Volkswagen has made the Transporter a ‘premium’ van – quite a trick, the light commercial vehicle market is vicious.
The number sporting alloys, lights, roof rails and tints (“privacy glass”) shows a car-like customer base.
Kombi (part cargo/part passenger plus windows) or Caravelle (full ‘MPV’ for a group and kit) go distinctly up-market. The California is the cherry on the icing on the cake.
The number sporting alloys, lights, roof rails and tints (“privacy glass”) shows a car-like customer base.
Kombi (part cargo/part passenger plus windows) or Caravelle (full ‘MPV’ for a group and kit) go distinctly up-market. The California is the cherry on the icing on the cake.
Wolfsburg initially, purpose-built Hanover LCV plant from 1956, VW’s Transporter is a further chapter in the story of the legendary Beetle. The 1950 van copied the layout - rear engine (air-cooled); torsion bar suspension; rear swing-axles.
Kombi and “Sambabus” (full seater and windows now “Caravelle”) were there right from the start – as was the design for a “Campingbox” model which arrived in 1951 and became the “Camper/Campervan” soon afterwards.
Ten million Transporters later, VW’s van has a heritage to rival many premium-badged motor cars: T1 (1950-1967); T2 (1967-1979); T3 (1979-1990); T4 (1990-2003).
T2, with its trademark “bay window” was built in Mexico, South Africa – and the Kombi variant is produced to this day in Brazil.
T3 launched the first Diesel flat-four boxer engine, went over to liquid cooling and offered a very capable 4x4 system.
T4 finally ushered in front wheel drive, T5 in 2003 a step up in sophistication. This year the whole range has been revised.
T2 Campervan was the cult car of 60s-70s flower power USA. Sun, sea and surf or new-age desert retreats, the “California” name (adopted for the T5 in 2005) echoes the whole epoch. “Turn on, tune in, drop out” it might have been for a good many but the “New Bohemia” was for “weekend rebels” most of the time.
You couldn’t drop out too far if you wanted to fork out for a new Campervan (£39,965-£44,465 - today’s T5) and whereas T1-T3 each have huge fan clubs, T4s et seq have drawn a more ‘sober’ lot. Yes, it’s all nostalgia, but it works.
Sober or not the latest California is a sophisticated vehicle. VW’s latest common rail 2.0 litre Diesel is here in two versions: 140PS TDI or 180PS BiTDI with twin sequential turbo-charging. Six speed manual or 7 DSG (double-clutch auto), 4MOTION variable front/rear all-wheel drive is an option with the BiTDI 180.
About the size of a large MPV and quite usable day to day, the California is cleverly designed inside: two double beds (one in the electrically raised roof); ‘fridge; cooker; sink (drinking and waste water tanks); window blinds.
There’s a fold-away table inside (front seats rotate) and a stand-alone one tucked away in the sliding side-door. Two folding chairs are stored inside the rear tailgate.
Supplementary batteries provide independent heat and light, there’s a plug to hook-up to the mains on a campsite but the cooker runs off a gas bottle inside. A roller-awning neatly built into the sliding door side is an extra item.
But it’s no ‘Tardis’. Good for two (who get on) and great for the solitary traveller, a dog would be company, three definitely a crowd. You’ll need “facilities” – no toilet or shower.
A great day van or weekender, all the techno bells and whistles are here: air-conditioning; ABS brakes and ESP stability control, etc.
The California 2.0 BiTDI 180 can reach 119mph, 0-62 in 11.3 seconds with CO2 at 208g/km (Road Tax:‘K’/£245 DSG; 6.sp.man.’J’/£235). Officially it’s 35.8mpg and on test (brim to brim) the DSG model did 26-28 so, day in, day out say 30.
The whole vehicle is built at Hanover so it’s all VW warranty-covered and, like its siblings, bought from and serviced by the VW Van Dealership network.
But it’s not all post flower power cold-light-of-day apparently. According to Volkswagen, “Enthusiastic California owners have established their own website as well as a Facebook forum to share photos, tips, blogs and to arrange weekends together”. Bet the cakes are wicked!
By Huw Thomas
Kombi and “Sambabus” (full seater and windows now “Caravelle”) were there right from the start – as was the design for a “Campingbox” model which arrived in 1951 and became the “Camper/Campervan” soon afterwards.
Ten million Transporters later, VW’s van has a heritage to rival many premium-badged motor cars: T1 (1950-1967); T2 (1967-1979); T3 (1979-1990); T4 (1990-2003).
T2, with its trademark “bay window” was built in Mexico, South Africa – and the Kombi variant is produced to this day in Brazil.
T3 launched the first Diesel flat-four boxer engine, went over to liquid cooling and offered a very capable 4x4 system.
T4 finally ushered in front wheel drive, T5 in 2003 a step up in sophistication. This year the whole range has been revised.
T2 Campervan was the cult car of 60s-70s flower power USA. Sun, sea and surf or new-age desert retreats, the “California” name (adopted for the T5 in 2005) echoes the whole epoch. “Turn on, tune in, drop out” it might have been for a good many but the “New Bohemia” was for “weekend rebels” most of the time.
You couldn’t drop out too far if you wanted to fork out for a new Campervan (£39,965-£44,465 - today’s T5) and whereas T1-T3 each have huge fan clubs, T4s et seq have drawn a more ‘sober’ lot. Yes, it’s all nostalgia, but it works.
Sober or not the latest California is a sophisticated vehicle. VW’s latest common rail 2.0 litre Diesel is here in two versions: 140PS TDI or 180PS BiTDI with twin sequential turbo-charging. Six speed manual or 7 DSG (double-clutch auto), 4MOTION variable front/rear all-wheel drive is an option with the BiTDI 180.
About the size of a large MPV and quite usable day to day, the California is cleverly designed inside: two double beds (one in the electrically raised roof); ‘fridge; cooker; sink (drinking and waste water tanks); window blinds.
There’s a fold-away table inside (front seats rotate) and a stand-alone one tucked away in the sliding side-door. Two folding chairs are stored inside the rear tailgate.
Supplementary batteries provide independent heat and light, there’s a plug to hook-up to the mains on a campsite but the cooker runs off a gas bottle inside. A roller-awning neatly built into the sliding door side is an extra item.
But it’s no ‘Tardis’. Good for two (who get on) and great for the solitary traveller, a dog would be company, three definitely a crowd. You’ll need “facilities” – no toilet or shower.
A great day van or weekender, all the techno bells and whistles are here: air-conditioning; ABS brakes and ESP stability control, etc.
The California 2.0 BiTDI 180 can reach 119mph, 0-62 in 11.3 seconds with CO2 at 208g/km (Road Tax:‘K’/£245 DSG; 6.sp.man.’J’/£235). Officially it’s 35.8mpg and on test (brim to brim) the DSG model did 26-28 so, day in, day out say 30.
The whole vehicle is built at Hanover so it’s all VW warranty-covered and, like its siblings, bought from and serviced by the VW Van Dealership network.
But it’s not all post flower power cold-light-of-day apparently. According to Volkswagen, “Enthusiastic California owners have established their own website as well as a Facebook forum to share photos, tips, blogs and to arrange weekends together”. Bet the cakes are wicked!
By Huw Thomas
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