There’s a lot that Volkswagen hasn’t yet said about the ID.7, and I’m hoping to get some answers to a few questions of my own this week at the official launch of the new electric mid-sized sedan. I’m in southern France right now and will be heading out to drive the car in the morning. We know the basic specs without ever sitting our butts behind the wheel. It’s basically a long-wheelbase ID.4, and at least for the first year or two, we’re only going to get it in the U.S. as a rear-wheel drive sedan with a smaller EV battery.
This is a stylish and modern addition to Volkswagen’s electric lineup. It brings the Arteon’s liftback styling to a new generation of VW design, and it looks pretty good doing it. It also looks a bit like someone stepped on an ID.4 and squeezed the excess out forward and backward a bit. Somehow the result isn’t awkward and ungainly. There’s a smoothness to it that I appreciate. It will certainly be less jarring to see in everyday traffic than the ID.Buzz, though not exactly boring.
So we’re probably going to see the 77 kWh battery pack slid under the floor of the ID.7, which is probably good for around 300 miles of range. It’s likely the 86 kWh battery will join, along with a dual-motor all-wheel drive model, in the near future. At launch it’ll only be available in the one configuration for the U.S. market, however. There’s a beautiful wagon version that Volkswagen has teased, but we all know how likely it is for a new wagon to launch in the U.S. market. Keep dreaming.
I’m not under the impression that this thing is a bargain Porsche Taycan, or any kind of “Tesla killer,” but it should be a solid choice, and sporty enough for the average Joe and Jane. The rear-drive model comes with a 282 horsepower motor, and should be good for a five-ish second 0-60. I think that most Americans would say it “has good pickup” or is “zippy,” and that’s all that matters.
They probably won’t sell a million of these, but at its peak in 2012 Volkswagen sold 125,000 Passats in the U.S. and I’m sure there would be a corporate pizza party if they hit those kinds of numbers with the ID.7. So what do you want to know about this unique-looking electric sedan?