Volkswagen ID.7 electric saloon promises up to 435 miles between charges
Bigger than a Passat ... and no doubt much pricier
Following a long campaign of teasers ever since the ID. Space Vizzion concept of 2019, Volkswagen has finally revealed its showroom-bound version in full: the ID.7 saloon.
Though many expected this car to be an ‘electric Passat’, the ID.7 is some 20cm longer than that car, with a similar increase in its wheelbase (the distance from the centre of the front wheels to the centre of the rears). In fact, the ID.7 is even larger than the VW Arteon.
That extra length means VW can fit a super-sized battery pack under the floor. At launch, two different battery sizes are expected for the ID.7: one with a capacity of 77kWh, which is used throughout the Volkswagen ID. line-up today, will be carried over for the ID.7 Pro, and a new, larger pack offering 86kWh for the ID.7 Pro S.
Although the smaller of the two is used elsewhere, because of enhanced efficiency – in part thanks to the ID.7’s impressively-slippery body shape (for the aero geeks it has 0.23 coefficient of drag) – the ID.7 should go further on a full charge than other models using the same battery. Initial figures suggest that up to 382 miles might be possible, though as with all EVs that would depend on many conditions such as ambient temperature, road type and driving style.
Big battery for 435-mile range
However, a headline-grabbing 435-mile range is being quoted for the ID.7 Pro S model, which will feature a new battery pre-conditioning system and ultra-rapid charging at up to 200kW on a public DC charger (compared with 170kW for the smaller battery).
No performance figures have been released as yet, but Volkswagen has confirmed that an all-new rear-mounted electric motor will be rated as high as 282bhp.
The same motor will be used across the VW ID. line-up, and the larger battery is expected to be used in the forthcoming seven-seat version of The Sunday Times Motor Awards-winning ID. Buzz, too.
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Much-improved infotainment
Inside, the ID.7 is clearly from the same school of interior design as the rest of the ID. family, though there have been significant improvements to the infotainment system and a high specification across the range.
Complementing the slender new digital instruments, for example, is an augmented reality head-up display that can project navigation instructions into the driver’s line of sight. It’s standard on all versions of the ID.7, cementing its position as the range-topping ID. model.
Elsewhere, there’s a 15in central touchscreen with a new menu interface. It features two permanent digital menu bars to ease use — one for shortcuts and another for the climate control. The finger sliders at the base of the screen are retained, but they are now illuminated to make them easier to use at night than those fitted to other ID. cars.
The air vents feature electric control of the direction vanes to better distribute the heated or cooled air as required, while the air conditioning can start work as soon as the holder of the key approaches the ID.7.
Enhancing the climate control system are new-generation seats that feature temperature and moisture sensors, along with the option of a massage function and full 14-way electric adjustment.
Above, there’s the option of a panoramic glass roof that eschews a sun blind and instead uses Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystal (PDLC) technology to tint the glass at the touch of a button.
High-tech driver assistance
Volkswagen is also using the ID.7 to showcase its latest driver-assistance technology, including Park Assist Pro. This can store and then autonomously repeat a parking manoeuvre of up to 50 metres with the driver inside or outside the car, and it also allows the driver to extract the car from a tight parking space without having to be inside. Further driver-assistance tech is found in the Travel Assist system, enabling assisted lane changing and other features, making use of ‘swarm’ data shared between Volkswagen Group cars.
Pricing and on-sale date
Though pricing hasn’t been made available yet, it would appear that the ID.7 will be marketed to sit above the Tesla Model 3, which currently starts at £42,990 in the UK. It’s also worth noting that the ID.5, with a 77kWh battery, costs from £54,105.
The ID.7 goes on sale this year and the saloon is expected to sire an estate model at a later date, too.
Related articles
- After reading about the new Volkswagen ID.7, you might be interested to read our review of the Volkswagen ID.5 GTX
- Keen to go electric? Here are the top 10 longest-range electric cars
- You might also like to read Driving.co.uk’s review of the Mercedes EQE saloon
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