Volkswagen takes on Tesla Model 3 with new ID.7 electric saloon
The ID.7 will come with two battery options when it arrives in showrooms later this year
Volkswagen has launched the ID. 7, a new range-topping electric saloon poised to take on the Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai Ioniq 6.
Adopting a fastback design with flowing lines, it is 195.3 inches long, 60 inches tall, and 73.3 inches wide, with a wheelbase of 116.8 inches. Up front consists of a sculpted bonnet, a full-length light strip similar to the ID.3 hatch, and LED matrix headlights.
When it goes on sale in the summer, it will be available in two versions: the Pro and Pro S, each equipped with different battery sizes.
The Pro model will be powered by a 77kWh net (82kWh gross) battery, which the company says will enable the vehicle to travel up to 382 miles on a single charge. This battery can also be charged at speeds of up to 170kW.
For those seeking even greater range, the top-of-the-line Pro S version of the ID.7 will be equipped with the largest battery ever seen on an electric VW - an 86kWh net (91kWh gross). VW says this will deliver a 435 mile range of a single charge, and can support charging speeds of up to 200kW.
For comparison, the Tesla Model 3 has up to 374 miles of range from a 88kWh battery.
In addition to the larger battery, the Volkswagen ID 7 is also equipped with the automaker's latest electric drive system, which consists of a 282 bhp motor, a two-stage, one-speed gearbox, and an inverter, all of which work in tandem to provide greater thermal load capacity.
Official performance figures have not yet been released by VW, though it’s estimated the car will achieve the 0-62mph sprint in approximately six seconds.
A faster version of the ID.7 with dual-motors and four-wheel drive is expected to be added to the lineup at a later date.
Inside the car features certified 'ergoActive' electric seats with an optional massage function, and a four-layer ambient lighting system.
A backlit bezel surrounds a 15-inch touchscreen, and physical buttons to manually operate the climate controls can be found below it. The car also comes equipped with temperature and moisture sensors to determine the best climate settings.
Behind the steering wheel is a small digital instrument cluster, plus a standard augmented-reality head-up display that projects sat-nav instructions onto the road.
The optional panoramic sunroof can be made opaque or transparent, and a 700-watt Harman Kardon sound system with 14 speakers can also be selected from the options list.
Pricing for the Volkswagen ID.7 has not been announced yet, but it is expected to have a starting figure of around £50,000.