Westfalia reveals retro VW campervan

German campervan manufacturer, Westfalia, has launched the Kepler Sixty, a retro VW campervan mirroring the layout of the Kepler Six for the 2019 season. It will be available to order in right-hand drive for the UK market in October.

The new Sixty is based on the 5.3m Volkswagen T6 and is built in France at the parent company, Rapido’s, Fleurette factory near La Rochelle, alongside the two other VW-based campervans the Kepler One and Kepler Six and also Westfalia’s Mercedes Vito-based Jules Verne.

While it appears to be a special edition with its two-tone paintwork and fabrics, the new Sixty is, in fact, on general production with no limit on the numbers produced or sold.

It is comes in distinctive bi-colour red and white paintwork that is matched to Westfalia’s pop-top roof with matching red canvas. This is itself matched to a new retro-designed ‘cap’ that sits across the front of the roof when it is down.

Other exterior touches include a widespread use of chrome (handles, indicator surrounds, etc) and special one-off retro graphics and badges.

There are special order 18” alloy wheels (pictured) with white centres and extensive use of chrome, which are priced at €2,500 but standard 16” alloys or steel wheels are provided as a no-cost option. It’s expected most buyers will opt for the 18” alloys.

On the interior, while the layout and furniture match that of the existing Kepler Six, the cabinets are finished in matching red and while the upholstery is also finished a in red and white fake leather fabric with embroidered Westfalia logos.

In addition, there is a two-person rear bench seat that converts into a small double (it’s only 1.14m wide) rather than two single seats. This bench seat is fixed to rails, meaning it can be moved back and forth depending on loading needs and passenger comfort.

There is a second double bed in the pop-top.

The Sixty also gets some extra kit that its siblings don’t get such as diesel Webasto heating and VW’s 148bhp engine as standard rather than as options.

UK prices have not yet been confirmed but the euro price is €61,000.

Other news from Westfalia includes that all 2019 models will get

• Single key entry
• A wider entrance step (550mm) on the Amundsen range to mirror the step used on the Columbus range
• A reduced 4x4 pack for the Amundsen 540, which offers all-wheel drive, a raised chassis and diff lock but without some of the other accessory options that were included in the original 4x4 pack. But the bad news is it is only available with the 130bhp engine and is only available in left-hand drive.
• The Amundsen 540D and 600E now get the same kitchen surfaces as in the 600D and 640E
• The Kepler One gets a new two-part bed system to replace the existing (and rather complicated) multi-cushion set-up
• The Amundsen range gets a new floor, but the actual surface design has not yet been finalised.
• The pop-top roof on the Columbus 540D is now built by Westfalia itself. It is lighter, a bit higher, which means you can store your bedding in it while it is in its closed down position and it has a greater weight carrying capacity (up to 50kg), which means canoes, roof boxes can be left in situ even when the roof is raised.
• Fiat models will get a Westfalia badge on the grille. It is unlikely this badge will be used on VW or Mercedes models, which will retain their base vehicle manufacturer badge.