if there is something the Volkswagen ID.7 makes you realize just how impressive the Tesla Model S was when it arrived over a decade ago. After all, we all know that technology moves fast, and yet somehow, despite multiple withdrawalsthe Model S remains a benchmark for large sedan-bodied long-distance electric land yachts.
However, Volkswagen may finally be about to challenge it with this one: the ID.7. It takes on the Model S not only in terms of technology (there’s a lot of it), but also in terms of efficiency and refinement and comfort on the road. More on that in a bit, as technology and the electric powertrain are the big news here.
First of all, underneath the VW ID.7 is the same MEB platform that underpins all other ID models, including the ID.Buzzwhich surprisingly is actually quite a bit shorter than the ID.7 at 4.96 metres.
Power comes from a new braking-horsepower 282 permanent-magnet synchronous electric motor driving the rear wheels (for now, at least, since a four-wheel-drive model is likely), while options for Battery packs will include the 77-kilowatt-hour (usable) lithium-ion pack already familiar from the ID.3. Using the ID.7’s aerodynamic shape, VW also reportedly achieved a coefficient of drag of just 0.23, which equates to 382 miles of range and makes it one of the most efficient electric vehicles on sale.
A Pro S version with an 86 kWh battery is the flagship model, which could see the ID.7 hit the magic milestone of 700 kilometers (435 miles) for the official WLTP range.
WIRED drove a standard pre-production 77 kWh Pro variant of the ID.7 at a VW-hosted press launch in Alicante, Spain, and we averaged 3.4 miles per kilowatt-hour on a variety of faster mountain roads and tricky city roads. , for a real world range of 262 miles, not amazing, but not terrible given the twisty route either.
Photography: Volkswagen
The charge is 170 kW, according to ID.Buzz, so expect a 10 to 80 percent charge in 30 minutes if you’re lucky and hit full charging potential. However, the Pro S will apparently handle speeds up to 200 kW. Recharging from a 7 kW home wall box will take around 12 to 15 hours, but it’s strange (and very disappointing) that Volkswagen doesn’t offer vehicle-to-device charging on the ID.7, a prominent feature on Kia’s competition. and Hyundai, for example.
slippery hall
It can be said that aerodynamics has largely led the design of the ID.7, as it looks quite similar to other large aerodynamics-focused sedans. VW has gone to great lengths to keep the final design under wraps, but considering it’s almost identical toward ID. Aero1 Concept shown in the middle of last year, one wonders why.
Photography: Volkswagen