ID family face bolstered by design touches derived from certain models sold exclusively in China. Image: Volkswagen
Previewed in disguised production form at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas at the beginning of this year, Volkswagen used the recent Shanghai Auto Show in China to unveil the uncovered ID.7 sedan markets in Asia and Europe will be receiving later this year.
The replacement for the Passat that will live-on in Europe but only as an estate, the ID.7 joins the ID.3, ID.4, ID.5, ID.6 and ID.Buzz as not only Wolfsburg’s latest dedicated all-electric ID model, but also its first sedan and therefore rival for the Tesla Model 3.
Styled to resemble the Jetta as well as certain Chinese-market Volkswagen models, the most prominent being the drop-snout Lamando, the production version of what until last year was known as the ID Aero B rides on the EV developed MEB platform and measures 4 961 mm long, 1 862 mm wide and 1 538 mm tall while riding on a 2 966 mm wheelbase.
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Further resplendent with a coupe-style sloping rear roofline, which Volkswagen says contributes to a slippery drag coefficient of no less than 0.23, the ID.7’s interior appears noticeably different from that of the recently updated ID.3, albeit still with an emphasis on a minimalistic design despite not being as futuristic.
In this regards, the slim-line centre console houses an expansive storage area that doubles up as access to the USB ports and cupholders, while the thin dashboard sports a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster integrated between the full-width air vents on the driver’s side.
Regardless of whether buyers opt for the Pro or Pro S models, the standard infotainment system is a new 15-inch setup complete with not only Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but also Volkswagen’s latest MIB software and “Hello IDA” voice command that has been refined to include adjusting the air-conditioning vents without any human intervention.
One of the key aspects of the ID.7, the climate control switches remain touch-sensitive, but are now recessed at the bottom of the infotainment display rather than being integrated as with current ID models.
Also included are illuminated touch sliders following an extensive backlash from buyers in Europe last year that attracted the attention and a promise from Volkswagen Passenger Car CEO, Thomas Schäfer, to make illumination available on all future models.
Besides the voice controlled air-conditioning, the heated steering wheel can also be turned-on or off by simply using the command, “Hello IDA, my hands are cold”.
On the equipment side, the ID.7 comes outfitted with a new augmented reality Head-Up Display, a panoramic sunroof that switches between transparent and opaque at the touch of a button, comfort-focused new seats optionally available with heating and cooling, plus a cost-option 14-speaker 700-watt Harman Kardon sound system.
In addition to a series of safety and driver assistance systems Volkswagen didn’t go in exact detail, the ID.7’s Travel Assist system has been revised to include Lane Change Assist that will autonomously switch lanes on highways at speeds up to 90 km/h.
Power-wise, both the Pro and Pro S models produce 210kW/550Nm but from different battery sizes, the former’s module being a 77-kWh unit and the latter’s an 86-kWh.
Respective claimed ranges are 615 km and 700 km, with the former supporting DC charging up to 170 kW and the latter up to 200 kW. No exact charging times were revealed, with the same applying to the rumoured performance GTX model.
Set to be build at the former Passat plant in Emden, Germany that has undergone significant retooling in order to produce only electric vehicles, the ID.7 has not been confirmed for South Africa and is unlikely to be made available anytime soon.
While it is known that Wolfsburg has initiated a viable EV study currently involving the ID.4 for the local market, for now, no definitive plans are in place to put any ID models on-sale in South Africa.
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