VW California XXL campervan concept green-lit for production

Volkswagen’s California XXL concept has been green-lit for a production version, with the gargantuan campervan to make its public debut at the 2018 Caravan Salon in Germany next month.

First unveiled in 2017, the California XXL concept (a supersized version of the international-only California camper) is based on the brand's mid-wheelbase Crafter van. It stretches a whopping six metres in length and towers three metres above the road, thanks to its hair piece-style roof perched above the cabin that allows for a massive 2.2m of headroom in the living area.

It’s not clear yet whether the coolest parts of the concept version - the underfloor heating, the integrated espresso machine, the panoramic roof, the pneumatic suspension which levels out the living space if you park on uneven ground - will make it into the finished product, but we can live in hope.

Still, if even half of those turn up in a production version, camping has surely never looked so good. One thing is certain, though; given the general retro nature of campervans, you can expect plenty of two-tone paint options for the XXL.

Early sketches of the finished version show VW hasn’t strayed too far from the XXL concept, with the same towering roofline and on-board bathroom (including shower) and fully-equipped kitchen. While VW is yet to confirm engine variants, the XXL concept was powered by a 2.0-litre turbodiesel sending power to all four wheels. 

VW in Australia is yet to announce any plans to introduce the new campervan locally, but executives have spoken of their interest in launching the smaller California van here, so watch this space. Both would follow the pop-up Kombi Camper, which is confirmed for a late-2018 debut.

Will the California XXL be the coolest of the luxo-campers? Tell us in the comments below.