When compared to other global manufacturers, Volkswagen has been among the most eager to exploit the electric vehicle market, coming away from their reliance on internal combustion engines.
We take a look into the new Volkswagen ID.7, including price, specs and a potential release date.
Already, Volkswagen’s Modular Electric Drive Matrix (MEB) platform has been used to nurse five models onto the electric vehicle market in the form of the VW ID.3, ID.4, ID.5, ID.6 (which is reserved for the Chinese market),the brand-new ID.Buzz Minivan and as of yet, unreleased VW ID.2. The company is also pledging to introduce a further five models by 2026.
Sales of vehicles from the ID range have massively exceeded VW’s initial expectations, with a total of 500,000 units being delivered since the ID.3 first reached consumers in September 2020.
The ID.7 has been designed to build on their success, by not only unlocking the luxury segments within the electric vehicle market, but also increasing VW’s global electric offerings. Indeed, the ID.7, which will be VW’s inaugural electric saloon and the flagship model of the ID range, will be the firm’s second global EV that utilises their proprietary MEB architecture.
Although exact specifications and powertrain details will remain firmly sealed behind closed mouths until the second quarter of 2023, the vehicle itself was showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
The car was unveiled whilst being enveloped in an elaborate, QR code-esque, multi-layered paintwork camouflage, that used a staggering 40 separate paint layers with electroluminescent properties. The aerodynamically oriented shape of the ID.7 echoes the ID Aero concept vehicle that was introduced in 2022.
Volkswagen claims that the sloping nature of the design, in conjunction with front air intakes that form an air curtain around the sides of the vehicle, significantly increases the VW ID.7’s range capabilities and generate a “very good” drag coefficient rating.
However, it seems that most of the company’s attention has been directed towards the interior and addressing the grievances that previous ID models have encountered. Akin to rivals such as the Tesla Model 3, most of the ID.7’s major functions, such as climate control, navigation, and driver settings, will be controlled through a 15-inch infotainment screen, situated in the centre of the dashboard.
In response to the general frustration at the lack of heating control backlighting that blights the rest of the ID range, the ID.7’s infotainment touchscreen will possess illuminated touch sliders that should make setting adjustments far more user-friendly.
Alongside this, an augmented reality head-up display will be integrated that will exhibit the speed of the vehicle, as well as information from the navigation system. “Smart Air Vents” will also be a new aspect of the broader air conditioning system, which will allow the air flow to either be directed towards specific seats or distributed throughout the interior.
Finally, VW has confirmed that the ID.7 will be able to pre-cool or heat the vehicle (depending on the weather conditions and temperature), by using the location of the key to detect when the driver is about to enter.
According to VW, the ID.7 will be capable of up to 435 miles on a single charge, although it remains to be seen exactly what the ID.7 will achieve. With official specifications yet to be released, the official figure will most likely be based off the ID.7’s capabilities in ideal conditions at low speeds.
When considering that the ID.7 uses the same 400-volt architecture that underpins the rest of the ID range and is able to charge at 170 kW, it can be expected that the ID.7 will boast a larger battery than its comparatively “lower-market” relatives.
Realistically, in normal conditions, the ID.7 should be able to manage a range of around 326 miles (which is the combined range of the ID.4), however, exact specifications may vary between different variants that may be offered in the future.
The ID.7 therefore is verification that VW is aspiring to target all sectors of the EV market with its electric range, in which the ID.7 should help to secure a foothold in the emerging luxury segments, whilst reassuring consumers that Volkswagen is prepared to absorb and act upon consumer feedback regarding software and interior features.
Its primary competitors will include the widely popular Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai Ioniq 6, UK drivers will likely be able to place orders for the vehicle towards the end of 2023, after official specifications have been unveiled and it has gone on sale in Europe.
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