The new Passat or even the Tesla Model 3 rival. These are the attributes of the Volkswagen ID.7, an electric liftback which, according to the manufacturer, should travel up to 700 kilometers on a single charge. And really, at least the Passat with a sedan body should be at least partially replaced by the new product – the ninth generation of the popular mid-range model will only arrive as a station wagon.
The Volkswagen ID.7 should get both body variants, although the more practical one will be slightly delayed compared to the liftback. In any case, the novelty boasts an almost five-meter-long body with a 2.97-meter wheelbase, which also achieves a drag coefficient of 0.23 due to the sloping roof. This, of course, significantly extends the range, the German car manufacturer can thus declare up to 700 kilometers on a single charge.
This is still a preliminary figure, moreover, only in the version with 86kWh usable battery capacity, but this is a value that is not quite common among mainstream electric cars. For example, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 has a maximum range of 614 kilometers, while the Tesla Model 3 has a maximum range of 602 kilometers.
Although the ID.7 is of course also based on the MEB platform, it was the first electric car of the VW concern to receive a new generation drive. This means, among other things, a new electric motor with an output of 210 kilowatts. Yes, the ID.7 is a rear wheel, even in the version with a smaller battery with a usable capacity of 77 kWh, which reduces the range to a still generous 615 kilometers. The smaller battery, known for example from the Enyaq iV, can be charged with a maximum power of 170 kilowatts, the new larger accumulator promises up to 200 kilowatts. By the way, a GTX version with two electric motors and all-wheel drive is on the way.
The interior design may remind some people of a Tesla. This is mainly due to the free-standing central touch screen with a diagonal of 15 inches. Similar to the Golf and other modern VWs, there is also a touch bar, among other things, for adjusting the temperature in the cabin.
In contrast to the American rival, there is also a small display in front of the driver instead of classic alarm clocks, the head-up screen with augmented reality can also provide additional information. This is also known from other electric Volkswagen IDs. Also worth mentioning is the adaptive air conditioning of the seats, which can offer drying as well as ventilation and heating.
The exterior design is not too surprising. For example, the design of the front strongly refers to ID.3 or ID.4. The sloping roof has already been mentioned, at the back there are LED lights visually connected by a light bar across the entire width of the car. An interesting feature is the panoramic roof with glass that has an adjustable level of transmittance.
Production of the ID.7 for the European market will begin in Emden this year, and it will be one of three new VW electric cars for 2023. The others are the already introduced rejuvenated ID.3 and also the ID. Buzz with extended wheelbase. As the automaker mentioned earlier, it will introduce a total of ten new electric cars by 2026, and seven years later, you won’t even be able to buy another new car in Europe with the VW logo.
