Coast replaces Beach in the new T6.1 VW California campervan range

Volkswagen’s own campervan, based on the newly facelifted T6.1 Transporter, gets a revised range for the UK.

Out goes the California Beach (the kitchenless version, which is still available in Germany) and in comes the California Coast, which is basically a lower-spec’d version of the top-of-the-range California Ocean.

Unlike the Beach, the Coast comes with a fully-equipped side kitchen with gas hob and sink, plus a top-loading 42-litre compressor fridge, although the galley is finished in Bright Oak wood effect to differentiate it from the Graphite Grey slate effect in the Ocean.

Standard equipment for the California 6.1 Coast includes adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, 16in alloy wheels, automatic lights and wipers, Crosswind Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition, Active Lane Assist, Hill Descent Assist, leather multi-function steering wheel, camper control panel with touchscreen, two 150Ah leisure batteries, outdoor table and chairs, an awning, and a manually-operated elevating roof with fully-sprung upper bed measuring 2.00m by 1.20m.

The Coast is available only with the 148bhp (150PS) 2-litre TDI engine and seven-speed DSG gearbox, with prices starting at £53,178 ex-works.

Prices for the higher-spec Ocean version begin at £61,488, with options to upgrade to the 196bhp (199PS) engine (from £64,290) as well as 4Motion all-wheel drive (from £67,428). Standard equipment on the California 6.1 Ocean has been enhanced to include a number of new features, and this model retains the electric version of the elevating roof.

Additional spec items include a new grille with five chrome strips (rather than the plainer grille used on the Coast), LED headlights and tail-lights, a digital cockpit display, new LED interior and cupboard lighting, and a Discover Media navigation system with 8in touchscreen, eight speakers and rear-view camera.

The Ocean also comes with Park Assist (which assumes control of the steering when parallel parking) and Side Protection (which warns if you’re getting too close to other vehicles, walls, pedestrians, etc).

On both Coast and Ocean there are new alloy wheel designs, new exterior colours (including three duo-tone options – Candy White/Copper Bronze, Candy White/Bay Leaf Green, Candy White/Ascot Grey) and now three choices of canvas colour for the rising roof – Strawberry Red, Glacier Blue or Basalt Grey. Both models also come with diesel blown-air heating as standard.