Volkswagen Takes Wraps Off Battery-Electric ID.7 Sedan

Volkswagen has revealed its new ID.7 in a simultaneous presentation held in the U.S., China and Germany, confirming one of the two rear-wheel-drive launch models will offer a range of “approximately 435 miles” on the WLTP test procedure.

Planned for North American sale in 2024 at a price tipped to start at around $50,000, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Tesla Model 3 rival is the German car maker’s first dedicated electric-powered sedan.

It is also the sixth production model to be based on Volkswagen’s MEB electric vehicle architecture, following on from the ID.3 hatchback, ID.4 CUV, ID.5 CUV Coupe, ID.6 SUV and ID.Buzz commercial vehicle.

VW ID.7 seatback

Among the engineering developments brought to Volkswagen’s first electric sedan is a heavily upgraded synchronous electric motor. Known internally as the AP550, it is based on the unit already used by the other electric-powered ID.-branded models but receives a number of key changes, including a modified rotor, stator and gearbox  –  all claimed to contribute to greater performance and added efficiency.

Power is increased by 80 hp over other existing single-motor, rear-wheel drive ID. models at 282 hp, with torque extending by 177-lb.-ft. (240 Nm) to 402-lb.-ft. (545 Nm).

Electric energy for the ID.7 is provided by a lithium-ion battery housed within the floor of the MEB platform. It comes in two variants; a 77-kWh (105-hp) unit in the ID.7 Pro and an 82-kWh (111-hp) unit in the ID.7 Pro S.

VW ID.7 cabin-1_0

An official range is yet to be confirmed, though Volkswagen says the ID.7 will offer a range of about 382 miles (615 km), with the ID.7 Pro S set to receive a WLTP rating close to 435 miles (700 km). The maximum charging capacity is put at a respective 170 kW and 200 kW on a DC system.

Other ID.7 models, including a dual-motor, all-wheel drive GTX performance model, are planned to be added to the Volkswagen lineup, though they were not detailed at the new sedan’s unveiling.

Wards can confirm the AP550 electric motor will be used on upgraded rear-wheel-drive versions of the ID.4 and ID.5 – both planned to be revealed at in September at the 2023 Munich auto show prior to receiving stylistic updates as part of a more formal facelift during the first quarter of 2024.  

The U.S. product marketing strategy for the ID.7 is for a short list of options, reducing build complexity and making it easy for consumers to order.

Examples of optional equipment include heated or cooled ventilated front seats, an upgraded Harmon Kardon sound system and heated rear seats, says Jeffrey Lear, product manager, electric vehicles for Volkswagen of America, at a media event in New York to unveil the new model.

VW ID.7 rear 3.4_1-1_0

“The goal is to keep it to a minimum list of options,” he says. Standard equipment includes a head-up display with virtual reality. When navigation is in use, the display appears to superimpose a directional arrow on the road ahead, so you can’t miss your turn, Lear says.

At launch, the U.S. market gets a rear-drive version, with a single, 82-kW (110-hp) electric motor. The goal for range is “more than 300 miles (483 km),” the company says. A dual-motor, all-wheel-drive variant comes later.

VW officials won’t narrow down when the 2025-model-year ID.7 goes on sale in the U.S., beyond saying calendar-year 2024. Lear doesn’t even say which quarter.

That could mean fall 2024, but exceptions to the traditional fall start to the model year are common. The ID.7 launch is scheduled for fall 2023 in Europe and China.

There’s no “frunk,” or front trunk, on the ID.7. There just isn’t room, Lear says, with other components under the hood, like the 12V battery and the compressor for heating, ventilation and air conditioning, plus leaving room for the front motor for the AWD model.

“It all takes up a lot of room,” he says, and the exterior styling calls for very short front and rear overhangs. “The goal was maximum interior space.”

– Jim Henry contributed to this report.