Westfalia Unveils Its First New Camper Van in the U.S. in More Than Two Decades
Westfalia is returning to North America and it wants to bring you and five of your friends along for the ride.
The French-owned German camper company is returning to these shores with a new van called the Wave, according to New Atlas. The model is based on the Ram Promaster, is packed with all the amenities you’d expect to find on a luxury RV, and can comfortably sleep up to six adults.
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If you’re into camping, chances are you’re familiar with the Westfalia name. The brand began converting Volkswagen buses into pop-top RVs called “Westys” during the 1950s. This all came to an end around the turn of the millennium, when the company was purchased by DaimlerChrysler, and soon closed shop in North America. Nearly a quarter century later Westfalia is now owned by Rapido Groupe and is ready to make its return.
Westfalia’s first North American model in over 20 years to be based on a VW, though. Instead, the Wave is being built on the bones of a Ram Promaster 3500. The van features a high roof and measures 20.7 feet bumper to bumper, meaning there’s plenty of space inside for everyone and everything you might want to take with you on the road. No powertrain details have been made available yet, but all recent Promaster 3500s come with a 3.6-liter V-6 that produced 276 hp and connected to a nine-speed automatic transmission.
The company has done its best to make use of the Promaster’s length. This has allowed the company to utilize a clean European-style layout, while still packing the vehicle with all the features Americans expect from a top-tier RV. Features include a kitchen with a stove, refrigerator, and island extension, as well as a dinette with ample seating and a full-size wet bath with a toilet and shower. Westfalia also promises that there is plenty of “intentional” storage throughout the vehicle for camping gear, cooking utensils, and anything else you might need.
The Wave’s biggest virtue, though, is almost certainly how much sleeping room it has. The van, like a true Westy, is equipped with a roof-mounted, pop-up tent, that can sleep two. In the vehicle’s cabin, the dinette can be converted into a double bed, while the rear seating can be turned into a queen-size bed. That means you can easily sleep six adults in the vehicle. And if that isn’t enough, you need something bigger than a camper van.
The Wave is expected to make its North American debut next week at the Florida RV SuperShow next week in Tampa. No pricing has been announced yet, but you can safely expect it to cost more than the top-of-the-line Promaster 3500, which starts at $54,760.
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