Volkswagen has brought the new ID. California Cruise to the Caravan Salon show in Dusseldorf, marking the first public appearance of its factory-built, fully electric camper van.
The ID. California Cruise is designed to sleep two people. This, in part, is driven by a need to keep the weight of the vehicle down as much as possible, hence why there’s no pop-up roof with an extra folding double bed attached to it. It’s also why the ID. California Cruise doesn’t have a built-in kitchen or sink.
Is it still a proper California, then? Volkswagen says so, and in fairness there have been previous California models — such as the Caddy California — which did so without the extending roof and the kitchen. Instead, the ID. California Cruise is designed around more spontaneous trips, according to VW. More of a day at the beach that turns into an overnighter, rather than a vehicle for extended holidays, such as the Multivan-based California or the Crafter-based Grand California.
What camping facilities does the ID. California Cruise have?
It has what should be an exceptionally comfortable fold-out double bed, measuring 2.03 by 1.2 metres with a 9 cm-thick mattress. There are black-out blinds for all of the windows, including — if fitted — the optional glass roof panel. There are also the traditional California built-in folding chairs and picnic table.
How much range will the ID. California Cruise have?
We don’t know yet, as VW hasn’t issued official figures, but we do know that thanks to a special camping mode, the big 86kWh battery can be used to power all of the internal lights, USB sockets, and both heating and air conditioning. It’ll run for up to 48 hours of camping, according to VW. There’s external power as well, as the ID. California Cruise’s charging socket can provide up to 3.6kW of power to other devices, such as e-bikes, a kettle, or a portable cooker.
When can I have one?
European sales will start soon, with a price on the Continent of €60,761. No official Irish price has yet been set.