That’s right; the Volkswagen ID.7 foreplay has finally come to an end, and we now get to see this all-electric contraption in all its electrified glory. Pricing information is not available yet, but your local dealer might be having some idea on that topic. VW said that the launch is scheduled for autumn 2023 in Europe and China, followed by North America in 2024. In the meantime, let’s see what’s all the hoopla.
Speaking of which, the design oozes subtle elegance, and personally, I think this is the best-looking model in the ID. series. It’s neither bonkers nor bland, with just the right liftback proportions. Notice how the connected taillights sort of mimic the connected headlights at the front, but in an inverted way. The coupe-like roofline has resulted in a drag co-efficient of 0.23 Cd.
A winking #VolkswagenID7 pic.twitter.com/wCRDLsphON
— Sagar (@autodevot) May 2, 2023
The IQ.Light matrix LED headlights perform a winking animation as the owner approaches the vehicle. The optional 3D LED taillights also perform an animated sequence with dynamic turn signals. Volkswagen still classifies the ID.7 we’re seeing here as “close-to-series study”, which means we don’t have complete details yet.
The interior of the ID.7 was.. well, mostly revealed a few weeks ago. Key highlights include a 15-inch touchscreen; AR head-up display; electronically dimmable panoramic sunroof, and a new IDA voice assistant. There are a couple of options for the front seats, including Climatronic with cooling or heating or drying as required, and something called ergoActive front seats that offer—among other things—massaging functionalities. The options list also includes a 14-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.
Assistance systems include Travel Assist with swarm data that can among other things support assisted lane changing on the multi-lane motorway at speeds over 90 km/h (56 mph). The ID.7 also boasts parking with a memory function over a distance of up to 50 metres. The driver can either remain sitting in the ID.7 or monitor the parking procedure from outside the vehicle using the smartphone app.
Moving on to the juicy bits of the story then, the ID.7 packs the APP550 electric motor—which according to the company is “the most powerful and highest-torque electric drive motor in a Volkswagen ID. model so far”. The unit produces 210 kW (286 metric hp) and 550 Nm (406 lb-ft), but the system is also designed for maximum efficiency. For example, the system operates without an electrically driven oil pump; the gear wheels of the gearbox itself (in combination with special components) are used to supply oil, thereby saving as much energy and weight as possible. The heated oil is cooled by the vehicle’s coolant circuit.
There’ll also be an all-wheel-drive model with an extra front motor. There’ll be multiple battery capacity options, and depending on the configuration, the ID.7 is estimated to offer a WLTP range of up to 700 km (435 mi). According to reports, there’s gonna be ID.7 Pro with an 82 kWh pack and ID.7 Pro S with a 91 kWh pack, with the latter having the capability of handling charging speeds up to 200 kW.
The new ID.7 will be produced at the Volkswagen plant in Emden (Germany) for the European and North American markets, and for China, it’s gonna be locally produced, of course.
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