VOLKSWAGEN Commercial Vehicles has developed a new plug-in hybrid all-wheel drive system for the Multivan and California - the eHybrid 4MOTION.

This system, which is unrivalled in the van and camper van segment, combines three drive worlds: electric driving, optimum long-distance suitability and maximum traction.

Until now, there has been no drive system for vans and camper vans that combines these parameters without compromising on technical features and driving dynamics. With the new plug-in hybrid all-wheel drive, this has now been achieved.

The Multivanand the California eHybrid 4MOTIONallow you to drive silently across a camping site in electric mode for everyday lift.

At the same time, they can cover long distances thanks to their hybrid drive. The road and weather conditions are of secondary importance, as the all-wheel drive offers exactly the traction that a rear-wheel or front-wheel drive vehicle sometimes lacks, even on muddy fields or in winter.

All this is made possible by efficiently combining two electric drive motors and a newly designed, high-tech 1.5-litre TSI petrol engine.

The Multivan and California start as plug-in hybrid models with electric all-wheel drive - one electric drive motor per axle drives the front and rear axles.

Thanks to a capacity of 19.7 kWh, fast charging functions and highly effective energy recovery, this is usually the case. When the battery is fully charged, the economical plug-in hybrid electric vehicle enables purely electric distances of more than 80 miles, depending on the model.

In electric mode, the Multivan and California can be driven at speeds of up to 80mph and the hybrid up to 125mph.

With DC power, the battery can be charged from 10 to 80 per cent in about 26 minutes which can significantly increases the electric range of the Multivan eHybrid 4MOTION and California eHybrid 4MOTION.

The California eHybrid 4Motion costs from £71,295, while the Multivan starts at £55,525.