# Volkswagen Multivan Camper - new non-California model **Source:** https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/volkswagen-multivan-camper-new-non-california-model.61105/ **Posts:** 17 --- ### F — 2026-02-16T14:33:18+0100 (Feb 16, 2026) ![www.whatcar.com](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.whatcar.com%2Fwc-image%2F2026-02%2Fvw-multivan-camper-side-static.jpg&hash=68d4b1e06e5dbaa844a9b88a155478a1&return_error=1) ### [Volkswagen’s new Multivan Camper is a blank canvas for your perfect bespoke hotel on wheels](https://www.whatcar.com/news/new-volkswagen-multivan-camper-offers-a-base-for-campervan-converters/n28683) New campervan conversion variant of the Volkswagen Multivan is offered with diesel or plug-in hybrid power ![www.whatcar.com](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.whatcar.com%2Ffavicon.ico&hash=1d143b7f1d36e516dc6336c9c9544380&return_error=1) www.whatcar.com Interesting move but too expensive. Is this a tacit admission that they can’t get the New California right? ![;)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7 "Wink ;)") --- ### — 2026-02-16T22:25:34+0100 (Feb 16, 2026) Feels like a good move to me. This forum has discussed at length the variety of needs from the Cali community - this move would ensure there is a version out there for everyone! --- ### — 2026-02-16T22:42:40+0100 (Feb 16, 2026) > [Ch1pbutty said:](/goto/post?id=772006) > > They need to get this tech / range into a decent shaped van…can’t be long before the Chinese get something on the road! > > > > > Click to expand... i wonder how much of this is willingness to market stats from the manufacturer with small print caveats? Haven’t seen a published ‘combined range’ for the Cali PHEV --- ### S — 2026-02-16T22:51:30+0100 (Feb 16, 2026) > [Ch1pbutty said:](/goto/post?id=772006) > > They need to get this tech / range into a decent shaped van…can’t be long before the Chinese get something on the road! > > > > > Click to expand... I've thought for a while that the Chinese electric vans are going to be prime for conversion soon --- ### F — 2026-02-17T07:35:49+0100 (Feb 17, 2026) > [Ch1pbutty said:](/goto/post?id=772006) > > They need to get this tech / range into a decent shaped van…can’t be long before the Chinese get something on the road! > > > > > Click to expand... I don’t see the relevance of this vehicle to this conversation. The Kia PV5 on the other hand is already here and on the roads. Its utility mode gives access to heating and electricity making camping conversion easier. It is a pure EV though which limits more adventurous use away from infrastructure. Regardless, I think the conversion industry has already chosen the Transporter (yes, Ford, wet belt blah blah blah) as the successor to the T6.1/T6/T5. VW will struggle to sell these non-Cali Multivans at these prices. --- ### R — 2026-02-17T07:37:29+0100 (Feb 17, 2026) The article is a bit a vague on detail but I think this is the base level California Beach that you can already purchase here in Germany. It is basically a multivan with a pop up roof but no bed downstairs or any of the camping electrics. We get three levels of Beach to choose from, I think the Beach Tour would be closest to what I would use. I don't want the pull out kitchen bit fixed in the rear. --- ### S — 2026-02-17T09:24:33+0100 (Feb 17, 2026) > [RedWhiteMonkey said:](/goto/post?id=772017) > > The article is a bit a vague on detail but I think this is the base level California Beach that you can already purchase here in Germany. It is basically a multivan with a pop up roof but no bed downstairs or any of the camping electrics. > > We get three levels of Beach to choose from, I think the Beach Tour would be closest to what I would use. I don't want the pull out kitchen bit fixed in the rear. > > > > > Click to expand... It's much more bare bones than that - doesn't come with rear seats or any of the camping electrics in order to keep the cost down for the converter --- ### F — 2026-02-17T09:29:58+0100 (Feb 17, 2026) > [Ch1pbutty said:](/goto/post?id=772020) > > The latest wave of Chinese hybrids have an extended EV range, and when combined with ICE will give over 600mile range. BYD come with a 240v accessory cable as standard which allows you to run 240v appliances off the cars batteries. Pure EV such as Kia PV5 don’t really work as camper due to range issues as a result of additional weight. > Although EV such as Tesla / BYD advertise a range of 300miles, this is almost impossible to achieve - more like 220/250 especially in winter. If you start also start plugging in electric camping kit, and using the climate control whilst camping, this will soon diminish the battery. > > Hybrid is a better base for a camper, as the majority of hybrid batteries can be set to self charge. > > Click to expand... Sure, but there’s nothing compelling in terms of mpv/van format that’s on the horizon coming from the Chinese manufacturers. --- ### F — 2026-02-17T21:11:34+0100 (Feb 17, 2026) Compelling? Just look at it! --- ### — 2026-02-17T21:40:23+0100 (Feb 17, 2026) > [FivetonesCali said:](/goto/post?id=771934) > > ![www.whatcar.com](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.whatcar.com%2Fwc-image%2F2026-02%2Fvw-multivan-camper-side-static.jpg&hash=68d4b1e06e5dbaa844a9b88a155478a1&return_error=1) > > ### [Volkswagen’s new Multivan Camper is a blank canvas for your perfect bespoke hotel on wheels](https://www.whatcar.com/news/new-volkswagen-multivan-camper-offers-a-base-for-campervan-converters/n28683) > > New campervan conversion variant of the Volkswagen Multivan is offered with diesel or plug-in hybrid power > > ![www.whatcar.com](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.whatcar.com%2Ffavicon.ico&hash=1d143b7f1d36e516dc6336c9c9544380&return_error=1) > www.whatcar.com > > > Interesting move but too expensive. Is this a tacit admission that they can’t get the New California right? ![;)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7 "Wink ;)") > > Click to expand... I don’t believe VW offered a converter version Cali in any market before (maybe for Westfalia prior to in-house Cali production for T5 onwards?) so this seems a really significant change. --- ### — 2026-02-23T13:56:13+0100 (Feb 23, 2026) > [stoobthealien said:](/goto/post?id=772011) > > I've thought for a while that the Chinese electric vans are going to be prime for conversion soon > > Click to expand... don’t think about electric campervan, it’s pure nonsens. --- ### S — 2026-02-23T14:38:58+0100 (Feb 23, 2026) > [Adno said:](/goto/post?id=772520) > > don’t think about electric campervan, it’s pure nonsens. > > Click to expand... Probably got more legs to it than caravanning in the future - there's no reason why it wouldn't work well, especially given vans can hold much bigger batteries without impacting the payload. --- ### R — 2026-02-23T14:51:46+0100 (Feb 23, 2026) Not sure it fully electric campervanning is realistic until battery technology significantly improves. I did see a youtube with a campervan based on the Ford Transit PHEV in it. The interesting thing with that one was that it had vehicle to load, so all electric cooking and gadgets could be run off the vehicle's battery. --- ### F — 2026-02-23T20:10:43+0100 (Feb 23, 2026) > [Adno said:](/goto/post?id=772520) > > don’t think about electric campervan, it’s pure nonsens. > > Click to expand... Pure nonsense? Ok. Of course it’s feasible if the manufacturer allows V2L. --- ### S — 2026-02-24T09:19:18+0100 (Feb 24, 2026) > [RedWhiteMonkey said:](/goto/post?id=772535) > > Not sure it fully electric campervanning is realistic until battery technology significantly improves. > > I did see a youtube with a campervan based on the Ford Transit PHEV in it. The interesting thing with that one was that it had vehicle to load, so all electric cooking and gadgets could be run off the vehicle's battery. > > Click to expand... The ford Pro power looks very good - 2.3kw- designed for trades to be able to power their tools but equally handy for vanners --- ### — 2026-02-24T12:40:10+0100 (Feb 24, 2026) The Panama P10/E (Transit Hybrid base) uses the Pro Power Onboard for cooking and heating. There was also a demo van at the NEC show last year from one of the converters (cant remember which one) doing the same. VW offer V2L on the e Transporter (rebranded Ford Pro power presumably) and I guess it will also be an option when VW offer the PHEV Transporter. I dont see it as an option on the PHEV Multivan, that's a different Hybrid engine to the one used in the Transit PHEV so maybe not yet developed V2L on their own hybrid (yet?). --- ### F — 2026-02-24T18:01:18+0100 (Feb 24, 2026) > [owen\_h said:](/goto/post?id=772590) > > The Panama P10/E (Transit Hybrid base) uses the Pro Power Onboard for cooking and heating. There was also a demo van at the NEC show last year from one of the converters (cant remember which one) doing the same. > VW offer V2L on the e Transporter (rebranded Ford Pro power presumably) and I guess it will also be an option when VW offer the PHEV Transporter. > I dont see it as an option on the PHEV Multivan, that's a different Hybrid engine to the one used in the Transit PHEV so maybe not yet developed V2L on their own hybrid (yet?). > > Click to expand... Given the issues the Multivan California has with its batteries it’s probably just as well V2L isn’t available. ---