T7-based California announced for end of 2023 (2024)

New video from Cali Chris..

He talks about a California Universe, with T7 based California scheduled for 2024.

Not the best of thread titles in fairness

Cali Chris claims that in a recent press release, VW announced that a T7-based California would be released in 2024 (first VW ever mentions this AFAIK) and that the ID Buzz-based California, already announced for the second half of the decade, will come in 2025.

I wasn’t able to find any VW press release mentioning this or any mention of this on any official VW channel. I did find a few press articles taking about these announcements having been made at a VW event but their wording were quite woolly, particularly around the ID Buzz Cali release date (Google “California Universe” and see by yourself). If someone has found an official VW source, let us know.

After a bit of digging I have found the source. Cali Chris is referencing the Annual Press Conference that was held in March, so not exactly ‘hot off the press’.

Watch from about 31:40.

Not much in it apart from stating there will be a T7 based California later in 2023, which I presume would mean delivery some time in 2024.

Mehdime said:

@Kayleigh if you renamed that thread “T7-based California announced for end of 2023” you might have the forum’s latest trolltastic epic thousand-post+ thread in your hands

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OK… just for you

Corradobrit said:

Pics and full details of the T7 Multi-Cali will be announced at the caravan Salon in August. Not long to wait @soulstyledevon

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I was quick to write it off, but after Tarquers put up the size differences. I think it’s a possibility…
Be interesting to see if Volkswagen make any significant changes or just try and cram the old receipt in there and stick another £10k on the price

Are the new multivans rails flush to the floor…?

Latest update ahead of the launch at Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf. First impression of this sketch is that it looks promising. Presumably the twin sliding doors would be for a ‘Beach’ version, similar to the Beach Tour.

Camperfamily said:

Latest update ahead of the launch at Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf. First impression of this sketch is that it looks promising. Presumably the twin sliding doors would be for a ‘Beach’ version, similar to the Beach Tour.

View attachment 112425

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Hopefully a hybrid in the range, even if it is only a 2 berth.

bgg1b said:

I’m wondering if this is just one of the future California models to come as part of the ‘California universe’ - The California concept on the Multivan, then next year another California on the new T7 … I do question how many variants do they really need?

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This Multivan could be the new Beach variant with minimalist camping features.

First time I hear about this "California on tour" app for the 6.1.

Can find it on here but not available in the app store on my phone, so only for Deutschland?

RockinNRollin said:

Something I've been pondering; I wonder what the margin is like on a Transporter vs a Cali . . . given the complexity of a Cali and the "warranty burden" eroding any margin (e.g. bellows claims!), I wonder if VW will actually bin a "full fat camper" and instead deliver what are effectively part-conversions that some will be happy with out of the box and others will take to 3rd party converters to take to the standard they want? I don't think there's likely to be any slowing of VW vans becoming campers, I just wonder if VW will rinse their hands of the full complexity of a laden Ocean type vehicle and let a third party do it (and worry about the reliability).

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GRP manual roof would solve alot of issues.

Interesting - the Multivan tailgate is made of thermoplastic. I wonder whether that would be compatible with tailgate bike racks (which I prefer)

bgg1b said:

I’m wondering if this is just one of the future California models to come as part of the ‘California universe’ - The California concept on the Multivan, then next year another California on the new T7 … I do question how many variants do they really need?

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A guy I know who converts Volkswagen panel vans to campers are trying to move away from the brand.
To many issues for them as a converter, coupled with excessively long delivery times and missing spec on delivered vans.

soulstyledevon said:

A guy I know who converts Volkswagen panel vans to campers are trying to move away from the brand.
To many issues for them as a converter, coupled with excessively long delivery times and missing spec on delivered vans.

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Which might make his life easier as a converter, but there is still high demand for a "VeeDub" camper from the customer base - simply, other vans just aren't as desirable. I suspect too that actually most conversions are of used vans (albeit fairly young vans still) so those issues you mention around lead times and spec issues are immaterial as people buy what they see.

soulstyledevon said:

A guy I know who converts Volkswagen panel vans to campers are trying to move away from the brand.
To many issues for them as a converter, coupled with excessively long delivery times and missing spec on delivered vans.

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I suspect most converters would like to move away from VW but it’s what the market wants so it would be a brave move. No doubt they can build a more practical and cheaper camper on other base vehicles such as the Transit but as yet nothing gets near a Transporter as a 'Swiss army knife' package. The collab with Ford is going to be interesting for the sector, if you look at the new Amarok it’s basically a Ranger with a nicer cabin (nearly all panels are the same), will VW be able to continue to get a premium and brand loyalty for the T7 on essentially a rebadge alone?

The German car magazine ProMobil today has a story on the "T7" on the basis of the new Multivan. It's in German, but Google Translate is your friend.

It shows the same artist impression of the new Cali as in page #9 of this thread.

The story also states, that the last T6.1 will be produced mid 2024, but it is already not possible to buy that van, as the dealers are fully booked right now.

The new Cali will be presented at the Caravan Salon in Dusseldorf this August. It has a long wheel base lenght of 5.14 metres and sliding doors on both sides, so the kitchen will be a problem. It will be completely manifactured in Hannover, the magazine is stating.

The new Multivan was announced in 2021 in several versions. The model 1,4-eHybrid OPF (long wheel base) could have one of three engines: petrol, diesel and electric, as the magazine mentions.

It seems all speculation untill now.

Regards from Amsterdam,

Marc.

The new Cali could be a hybrid: diesel/petrol and electricity. According to a VW press sheet (cited by the website vw-bulli.de):

For the first time, the California CONCEPT offers the advantages of plug-in hybrid technology for even more flexibility and remarkable comfort on the road. On the one hand, it is powerful, economical and, with its purely electric range, stands for future-oriented and responsible mobility. On the other hand, its suitability for long distances offers safety away from the central routes. After all, it's not just the neighbors on the parking lot who enjoy the hybrid drive when you glide past them almost silently.

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see:vw-bulli.de/geschichten/california-concept-ausblick-auf-die-zukunft-der-baureihe

Marc.