"Westfalia" is undoubtedly the most famous name in
Volkswagen camper van lore, but "California" has also claimed its
place in the VW camper van lexicon. Launched as a Westfalia model in 1988, the
California eventually became Volkswagen's own in house-built camper when the
California T5 went into production in 2004. Now the good Volks from Wolfsburg
are exploring an XXL-sized California based on the second-generation Crafter
van. The extra size paves the way for a wet bath and roomy kitchen.
Two years after the launch of the California T6, Volkswagen
plays with the idea of a Crafter-based "California XXL." The Crafter
doesn't have the history of the Transporter, and frankly we find it rather
ugly, but it does have one major advantage: size, something that's always
invaluable when trying to shove an efficiency apartment into a motor vehicle.
Volkswagen has put that extra size to work with a wet bath
with shower, fold-up sink and toilet, an amenity not found in the
Transporter-based California. It has also built out a kitchen with plenty of
countertop and cabinetry around the dual-burner stove, refrigerator and sink.
- Volkswagen has slid a compact wet bath into its new Crafter California concept.
- The California has long been based on the Transporter, but a Crafter version might be on the way.
- Volkswagen will debut its Crafter California XXL concept at this year's Düsseldorf Caravan Salon later this month
The California XXL floor plan also includes a two-person
bed, roughly 6.6 feet (2 m) in length, and a central living area with the rear
bench and swivel front driver and passenger seats.
The concept camper is based on the medium-wheelbase Crafter
with super-high fixed roof, and Volkswagen mentions some driver-assistance
technologies. It doesn't get into any specifics, but we know the Crafter offers
a large pool of standard and available assistance features, including front
assist with emergency city braking, crosswind stabilization, parking assist,
lane keeping assist, and trailer assist.
Volkswagen has also left the powertrain box blank for now,
leaving us to guess which of the 2.0-liter TDI options, between 101 hp to 175
hp, is powering things. It's also unclear if the California XXL is a front-,
rear- or all-wheel drive, as the Crafter is available in all three
configurations. Given that Volkswagen calls the electric Crafter the e-Crafter,
we feel fairly confident that the California XXL won't follow the 2017 I.D.
Buzz as an all-electric van concept.
Volkswagen will reveal all the California XXL details at
this year's Düsseldorf Caravan Salon, which kicks off on August 26.
