Volkswagen has unveiled two new camper van concepts, the California Beach and the ID.Buzz-based California Cruise, which will be showcased at the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf, Germany. The California Beach features an inflatable kitchen and bed, while the California Cruise is an electric camper based on the Volkswagen ID.Buzz. Unfortunately, these models will not be available in the US, leaving American camper-van enthusiasts disappointed.
The California Beach camper van features a removable, inflatable kitchen and bed, which can be installed or removed by one person in minutes. The kitchen weighs less than 22 pounds and has a closed water system, while the bed measures approximately 79x53 inches and uses a multilayer breathable construction. The system allows the van to sleep up to four people when combined with the pop-up roof.
View Price on AmazonThe advantage of the inflatable system is that it can be packed away when not in use, allowing the van to be converted back into a normal passenger van. This is in contrast to conventional camper conversions, which require carrying around the kitchen, beds, and cabinets at all times. Volkswagen partnered with Stuff Bubble, a maker of camping accessories, to develop the inflatable equipment.
The ID.Buzz-based California Cruise concept serves as the starting point for a new family of battery-electric California camper vans, which are scheduled to roll out through 2028. While Volkswagen has not disclosed many technical details, the concept marks a significant step for the California lineup, which has historically been built around combustion-powered vans. The current California is based on the Multivan and is available in Europe with gasoline, diesel, and plug-in hybrid powertrains.
Source: caranddriver.com
