Volkswagen ID.7: This is It

Tim Healey
by Tim Healey

We've been covering the Volkswagen ID.7 in the lead-up to today's unveiling, and now we have the official deets.


The ID.7 will launch first in Europe and China this fall before coming to North America in 2024.

EV ranges keep climbing upward, and Volkswagen claims that one version of the ID.7 -- the Pro S with an 86 kWh battery -- will have a range of up to 435 miles. Meanwhile, the ID.7 Pro with a 77 kWh battery will get up to 382 miles of range.

VW is promising some other interesting tech -- a standard augmented reality head-up display, massaging climate-controlled seats, and "smart" air vents that are "interactive."

The ID.7 sedan won't be small -- the car is 195.3 inches long. It's long and low, with a 116.8-inch wheelbase, short overhangs, and the lowest model checking it at 60.6 inches. The drag coefficient can go as low as 0.23.

Power is a claimed 282 horsepower and it comes from a permanent magnet synchronous motor. There's a two-stage, one-speed gearbox to get that power to the ground.

The 77 kWh battery in the Pro will have up to 170 kW in DC fast charging, with the other battery having up to 200 kW. The battery will be preconditioned for charging whenever the driver uses the nav system to guide the car to the nearest charging station.

Interior features include a digital dash and optional ambient lighting. VW says the head-up display is customizable so that the driver can get the info they want while keeping their eyes on the road. The system will project information such as vehicle speed relatively close to the driver, but other info, such as navigation turn arrows, will be spaced further out. Additionally, that info will match up with the real world. Meaning that things like turn arrows should align with the street you need to turn onto.

The infotainment screen is 15 inches and split up -- it's also customizable.

Unfortunately, Volkswagen is continuing to use touch sliders for audio and climate controls. Speaking of audio, a Harmon Kardon system that has four modes meant to adjust for music/sound type is available. The car also has a voice assistant.

Optional seats can automatically adjust their climate control based on temperature and moisture sensors. Oh, and they can massage your back.

Meanwhile, smart vents open and close automatically in order to keep the climate at the desired setting.

Other notable features include a panoramic sunroof with glass that can switch between opaque and transparent, assisted parking, limited assisted driving -- Europe only for now -- and assisted lane changing (it's unclear if that's Europe only or available elsewhere.

Outside, key details include LED lighting and light strips front and rear.

My quick take is that this car has handsome exterior looks, at least based on the photos, but I am saddened that VW has continued to double down on haptic-touch sliders and knob-free interiors.

We'll know more about things like pricing and other specs as we get closer to launch.

[Images: Volkswagen]

Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by  subscribing to our newsletter.

Tim Healey
Tim Healey

Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.

More by Tim Healey

Comments
Join the conversation
2 of 28 comments
  • Master Baiter Master Baiter on Apr 18, 2023

    "ICE engineers took their sweet time giving us reasonable specific output..."


    Cars from the 60s were fast, but they polluted a lot; pollution controls added in the 70s killed horsepower. It took 30 years to figure out how to make powerful, clean-burning engines.

  • YellowDuck YellowDuck on Apr 18, 2023

    Yes thank you!

  • Rochester We'll probably be trading in our 2018 Touring Edition Forester for the next model, and are waiting to see what the Hybrid is all about. Would be nice if they disclose whether or not it will be a plug-in Hybrid.
  • CEastwood I have a friend who drives an early aughts Forrester who refuses to get rid of it no matter all it's problems . I believe it's the head gasket eater edition . He takes great pains regularly putting in some additive that is supposed prevent head gasket problems only to be told by his mechanic on the latest timing belt change that the heads are staring to seep . Mechanics must love making money off those cars and their flawed engine design . Below is another satisfied customer of what has to be one of the least reliable Japanese cars .https://www.theautopian.com/i-regret-buying-a-new-subaru/
  • Wjtinfwb 157k is not insignificant, even for a Honda. A lot would depend on the maintenance records and the environment the car was operated in. Up to date maintenance and updated wear items like brakes, shocks, belts, etc. done recently? Where did those 157k miles accumulate? West Texas on open, smooth roads that are relatively easy on the chassis or Michigan, with bomb crater potholes, snow and salt that take their toll on the underpinnings. That Honda 4 will run forever with decent maintenance but the underneath bits deteriorate on a Honda just like they do on a Chevy.
  • Namesakeone Yes, for two reasons: The idea of a robot making decisions based on algorithms does not seem to be in anyone's best interest, and the thought of trucking companies salivating over using a computer to replace the salary of a human driver means a lot more people in the unemployment lines.
  • Bd2 Powertrain reliability of Boxer engines is always questionable. I'll never understand why Subaru held onto them for so long. Smartstream is a solid engine platform as is the Veracruz 3.8L V6.
Next