- VW unveils a stripped-back Multivan Camper for converters.
- It keeps the pop-up roof and swivels, drops rear furniture.
- Starting at £52,680 ($71,500), it undercuts the California.
Volkswagen has introduced a new Multivan variant designed less as a finished product and more as a starting point for your imagination. The Multivan Camper is effectively a blank canvas for conversion specialists, something like a bare bones California without the camping gear and all the extras at the back.
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If you were expecting a modular seating layout or fold-out beds, you will not find them here. The Multivan Camper is delivered with a “fully trimmed but empty” rear cabin. That means no rear seats, no table, no floor coverings, no storage compartments, and none of the appliances usually found in campervans.
A Factory Blank Canvas
This minimalism is entirely intentional. Volkswagen CV is targeting professional conversion houses and DIY enthusiasts who want a clean shell as the basis for a bespoke build. For many converters, that removes the need to strip out factory furniture, flooring, and fittings before starting from scratch.
Despite the emptiness, the Multivan Camper comes standard with a few notable features. The highlight is a manual pop-up roof that increases headroom and creates space for an extra bed. It also includes twin sliding doors, a tailgate, interior side trim, and swivel seats for both the driver and front passenger, allowing them to turn and face the temporary void behind.
Long Wheelbase Foundations
Another key attribute is its long-wheelbase Multivan T7 bodystyle, which provides 4,053 lt (143,1 cubic feet) of space at the rear. According to VW, the interior measures 2,625 mm (103.3 inches) in length, 1,665 mm (65.6 inches) in width, and 1,312 mm (51.7 inches) in height.
Diesel Or PHEV
The Multivan Camper is available with two powertrain options. The familiar 2.0-liter turbodiesel produces 148 hp (110 kW / 150 PS), sending power to the front wheels through a seven-speed DSG.
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Then there is the eHybrid 4Motion variant featuring an AWD-capable plug-in hybrid powertrain. The combined output is 237 hp (177 kW 240 PS) from a turbo 1.5-liter gasoline engine and dual electric motors. Furthermore, the 19.7 kWh battery provides a zero-emission range of up to 95 km (59 miles).
Not Exactly Affordable
That brings us to pricing, arguably the core rationale behind this version. The diesel-powered Multivan Camper starts at £43,900 (equal to $59,600 at current rates) or £52,680 ($71,500) including VAT. The eHybrid begins at £50,725 ($68,900) or £60,870 ($82,600) including VAT.
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Those figures may sound excessive for a camper without camping gear. Even so, the stripped-out variant is much cheaper than the Multivan-based California, which ranges between £64,417-86,693 ($87,400-117,700) before options.
It is also worth noting that the Multivan Camper is supplied with “incomplete M1 homologation”. In practical terms, it requires conversion and second-stage type approval before it can be registered in the UK.
