Late Tuesday, Volkswagen revealed the next salvo of its electric car onslaught in the form of the ID.7, a midsize sedan that will replace the Passat in the U.S.
VW only showed a camouflaged prototype, though the automaker also showed off the interior. The prototype will be unveiled at the 2023 CES in Las Vegas from January 5-8, and will appear without camo gear in the second quarter of 2023.
Similar prototypes of the ID.7 have been spotted in the wild for more than a year, and VW previewed the design of the ID.Aero concept car last June. The ID.7’s design is toned down compared to the ID.Aero, but thanks to its coupe-like profile and typical ID styling cues, it will still be an attractive option in the EV market.
Volkswagen ID.7
The ID.7 has a wheelbase of 116.9 inches and is expected to be around 197 inches in overall length. Underpinning it is the VW Group’s MEB platform designed for mainstream EVs, with maximum EPA-measured range expected to be north of 300 miles.
Volkswagen ID.7
VW describes the ID.7 as the flagship of its ID electric car range, and in keeping with that positioning, the automaker has equipped the sedan with top-of-the-line cabin tech. Confirmed features include an augmented reality head-up display, a 15-inch touchscreen for infotainment, and a climate control system that can direct air toward the occupants or spatially cover the cabin. VW also offers touch sliders for many of the controls, which can be cumbersome while driving, although the automaker has also included voice activation as an alternative to touch sliders in many situations.
China will be the first market for the ID.7, with sales starting in the second half of 2023. Sales in North America and Europe will follow, which means it could arrive in the US as a 2024 model.
Volkswagen ID.7
While the ID.7 will serve as the spiritual successor to the Passat, which was discontinued in the U.S. after 2022, a redesigned Passat, possibly just a wagon, is being developed for the rest of the world.
VW has more ID EVs, as the ID.7 is one of only 10 EVs the automaker will launch in 2026. The size of the current Atlas midrange. A wagon version of the ID.7 is also possible, as is the Tiguan-sized crossover. Elsewhere, VW plans to update its ID.3 compact hatchback, a new ID.2 subcompact crossover, and its much-hyped Project Trinity technology flagship.