After a six-year absence, Volkswagen has chosen the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas to present the production version of the ID concept. Aero. Or what is the same: the Volkswagen ID.7, its first fully electric saloon that will replace the Volkswagen Passat (it will only keep its Variant family body) and points directly at the Tesla Model 3 target. However, it has been a half presentation because the model was completely covered by a digital camouflage that, yes, It revealed an interesting interior.
The Volkswagen ID.7 is based on the MEB architecture, which has been upgraded to MEB+. Not surprisingly, the German brand describes it as the flagship of its ID family of electric cars: It measures 4.94 meters long, 1.86 meters wide and 1.53 meters high. Its wheelbase is 2,969 meters: 9.4 centimeters longer than the Tesla Model 3 and 16.5 centimeters longer than the Volkswagen Passat. Fundamental figures to shape a larger interior.
Volkswagen’s goal is to turn the Volkswagen ID.7 into its only offer for segment D, shrinking in Europe: it should be remembered that no more versions of the Volkswagen Arteon and Passat are expected when the switch to electric vehicles takes place.
Under digital camouflage
Despite the camouflage, which we will talk about now, it is possible to recognize the elegant lines on the body of the Volkswagen ID.7 which is, at the same time, very aerodynamic: Just look at the roof or at the front to check it. It is here that we find some clever air intakes, which channel air down both sides of the vehicle and towards the rear. The objective, as always happens in electric cars, is to increase autonomy and reduce energy consumption: the Volkswagen ID. Aero had a drag coefficient of 0.23 Cx, but the number of the production model has not been revealed.
The Volkswagen ID.7 closely resembles the ID prototype. Aero that we met last June, although some details have been toned down for production: a good example of this are the LED headlamps, which are now simpler, the mirror covers, which gain in size, the slightly redesigned bumpers or the alloy wheels with a smaller diameter.
As we said, Volkswagen has used a special camouflage to hide the shapes of the new ID.7: being digital, it creates light effects in different colors and has graphics inspired by QR codes. For it, they have applied forty coats of paint with conductive and insulating properties, which allow lighting 22 areas independently and give rise to a whole show when connected to the sound system. It weighs about seventy kilos.
an improved interior
Nevertheless, the interior of the Volkswagen ID.7 is shown without reservation, showing the final design with production specifications. The improvements are notable compared to the rest of the ID family.
The steering wheel retains the haptic (touch-sensitive) controls, which will be replaced by physical buttons following customer requests. The central screen measures 38 centimeters (15 inches), it is tablet-style, is arranged horizontally and has, at the bottom, a series of touch controls that are now illuminated and adjust both the air conditioning and the volume. It’s paired with a digital instrument cluster and VW’s augmented reality head-up display.
Of course, the highlight is the ‘Smart Air Vents’, that is, the intelligent air conditioning system which recognizes the driver by the key to cool or heat the interior before he gets into the car. You can automatically distribute the air over large areas or direct the flow towards the passengers: these functions can be activated individually, through the central display or by voice commands.
Up to 700 kilometers of autonomy
Being based on the MEB+ platform, the new Volkswagen ID.7 will be able to offer a longer range and shorter charging times. The brand has not yet revealed the technical details, but It has announced its estimated autonomy: up to 700 kilometers, according to the WLTP Cycle. Everything indicates that it will arrive with single and double engine configurations, as well as two traction systems: rear and total (which would come hand in hand with a possible GTX version).
Second quarter of 2023
In the second quarter of 2023, Volkswagen will make a full presentation of the ID.7 when it is officially launched. The German electric sedan It will be available in Europe, China and the United States: China will be the first market where it lands, since sales are expected to start there in the second half of the year. The rest will have to wait a little longer. It will be the sixth model in the ID range and one of the ten new electric ones that Volkswagen will launch until 2026.
