California next style update

[pips123]

Hi thinking of buying a brand new California which I understand is the 2020 model. Does anyone know when the next style update is due? Thanks

 

[Corradobrit]

Vaunted to be a Ford/VW collab, with the emphasis on Ford. Probably in 2024/5, but who knows.

 

[RonB]

T8 in 2025 - some form of EV it is rumoured - according to Camping Centrum sales guy?

 

[Amarillo]

Long wheelbase Buzz Camper (all electric). 2024 or more likely 2025 or even 2026. The range will be the thing to watch. Anything under 400 miles (640km) will not be worth it in my opinion.

 

[pips123]

Can we assume the new shaped California T8 will o



T8 in 2025 - some form of EV it is rumoured - according to Camping Centrum sales guy?







be electric based only ie that there won't be any diesel version first in the new shape ? Thanks

Long wheelbase Buzz Camper (all electric). 2024 or more likely 2025 or even 2026. The range will be the thing to watch. Anything under 400 miles (640km) will not be worth it in my opinion.

T8 in 2025 - some form of EV it is rumoured - according to Camping Centrum sales guy?

Pip

 

[larrylamb]

Can we assume

I wouldn't assume anything, it's all speculation and gossip at the moment.

 

[dspuk]

I wouldn't assume anything, it's all speculation and gossip at the moment.

What @larrylamb says.

IF I was to make an educated guess, based on best available info, the next 1T transporter platform will be a shared one with Ford, as part of "Project Cyclone", which has already been announced with an electric option.

Ford E-Transit | TC Harrison Ford

But - how that transposes to a VW Transporter and then a Cali, complete myth and rumour. Noone has even seen a Transporter version of this platform in the wild.

I have seen zero from anyone or anywhere apart from Buzz fanatics that it will be a LWB Buzz.

I have seen nothing to say that the next camper would be electric and I would shudder at that thought. Having just finished our NC500 plan, three of the legs would be impossible. Last weekends hop across to France and back to see my daughter (a combined 1000 mile trip) would have taken quite some planning and a fair number of stops to get back to an mediocre 80% charge and likely taken another day either side.

In 2023 Electric range, charging and capacity would not support a camper trip at all. Love the idea, but the tech and infrastructure just not there and wont be for 5 - 10 years IMHO.

I quite like the update from the other day that the new T(8 ) could be shipped as a BOW (Body in White) to Hannover and go through the existing Cali team there.

But. All rumour. For now.

The only thing that does seem to be firming up is the order books are closing soon. I'd say you either order now or don't see a van till 24/25, with delivery times.

If you want a classic and the real thing, don't wish your life away on an upcoming model.

 

[Corradobrit]

Cali Chris suggests T7 California unlikely based on Multivan.

 

[NessL]

Cali Chris suggests T7 California unlikely based on Multivan.

We watched a lot of California Chris before purchasing and he was very useful to understand different bits of the van, but omg he can talk for so long whilst saying so little!

 

[Corradobrit]

We watched a lot of California Chris before purchasing and he was very useful to understand different bits of the van, but omg he can talk for so long whilst saying so little!

Agreed. Def comes across as more of a sales pitch for the remaining T6.1's. I was focused on that Kombi in Pure Grey with the black wheels and accents and agreeing with some of his comments regarding the styling.

 

[dspuk]

Cali Chris suggests T7 California unlikely based on Multivan.

Interesting video in that while he says nowt useful other than buy now, he does echo what I have been saying for a while now - dealers know only vaguely more than us and in many cases no more at all. A good example was the new Qashqai launch in 2014 - I ran the launch event in London and dealers and the public both saw the car for the first time at the same time. Look, feel, specs and price. There was then separate dealer events after that that took them through more specifics, but people on here who “talk to their dealer” and then parrot it back here as a fact on future VW strategy are missing the bigger picture. Dealers are the leakiest ship, especially if it makes them money - you tell them nothing until you really have to.

The biggest shame I take from this, which I may be wrong in from a sales and pipeline POV, but the Cali and 6.1 van in general never seems to have been more popular, right at the point past strategy for the future seems to be phasing it out.

 

[Corradobrit]

The biggest shame I take from this, which I may be wrong in from a sales and pipeline POV, but the Cali and 6.1 van in general never seems to have been more popular, right at the point past strategy for the future seems to be phasing it out.

Well from reading the German Auto press it seems VW were/are between a rock and a hard place wrt incoming EU7 requirements. I'm sure they would have loved to continue the series. Minimum effort for maximum profits.

 

[RockinNRollin]

That said though, I suspect the goalposts on ICE vehicles may yet move; it's not realistic in the foreseeable future for all vehicles to be electric for so many reasons, I think it's likely biofuels will at least partially support the shortfall. Clearly for urban transport (small-medium cars etc..) electric is both feasible and practical, but for larger vehicles with bigger power demands, I wonder if there'll be a possible shift in attitude. Who knows.

 

[rod_vw]

Will the many versions of camper built on the current MWB Crafter / MAN TGE take the place of the T6.1 as a camper? It's only a bit less than a metre longer longer than a LWB T6.

Not just the Grand California but the other marques using the same base vehicle Knaus, Westfalia and Hymer to name but three.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Will the many versions of camper built on the current MWB Crafter / MAN TGE take the place of the T6.1 as a camper? It's only a bit less than a metre longer longer than a LWB T6.

Not just the Grand California but the other marques using the same base vehicle Knaus, Westfalia and Hymer to name but three.

Doubt it, all too big.

The beauty of the Cali (or Transit) size vans is that they are good daily drivers as fit into a standard size parking space. Larger vans tend to drive with a commercial / courier feel to them so not so comfy to drive and LWB can be a pain in tight car parks / narrow junctions…ie easier to clip rear side panel, kerb rear alloy.

 

[rod_vw]

Doubt it, all too big.

The beauty of the Cali (or Transit) size vans is that they are good daily drivers as fit into a standard size parking space. Larger vans tend to drive with a commercial / courier feel to them so not so comfy to drive and LWB can be a pain in tight car parks / narrow junctions…ie easier to clip rear side panel, kerb rear alloy.

LWB T5/T6 no problem in car parks, I've been running them for twenty years as a daily driver.

Now we have a LWB TGE in conversion but having driven it I can assure you it drives just like a big T6. Yes parking a 6.8m van does need a little thought so we will need a car as every day driver but I hope the additional facilities of the TGE will outweigh that.

 

[soulstyledevon]

It’s growing on me.
However, if it’s based on a golf chassis. What’s the payload…?

 

[Van Diesel VW]

Interesting, but don’t like 4 rails on the floor.

 

[Kernowboy]

It’s growing on me.
However, if it’s based on a golf chassis. What’s the payload…?

View attachment 108821

View attachment 108822

Nope, nothing growing on me. Reminds me of dodgy Japanese imports from 20 years ago. Just not getting it.

 

[Kayleigh]

It’s growing on me.
However, if it’s based on a golf chassis. What’s the payload…?

View attachment 108821

View attachment 108822

Between about 450-700kg depending on the model.

 

[andyinluton]

Interesting, but don’t like 4 rails on the floor.

It would enable the use of the multifunction table which looks quite handy.

Thats a pretty poor photoshop mock up though, if you look closely there's things like the unusable picnic tray on the seat in front of the kitchen, along with a wardrobe door that can't open.

 

[Corradobrit]

It would enable the use of the multifunction table which looks quite handy.

Thats a pretty poor photoshop mock up though, if you look closely there's things like the unusable picnic tray on the seat in front of the kitchen, along with a wardrobe door that can't open.

Agreed, very dodgy PS render. Looks like Barbies Campervan.
With so many compromises due to the MBP chassis eg 60L fuel tank, only a 700kg payload vs over 1300kg for the T6 Transporter, the Multivan isn't really adding much to the Cali heritage and will be hamstrung is so many ways.

 

[OooOooTheMonkey]

Agreed, very dodgy PS render. Looks like Barbies Campervan.
With so many compromises due to the MBP chassis eg 60L fuel tank, only a 700kg payload vs over 1300kg for the T6 Transporter, the Multivan isn't really adding much to the Cali heritage and will be hamstrung is so many ways.

Barbie’s campervan - you hit the nail on the head!

 

[andyinluton]

only a 700kg payload vs over 1300kg for the T6 Transporter, the Multivan isn't really adding much to the Cali heritage

You are not really comparing apples with apples - the T6 transporter with 1300KG is an empty panel van. The 700KG multivan is a fully fitted out vehicle with 6 seats.

Whilst undoubtably there is stuff to be fitted there is also stuff to be removed from the multivan.

A 4 motion cali only has 400kg of payload so even as a starting point you could add 300kg of equipment & thats before you consider upgrading the chassis - a current Ocean is really a 3000kg van thats been tweaked up to 3080kg. I think weight wise its do-able.

 

[Kayleigh]

You are not really comparing apples with apples - the T6 transporter with 1300KG is an empty panel van. The 700KG multivan is a fully fitted out vehicle with 6 seats.

Whilst undoubtably there is stuff to be fitted there is also stuff to be removed from the multivan.

A 4 motion cali only has 400kg of payload so even as a starting point you could add 300kg of equipment & thats before you consider upgrading the chassis - a current Ocean is really a 3000kg van thats been tweaked up to 3080kg. I think weight wise its do-able.

Payload is substantially less in the hybrid version as would be expected. Depending on the model it’s closer to 500kg. I think VW will be using lightweight materials for a California, possibly utilising the existing chairs rather than the heavy Ocean style bed. It is really a people carrier and I suspect VW will want to retain that functionality.

Beach+ anyone?