MPVs: Routan · Touareg · Sharan · Caravelle · Tiguan · SpaceFox · Suran · CrossFox · Multivan · California · Transporter · Crafter · Caddy · Caddy Maxi ·

Trucks: Amarok

Historic

Cars: Beetle · Corrado · Dasher · Thing · Karmann Ghia · Karmann Ghia 1500/1600 · Karmann Ghia TC · SP2 · Type 87 Kommandeurswagen · 411 · Pointer · 1500 · Brasilia · 1600 · K70 · Derby · Type 3 · Type 4 · Apollo · Logus · Rabbit · Citi Golf

Vans/SUVs: Eurovan · Vanagon · Bus · Kübelwagen · Fridolin · Type 2 · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

Trucks: Saveiro · Taro · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

Concept Vehicles

Golf GTI W12 650 Concept · Iroc Concept · Tiguan Concept · EcoRacer Concept · GX3 · Beetle Ragster · Concept A · Concept C · Concept R · Concept T · W12 Nardo · Cheetah · Microbus · 1 Litre · Up! Concept · Polo Cabrio Concept · Concept Slipstream · Space Up! Concept · Viseo Electric Concept · Space Up! Blue Concept · Golf Variant RaVe 270 Concept · EGO Concept · ONE Concept · ROOM Concept · Touareg North Sails Concept · Caddy Topos Sail Concept · Golf BlueMotion Diesel Concept · Concept Pickup · Caddy 4MOTION PanAmericana Concept · Bio Runner Concept · Scirocco Study R Concept · BlueSport Concept · 'NMS' · Polo BlueMotion Concept · Wörthersee 09 Polo GTI Concept · Wörthersee 09 Golf GTI Concept · L1 Concept · E-Up! Concept · Up! Lite Concept · New Compact Coupe Concept · Milano Taxi EV Concept · E-Lavida Concept · Tapiro Concept · London Taxi EV Concept · E-Bugster Concept · Beetle R Concept

Racing

Touareg TDI Trophy Truck · Scirocco GT24-CNG · Race Touareg 3


Ferdinand Porsche · Major Ivan Hirst · Gläserne Manufaktur · Engines


German Labour Front (Deutsche Arbeitsfront), a Nazi trade union Corporate website A subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group



External Links[]

News and References

Enthusiast Sites and Discussion Forums

  1. California Beach Poptop picture thread at VWwatercooled forum
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Volkswagen Kombi Beach
  3. California Beach @ Caravan Salon in Dusseldorf - VWwatercooled Australia
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Volkswagen Driver, November 2006 page 27-30 -UK Publication
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