On the road with the new VW camper: California Dreaming

Before the premiere trip with the brand new VW camper, we naturally asked ourselves: Why should we travel far away when the good things are so close? On our tour along routes in the Lucerne and Aargau hinterland that are largely familiar but have nevertheless become attractive again in the camper, we want to experience "California Dreamin'" - with the sound of the global 1965 hit by The Mamas and the Papas in the back of our minds.

California is set to become more than a dream
As VW Commercial Vehicles already has a great deal of experience in building and equipping campers with the model named after the US state, we were able to embark on the test drive with correspondingly high expectations. As with all California versions, the Ocean Liberty with kitchen and camper van registration in the test vehicle is equipped with two sliding doors as standard, which opens up additional possibilities for both camping and everyday use. In the new three-room concept for the parking space, the interior is supplemented by the rooms to the right and left of the sliding doors. As the California is now technically based on the long-wheelbase version of the Multivan, it offers significantly more space. With a length of 5.17 meters, its wheelbase now measures 3.12 meters.

Where engine sound is still the order of the day
Our first flying visit took us into the realm of motor freaks and lovers of good food and powerful music, i.e. rock'n'roll, even heavy and with an adrenaline kick. The Ace Cafe Lucerne in Rothenburg LU, which has just celebrated its tenth anniversary, is a meeting place for "freedom lovers who want to have a great time and share many happy moments" in a relaxed atmosphere, according to the website. The Ace Cafe is also a meeting place for like-minded people who come together for automotive brand events. In summer, various classic car meetings are on the program. Like the original in North London, the Ace Cafe Lucerne aims to celebrate a very specific lifestyle.

Back to the car. The California comes with a choice of petrol or diesel engines, always combined with front-wheel drive and a convenient dual-clutch automatic transmission as standard. Our test vehicle was fitted with the tried and tested two-liter turbodiesel, which, with torques of up to 360 Nm and an output of 110 kW/150 hp, also provides propulsion in numerous other VW Group models - and, as it turned out, knows how to use fuel economically.

In the heart of Switzerland
The Swiss Museum of Transport is located on the eastern outskirts of Lucerne near the lake - the Mecca of Swiss road, rail and air transport from its beginnings to modern times. The museum not only offers a variety of exhibited means of transport, but also simulators, themed islands and exhibits to immerse yourself in the moving and eventful history of transportation on land, on water and in the air. The Road Transport Hall, for example, displays historical and current vehicles with two, three and four wheels. At the heart of this section is the display warehouse with 80 contemporary witnesses to the history of transportation. It is particularly worth taking a closer look at the history of the Swiss brand Monteverdi.

Star at Camping Sempach
Our California makes a grand entrance at TCS Camping Sempach. Shortly after we arrive, a cluster of interested people form around our camper, with lots of questions about the technology, driving comfort, equipment and - of course - the price. To get straight to the point: The base price for the VW California Ocean 2.0 TDI is 77,710 Swiss francs; as our Swiss special model Ocean Liberty 2.0 TDI, it is available from 68,710 Swiss francs. In addition to the fully-fledged kitchenette, this also includes features such as the Mélange Raven seat fabric made from recycled material, seat heating for the driver and front passenger seats, auxiliary air heating, automatic air conditioning and a large roof storage compartment above the trunk. The Ocean also has an exterior folding table and a 230-volt socket on the outside for an electric hob.

Place with Racing tradition
Where the canton of Lucerne is gradually becoming Aargau, we visit a small farming village that is known far and wide - not so much for its agricultural produce from the surrounding fields as for its for his hill climb: Reitnau AG. The smell of unburnt hydrocarbons, the sound of engines with exhaust systems that are not always MFK-compliant and the forecourts of houses filled with cars ready to race are therefore very familiar to the locals. The only 1.6-kilometre-long, but crisp racing lane leads from the end of the village from around 540 to 650 meters above sea level in easily manageable windings for the public. Efforts in the recent past to stop the event from taking place failed after a lengthy back and forth. In view of the enormous pleasure that the races always bring to the village population and spectators, it would also be a shame to ban the event and thus put a brake on the fun. The people of Reitnau don't want to be deprived of a bit of bread and games. The rocking classic by the British band Free will also be played there: "All Right Now".

Home sweet home
Of course, the California is not for the racetrack. But in terms of its actual purpose, comfortable traveling and comprehensive camper equipment, it shows no weaknesses. Its chassis perfectly combines the requirements of driving comfort and driving safety, the steering is as pleasant as in a car, and the whole range of standard assistance systems is available. The powerful torque, typical of a diesel, also ensures sufficient dynamic performance at all times, even if the maximum output of 150 hp is rather meagre for a 2.4-tonner. Our California Ocean Liberty, painted in Fortanarot Metallic, is equipped with a new camper control unit. All the essential features for camping are displayed and controlled via the five-inch touch display integrated into the living area. This includes information on the fresh water and waste water levels, the lighting functions in the interior, the status of the power supply, the refrigerator and the auxiliary heating. At the same time, most of these functions can also be controlled via smartphone using the California app and the in-car app in the infotainment system. A tilt display can also be called up to align the vehicle horizontally. So if you found your way to the VW camper via "California Dreamin'", you can now relax in the "Hotel California".

Expert opinion: VW California Ocean Liberty
The VW California Ocean Liberty offers four seats and four berths. It has a pop-up roof, a summer kitchen on the left-hand side of the vehicle with a hob, sink, drawer fridge, folding table and socket for a second hob. The vehicle weighs 2386 kg. The factory diesel consumption is 6.8 l/100 km. The warranty: five years or 200,000 kilometers.

Advantages
+ Plenty of space for a compact camper
+ Riding comfort
+ Equipped with two sliding doors

Disadvantages
- Engine power a little low with full payload
- Quite a proud price