VW ID.7

The ID.7 is making its formal premiere at the Shanghai Auto Show today after being teased at the Consumer Electronics Show earlier this year.We still don't know the price, which is a significant factor that VW is currently withholding. That will help clarify if the ID.7 will unseat the Tesla Model 3 as one of the most popular EVs on the market. Later this year, sales of the ID.7 will begin in China. The US will follow in 2024.

The ID.7 offers many advantages as a sedan, including a spacious interior, outstanding aerodynamics, and a sizable amount of range. According to the WLTP standard, an 86kWh battery should enable the ID.7 to go up to 700 kilometers (435 miles), while a smaller 77kWh battery should travel up to a respectable 615 kilometers (382 miles). (The EPA-based range probably will be smaller.)The ID.7 can handle rapid charging up to 170kW, but the ID.7 Pro S version will be able to handle 200kW.

The ID.7 is based on the ID Aero concept, a model intended for Chinese manufacturing that was unveiled last year. The new EV will be constructed using VW's modular electric drive matrix (MEB), which also serves as the foundation for earlier ID models like the ID.4 and ID Buzz. Additionally, it will have a drag coefficient that is extremely low (0.235), putting it on level with high-end electric German cars like the BMW i4 and Mercedes-Benz EQS. The ID.2all, a less expensive hatchback EV that costs less $27,000, will be built on the platform of the next-generation MEB.

Inside the ID.7, where VW has redesigned its cockpit to feature an augmented reality heads-up display, are some of the greatest upgrades. Behind the steering wheel, the digital instrument cluster is incorporated into the dashboard. The majority of VW's controls are run through a central touchscreen, despite the fact that customers have frequently stated their desire for more tactile inputs. Physical buttons are also becoming increasingly obsolete.

A brand-new menu system on the 15-inch landscape-oriented screen keeps seat ventilation, heating, and cooling controls always visible. The temperature is managed by haptic sliders beneath the screen, and voice activation can be used to turn on a heated steering wheel.

The ID.7's streamlined form is intended to enhance energy efficiency, decrease drag, and offer the vehicle a longer stride than competitors in its class. Another distinguishing feature of the form is that it is a sedan. While the majority of American automakers no longer offer sedans in favor of heavier, higher-riding trucks and SUVs, European and Asian automakers are still releasing new models in an effort to attract customers who still want a smaller car.