WhichEV journeyed to the World Premiere of the Volkswagen ID.7 and we were not disappointed. With an evolved powertrain that is capable of 435 miles on a single charge, the ID.7 feels destined to take on the Phaeton’s position as the German brand’s luxury saloon crown. An electric Phaeton was rumoured as far back as 2015, but never transpired. Will the ID.7 be capable of filling that position?
In a word, yes. The ID.7 is almost 5 metres long and VW describes it as a limousine. There is a 15in infotainment screen, augmented reality HUD, massage chairs, panoramic sunroof, switchable smart glass and a new air conditioning system that aims to deliver optimum comfort. The ID.7 has passed through a road-testing cycle and is now being lined up for production.
With the new massage seats and the electronically dimmable panoramic sunroof, the ID.7 offers equipment options that are otherwise present only in the higher classes of premium competitors. The new panoramic sunroof with smart glass can be switched between opaque and transparent settings by touch control. Like many other functions in the ID.7, the roof can also be operated by means of natural voice commands – this takes place using the new IDA voice assistant.
The optional front seats are also a new development: for the first time in a Volkswagen, they optionally offer adaptive seat Climatronic – with cooling or heating as required and also a drying function.
A massage function with a seal of approval from the German Campaign for Healthier Backs (AGR) is also available. The range of options is rounded off by a 700-watt sound system from Harman Kardon: 14 high-end loudspeakers, including centre speaker at the front and subwoofer in the luggage compartment, provide an impressive sound experience with the new Volkswagen limousine.
The Travel Assist with swarm data function can take over lateral and longitudinal control of the ID.7 as needed. Volkswagen developed this feature together with CARIAD, the software company of the VW Group. If desired, the ID.7 can also use Travel Assist to support assisted lane changing on the multi-lane motorway at speeds above 90 km/h. The driver monitors this, but the strain of driving is significantly reduced. When it comes to parking, the electric Volkswagen can independently perform assisted manoeuvres in different ways. One of these is parking with a memory function that works over a distance of up to 50 metres. For this, the driver either remains sitting in the ID.7 or monitors the parking procedure from outside the vehicle using the smartphone app.
Accelerated electric offensive: ten new models by 2026. The new ID.7 is one of ten new electric models that will be launched by Volkswagen by 2026. This year alone sees the introduction of the new ID.3, the ID. Buzz with long wheelbase and the ID.7. An electric compact SUV and the production version of the ID. 2 – all at a price of less than €25,000 – are planned for 2026. VW hopes that this will give them a broader range of all electric options than their nearest rivals. The new ID.7 will be produced in the Volkswagen plant in Emden (Germany) for the European and North American markets. In China, the corresponding ID.7 models will be produced locally.
Thomas Schäfer, CEO of Volkswagen Passenger Cars, was clearly happy with his team’s efforts. “With the ID.7 we are taking the next step in our electric offensive,” he said. “The limousine offers a high level of comfort and long ranges. Already by 2026, we will offer the widest electric range of all manufacturers in Europe – from the entry-level model for less than 25,000 euros up to the ID.7 as the new top model within the ID. family. Our goal is to achieve an electric car share of 80 per cent in Europe by 2030. As from 2033, Volkswagen will produce only electric vehicles in Europe.”
Its roof slopes elegantly to the rear in coupé style and contributes to achieving an excellent drag coefficient of about 0.23 depending on the vehicle equipment. The long wheelbase and short overhangs create plenty of space in the vehicle interior for all occupants.
We’re keen to see how this new high-end vehicle drives – and we’ll be trying every seat, to make sure we get the full experience. If you're interested in knowing when it will be available to test drive and order, click here.
