20 years of the VW California Beach campervan
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Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles celebrates 20 years of the California
2025 officially marks 20 years of Volkswagen's California Beach campervan, a model that has become a best seller during its lifespan. VW describes the Beach as the “Swiss army knife of the VW bus range” for the versatility they can offer.
Nathaniel Cureton Content Editor
Nathaniel Cureton Content Editor
2005
Originally called the Multivan Beach, this model was first launched in 2005 and based on the pre-existing VW T5, with a grey metallic paint job and orange details. The interior consisted of a rail system in the floor behind the front two cab seats. This system locked into place the rear bench seats and allowed an integrated kitchenette to be installed, too.
The bench seats were converted to a bed by being pulled forward using a handle, which also converted the bench seats' backrest into a load compartment cover, which was designed to be a bed extension. The rail system also allowed the Beach to be converted into a five-seater by slotting in an additional rear seat.
2007
In 2007 the Multivan Beach was officially relaunched as the California Beach. It also marked the first time the Beach was available as a pop-top (an option that remains on today’s models) with a 2.0m by 1.2m roof bed and bellows. This option opened the California Beach to the family market, as it could sleep an additional two/three children above.
2009
In 2009, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles launched the California Cape2Cape model based on the T5. A model inspired by German athlete, Joachim Franz, the Cape2Cape had options including all-wheel drive, differential lock, raised suspension, all-terrain tyres, and an engine air filter.
It was in 2019 that VW also made the originally optional pop-top roof part of the standard package. The roof was erected manually as standard but could be operated with an electro-hydraulic system as an option. Customers also now had the option between a three-seater bench seat, or the two-seater bench seat from the California Trendline. Finally, common rail turbo-diesel engines replaced the direct injection engines and pump injectors as they drove quieter, and were more economical.
2015
On the California’s tenth anniversary, VW launched what it described as the ‘new generation of the Beach’ with a model based on the sixth-generation Transporter, better known as the T6. The new model had a redesigned front end and more straight lines throughout. The rear had new headlights and tail light clusters fitted. Elsewhere, a new drive assist and entertainment system was added. Finally, VW returned the two-tone paint finish to the exterior, for the first time in two decades, as a tribute to T1 and T2. The two-tone paint job has since become a best-seller for VW and is synonymous with the company.
2019
2019 saw the California launch on the T6.1 and the first occurrence of the Beach being available in two versions: the Beach Camper, with campervan registration, and the Beach Tour with a passenger car registration.
The T6.1 campers also featured new touchscreen control panels for the first time, which controlled all camping-relevant functions such as the pop-top.
2024
In 2024 VW Commercial Vehicles launched an entirely redeveloped campervan available as the Beach, Beach Tour, and Beach Camper with a kitchenette.
The latest California Beach with its passenger car Type Approval is seen as the range's entry-level model. It offers six seats, four of which are removeable, and two beds as standard in the pop-top roof.
The latest five-seater California Beach Tour contains three individual seats in the rear, two of which have backrests that can be completely folded back. This allows two additional sleeping spaces so the California Beach Tour also comes with an additional fold-out mattress which can be fully folded into a luggage shelf in the boot. The Beach Tour also has Type Approval as a passenger car.
Finally, the Beach Camper is also a five-seater, but equipped with a mini-kitchen and a 230V shore power connection. When required, the kitchen is pulled out to the rear when the tailgate is open, which also provides protection against the rain. All other elements are identical to the California Beach Tour.
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