Volkswagen late Tuesday unveiled the next salvo of its EV onslaught in the form of the ID.7, a midsize sedan that will replace the Passat in the US
VW only showed a camouflaged prototype, but the carmaker also gave a look at the interior. The prototype is slated to be unveiled at CES 2023 in Las Vegas, taking place Jan. 5-8, and release in Q2 2023 without the camo gear.
Similar prototypes for the ID.7 have been sighted in the wild for more than a year, and VW previewed the design last June with the ID.Aero concept vehicle. The ID.7’s design has been toned down a bit compared to the ID.Aero, but it’s still shaping up as an attractive option in the EV market thanks to its coupe-like profile and signature ID styling cues.
Volkswagen ID.7
The ID.7 has a long wheelbase of 116.9 inches and is expected to have an overall length of around 197 inches. It’s underpinned by VW Group’s MEB platform, which was developed for mainstream electric vehicles, and the EPA-measured maximum range is expected to be north of 300 miles.
Volkswagen ID.7
VW bills the ID.7 as the flagship of its ID family of electric vehicles, and in line with that positioning, the automaker has equipped the sedan with premium cabin technology. Confirmed features include an augmented reality head-up display, a 15-inch touchscreen for infotainment, and a climate control system that can direct air toward an occupant or spatially cover the cabin. VW has also included touch sliders for many of the controls, which can be tedious when driving, although the automaker has also included voice activation, which can serve as an alternative to the touch sliders in many cases.
China will be the first market for the ID.7, with sales scheduled to start in the second half of 2023. Sales in North America and Europe will follow shortly after, meaning it’s expected to arrive in the US as a 2024 model.
Volkswagen ID.7
While the ID.7 will serve as the spiritual successor to the Passat that will be phased out in the US after 2022, a redesigned Passat is being developed for the rest of the world, possibly as a station wagon only.
VW has more ID EVs on the way, as the ID.7 is one of just 10 EVs the automaker will launch by 2026. The US is finally getting the ID.Buzz minivan next year, and will likely also see a three-row SUV sized the current Atlas mid-sizer. An estate version of the ID.7 is also possible, as is a crossover the size of the Tiguan. Elsewhere, VW is planning an updated version of its ID.3 compact hatch, a new ID.2 subcompact crossover and the much-hyped technological flagship Project Trinity.