New Volkswagen Kombi camper coming

The limited-edition Volkswagen California Beach and Multivan Cruise will be the only ‘lifestyle’ versions of the upgraded T6.1 Transporter van range to arrive in Australia this year.

Each highly-specified special-edition will be strictly limited to just 30 examples and only available to order online (via the VW Australia website from 10:00am on June 24), and neither will arrive until November.

That’s when the full range of facelifted Volkswagen Transporter, Caravelle and Multivan models will now arrive due to coronavirus-related production delays, with full-time versions of the California ‘Kombi’ camper van not due to follow until next year.

Pricing for the full T6.1 range, every variant in which will come with Front Assist automated emergency braking, Crosswind Assist and an App-Connect multimedia system, will be announced in late July.

Volkswagen says regular California models will be priced from $82,990 and available to order online from August 1, ahead of first deliveries in 2021.

For now, the outdoorsy Multivan Cruise and Volkswagen California Beach will be offered on a first-come-first-served basis online, and neither of these top-spec T6.1 limited-editions is cheap at $73,990 and $94,990 (plus ORCs) respectively.

Both vans are powered by the same EU6-complaint 110kW TDI340 four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, with the more expensive California Beach adding 4MOTION all-wheel drive.

Both wear two-tone paint and add active safety features including lane-keeping, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and rear traffic alert.

But that’s about the end of the similarities between the special Multivan Cruise and California Beach, which sleeps four and has an electro-hydraulic pop-top roof – but there’s no kitchen as in Europe, making it more weekender than big-lapper.

Other standard features for the Volkswagen California Beach camper include interior blinds, a bed extension with comfort sleeping mat, camping table with two chairs, secondary battery, programmable parking heater, silver awning, power-latching tailgate and sliding doors on both sides.

The five-seat California also offers swiveling front seats, a reclining second-row bench, 17-inch alloy wheels, front/rear parking sensors, digital instrument panel and an 8.0-inch Discover Media infotainment touch-screen system with wireless App Connect, voice control, navigation and two USB ports.

Meantime, the short-wheelbase Multivan Cruise trumps all that by adding VW’s bigger, more advanced 9.2-inch Discover Media Pro infotainment unit, plus illuminated ‘Cruise’ scuff plates, Art Velour heated seats, electric tailgate, gloss-black B-pillars, 18-inch Teresina alloys, cornering fog lights, tinted windows and LED headlights, tail-lights and DRLs.

Inspired by previous specials like the Kombi 70 Years and T6 Launch edition, the Multivan Cruise can be had in a two-tone Reflex Silver metallic paint scheme with either Fortana Red, Indium Grey or Starlight Blue metallic.

Not to be confused with the Kombi-channelling EV people-mover previewed by the ID Buzz concept, the California Beach’s two-tone combos are Candy White/Copper Bronze metallic, Candy White/Bay Leaf Green metallic and Candy White/Ascot Grey.

Like all Volkswagen vans and passenger vehicles come with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, capped-price servicing every calendar year and the option of pre-purchased three- or five-year Service Care Packs.