Wednesday 4th January 2023

VW previews new ID 7 electric saloon

Enough with all the SUVs already - here's VW's battery-powered take on an old fashioned four door

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It’d be fair to say we like a saloon on PH. From E39 M5 to Audi RS3, there’s something about performance in an unassuming body that really resonates. And while we’re not expecting Tesla busting acceleration from VW’s ID 7 (at least not yet), a more traditional silhouette is welcome for its latest EV. There are only so many SUV derivatives you can feign interest in.

To be revealed in this electroluminescent, digital camouflage at the Consumer Electronics Show - VW’s first CES in six years - the ID 7 is another EV built from the MEB architecture, the toolkit that forms the basis of everything from Cupra Born to ID Buzz. It’s the sixth VW built on it and the second global one (i.e., it’s going to be sold on three continents) after the ID.4, so you’re going to see plenty of it. Bear in mind Volkswagen has already delivered more than 500,000 MEB cars since September 2020, during about the worst time ever for new car production and sales.

Space looks like being the ID 7’s big advantage, its North America-pleasing near-3m wheelbase promises ‘an especially spacious interior that feels more like a luxury sedan’s’. The usual EV packaging advantages mean short overhangs, and design inspired by the ID Aero concept should benefit the all-important drag co-efficient. An estimated range of 435 miles on the WLTP test has already been suggested, which will be music to the ears of those drivers that spend their life on the motorway and might have to swap a trusty Arteon diesel for an ID 7 when the time comes.

It's inside where perhaps the biggest changes from other ID models can be found. VW says it has ‘responded to customer feedback’ - it had to at some point - and ‘improved the customer experience’. So there’s now a larger 38cm screen to aim your punches at, illuminated touch sliders - thank goodness - an augmented reality HUD and a new ‘display concept’, which seems to have smartened up fonts and screens.

Additionally, there are digitally controlled Smart Air Vents, which sound like an irritant rather than improvement, but let’s reserve judgement on that. Apparently, they can heat or cool the car depending on conditions as the driver approaches. Certainly, this interior seems a lot more like the one everything built on MEB should have had to start with.

“With the new ID 7, we are extending our electric model range into the upper segments. The sedan will offer top-class technology and quality. The ID 7 is one of 10 new electric models that we are planning to launch by 2026. Our goal? To deliver suitable products for our customers in every single segment,” said Thomas Schäfer, CEO of Volkswagen passenger cars. CES opens in Las Vegas tomorrow, and a production version of the ID 7 will be shown in the second quarter of this year. Just don’t expect that one to have 40 layers of paint and QR codes everywhere.

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• 2022 VW ID Buzz | PH Review
• VW Golf R Estate (Mk8) vs. Audi RS4 (B8)

[Slowlygettingit]

Ew….
Even that paint job can’t hide that there is a lot of metal above the wheels before you get to the windows.

Don’t think it’ll be a looker and good luck getting out of an arteon diesel into one for similar money….

[Vanden Crash]

As long as they don’t keep updating the screen layout every single update (as Tesla seem fond of doing) I’ll sleep easy

[PistonTim]

Looks far more like a 5 door than a traditional saloon to me?

[Darnoc95]

For an EV i think this looks pretty good! Certainly got the Tesla model 3 squashed frog beat on looks. Range looks promissing also. Looked at an ID4 last year & didnt like the interior but this looks more like old school VW interiors.

[kambites]

Looks like they still haven't got rid of the god-awful touch-sensitive buttons.

[Silvanus]

Other than the updated interior, is this basically a tall saloon version of the ID5, Buzz, Enyaq, e-tron etc?

[Greedydog]

Slowlygettingit said:

Ew….
Even that paint job can’t hide that there is a lot of metal above the wheels before you get to the windows.

Don’t think it’ll be a looker and good luck getting out of an arteon diesel into one for similar money….

Yup, it looks dumpy and heavy. I’m not loving the styling of any of the I.D. range so far, although the I.D. 3 related Cupar Born is better.

[Presuming Ed]

Looks like its not really disimilar to a ID5. Very disappointing. A lot of the mainstream manufacturers are playing way to safe and the challenger products from the US and Asia will clear up if they're not careful. ,

[thelostboy]

Agree, the world seems to have fallen out of life with 'boring' saloons which the Koreans have done well to disguise/disrupt.

This looks like one of those cheap cars built for the South American market (i.e. a familiar look, but ugly from every angle), which they fancy flogging here too.

[Silvanus]

thelostboy said:

Agree, the world seems to have fallen out of life with 'boring' saloons which the Koreans have done well to disguise/disrupt.

This looks like one of those cheap cars built for the South American market (i.e. a familiar look, but ugly from every angle), which they fancy flogging here too.

Or one of those jelly mold cars they use in insurance ads. Take the VW badge off and it's totally anonymous. Who'd have thought it would be the Koreans and Chinese making the interesting looking cars.

[flukey5]

Slowlygettingit said:

Ew….
Even that paint job can’t hide that there is a lot of metal above the wheels before you get to the windows.

Don’t think it’ll be a looker and good luck getting out of an arteon diesel into one for similar money….

I was trying to work out why it looked awkward and you've hit the nail on the head. I'm guessing all that space above the wheels is a consequence of the skateboard EV architecture.

Interior is a near-lawsuit level of similar to a Tesla Model 3 too lol.

[S600BSB]

Good to see VW broadening their EV offer.

[DMZ]

flukey5 said:

I was trying to work out why it looked awkward and you've hit the nail on the head. I'm guessing all that space above the wheels is a consequence of the skateboard EV architecture.

Interior is a near-lawsuit level of similar to a Tesla Model 3 too lol.

Yep. The i4 is quite similar. I suspect when the camouflage comes off there will be visual tricks to hide the bloat. There a bunch of standard ways of doing it.

[kambites]

Silvanus said:

Other than the updated interior, is this basically a tall saloon version of the ID5, Buzz, Enyaq, e-tron etc?

Well it's MEB based if that's what you mean? Ie it's "a tall saloon version of the ID5" in the same way a Passat is a "big saloon version of the Golf" or a 7-series is a "big version of the 5-series".

Platforms shared across multiple models and/or brands is the way of the automotive world these days.

[Silvanus]

kambites said:

Silvanus said:

Other than the updated interior, is this basically a tall saloon version of the ID5, Buzz, Enyaq, e-tron etc?

Well it's MEB based if that's what you mean? Ie it's "a tall saloon version of the ID5" in the same way a Passat is a "big saloon version of the Golf" or a 7-series is a "big version of the 5-series".

Platforms shared across multiple models and/or brands is the way of the automotive world these days.

Firstly it isn't a saloon, it's a bloated hatchback. There seems to be a bigger difference between ICE versions of cars based on the same platforms than there is with EVs, I suspect it's down to packaging limitations and aero. The Koreans have shown you can play around with styling and differentiate models based on the same underpinnings, VW seems to be playing it very safe.

[Motormatt]

kambites said:

Looks like they still haven't got rid of the god-awful touch-sensitive buttons.

Yep, steering wheel looks exactly the same as the current ID offerings complete with the worst haptic buttons imaginable. Illuminating the heating controls is a nice touch though, bringing them up to date with just about every car built since 1975.

[kambites]

Silvanus said:

There seems to be a bigger difference between ICE versions of cars based on the same platforms than there is with EVs,

I can't say I'd noticed that, not that I've really looked. In what way is the difference greater with ICE? In both cases the wheelbase and track width often vary; the suspension kinematics tend to be the same, or at least to be picked from a small list of options available for that platform, but spring and damper rates and static suspension geometry vary. In both cases there's usually a choice of drive-trains, often with some cross-over between models and some options unique to particular models... all seems broadly analogous to me, at least superficially.

Styling is obviously simply a matter of, well, styling. For both ICE and EVs the European manufacturers seem to have been drifting towards a "one design, reproduced at different sizes" approach. I wouldn't say the Enyaq looks particularly like the ID3 though, other than the fact they're both five-door cars with relatively short bonnets. This doesn't even seem to have that in common, it's just another generic modern saloon/hatch/whatever it is. If you took the badges off and told me it was a new Mondeo I'd have no reason to disbelieve you.

Didn't realise this was a hatchback though, I assumed it was a stubby saloon given the article title!

Edited by kambites on Wednesday 4th January 11:37

[JD]

Vanden Crash said:

As long as they don’t keep updating the screen layout every single update (as Tesla seem fond of doing) I’ll sleep easy

I shouldn't worry, as its VW it won't work to start with, and it will never get updated to work properly.

[Silvanus]

kambites said:

Silvanus said:

There seems to be a bigger difference between ICE versions of cars based on the same platforms than there is with EVs,

I can't say I'd noticed that, not that I've really looked. In what way is the difference greater with ICE? In both cases the wheelbase and track width often vary; the suspension kinematics tend to be the same, or at least to be picked from a small list of options available for that platform, but spring and damper rates and static suspension geometry vary. In both cases there's usually a choice of drive-trains, often with some cross-over between models and some options unique to particular models... all seems broadly analogous to me, at least superficially.

Didn't realise this was a hatchback though, I assumed it was a stubby saloon given the article title!

Sticking with VW group, look at the MQB platform, there is a huge variation of body styles and shapes from Audi TT to the VW Arteon and Atlas and loads in between plus a huge variety or engine, gearbox 2/4wd options. most of the EV offerings across the group are tall dumpy looking things, they market them as saloons, crossovers or coupes, when in fact all are ungainly tall hatchbacks. The buying public obviously doesn't mind as I've seen plenty of the ID/e-tron range floating about. Obviously nothing scientific in the above observations, just my opinion.

[kambites]

Silvanus said:

Sticking with VW group, look at the MQB platform, there is a huge variation of body styles and shapes from Audi TT to the VW Arteon and Atlas and loads in between plus a huge variety or engine, gearbox 2/4wd options. most of the EV offerings across the group are tall dumpy looking things, they market them as saloons, crossovers or coupes, when in fact all are ungainly tall hatchbacks. The buying public obviously doesn't mind as I've seen plenty of the ID/e-tron range floating about. Obviously nothing scientific in the above observations, just my opinion.

To my eye pretty much all of VW's ICE vehicles are also dumpy-looking semi-crossover things, I do agree that they at least vary how the boot opens a bit though.