2025 Volkswagen ID.7 Unveiled as German Brand’s New Flagship EV
The camouflage is gone now. The all-new Volkswagen ID.7 electric sedan today made its global debut in simultaneous events held in Shanghai, Berlin and New York. What you see here is actually a pre-production model, but the car that will launch on our shores next year should be extremely similar.
Largely inspired by the ID. Aero concept, the ID.7 shares some design cues with other members of the ID. family, including the ID.4 crossover, and rides on the same MEB platform. It’s designed as Volkswagen’s new electric flagship, mind you.
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Standing just under five metres long, the Volkswagen ID.7 is about the same size as the discontinued Passat, but with a much more aerodynamic profile (0.23 drag coefficient), a sleeker roofline and a practical rear hatch instead of a conventional trunk lid. By the way, cargo capacity amounts to 532 litres.
The ID.7 comes with a selection of alloy wheels up to 20 inches in diameter, but their availability will depend on the market.
New Operating Concept
This is the first Volkswagen to feature the German automaker’s new display and operating concept, combining a driver-oriented, 15-inch centre touchscreen (hello, Tesla Model 3) with augmented-reality head-up display. The digital instrument cluster in front of the steering wheel is more conventional than in the ID.4. Same thing for the long centre console with hidden storage and cupholders.
As previously reported, the ID.7 can detect when the driver is approaching based on their key and will already start to cool the interior on hot summer days or heat the interior on cold days before the driver gets into the car. Moreover, newly designed “Smart Air Vents” control the flow of air and move dynamically to distribute the air over large areas as quickly as possible.
Massaging front seats, ambient lighting, an electronically dimmable panoramic sunroof and a 14-speaker, 700W Harman Kardon sound system are optionally available. The pictures also clearly show how the long wheelbase creates generous legroom for rear passengers.
More Power and Range
The Volkswagen ID.7 is the first MEB model with a completely new, highly efficient drive unit. Rated at 282 horsepower and 402 lb-ft. of torque, the motor drives the rear axle. A dual-motor AWD variant will likely follow at some point, but the company made no mention of it today.
Globally, there will be two batteries to choose from, with a usable capacity of 86 kWh and 77 kWh, as well as a projected range of 700 km and 615 km, respectively. Alas, only the smaller battery will be offered in North America. Also, the range estimates are based on the WLTP standard, meaning drivers in Canada should expect something around 500 km. DC fast charging will be possible at up to 170 kW.
Semi-autonomous driving (including assisted lane changes on the highway) and advanced parking assist (which even works when the driver is standing outside the car) are also part of the package.
The Volkswagen ID.7 will be built in China for the Chinese market and at the Emden plant in Germany for the European and North American markets. More details will be shared in the coming months. And remember, the three-row variant of the ID. Buzz will make its debut in June, after which reservations will open in Canada.
