Volkswagen on Monday introduced the following salvo in its EV onslaught within the type of the ID.7, a mid-size hatch that may fill in for the Passat within the U.S. when it lastly goes on sale right here in 2024.

The ID.7’s design is hardly a shock as VW previewed it final summer season with the ID.Aero idea automotive. The ID.7’s strains have been toned down barely in comparison with the idea, although it stays enticing due to a coupe-like profile and typical ID styling cues, together with headlights with matrix LED know-how. On the rear is an LED mild strip whose center is white however adjustments to crimson when the lights are switched on.

The automotive is predicated on Volkswagen Group’s MEB platform designed for mainstream EVs, and measures 195.3 inches lengthy and with a wheelbase of 116.9 inches, making it shut in dimension to the Tesla Mannequin S. That long-wheelbase has enabled VW to suit its largest battery but to an MEB-based automobile, on this case an 86-kwh unit with 200 kw of charging capability. The usual unit is a 77-kwh unit with 170 kw of charging capability, which is anticipated to be the only real battery supplied within the U.S.

Even with the smaller battery, vary remains to be anticipated to high 350 miles when measured by the EPA, in line with VW. That is thanks partially to a slippery form whose coefficient of drag is a low 0.23.

On the subject of charging, a thermal administration system preconditions the battery earlier than a charging cease. This preconditioning begins mechanically on the best way to the charging station when the placement is chosen through the navigation.

Simply the one powertrain configuration has been introduced. It consists of a single motor on the rear axle rated at 282 hp. The motor is a next-generation design for the MEB platform. An wheel-drive possibility including a second motor on the entrance axle is deliberate, VW has confirmed.

VW describes the ID.7 because the flagship of its ID household of EVs, and consistent with this positioning the automaker has packed the sedan with top-shelf cabin know-how. Commonplace options will embrace a panoramic sunroof with auto dimming, an augmented actuality head-up show, a 15-inch touchscreen for infotainment, and a climate-control system that may direct air at an occupant or spatially to cowl the cabin. VW has additionally included contact sliders for lots of the controls, which generally is a ache to make use of when driving, although the automaker has additionally included voice activation that may function an alternative choice to the contact sliders in lots of instances.

Automated driver-assist options will embrace VW’s Journey Help with Swarm Knowledge, which builds on VW’s present Journey Help characteristic for automated driving in a single lane, by including crowd-sourced knowledge to permit the system to work in additional areas. Computerized lane adjustments may also be potential with the most recent system.

The park help additionally will get a reminiscence perform the place a parking maneuver masking a distance of as much as 54 ft may be saved. The automotive can then repeat the maneuver mechanically, with the driving force monitoring both from behind the wheel or outdoors utilizing a smartphone app.

The ID.7 hatch is anticipated to reach as a 2025 mannequin. It can comply with the native launch of the long-awaited ID.Buzz minivan which arrives later this 12 months in long-wheelbase guise, doubtless as a 2024 mannequin.

A wagon physique fashion for the ID.7 can be a powerful risk, although VW stays quiet on the matter.

Whereas the ID.7 will function the non secular successor to the Passat that was dropped right here after 2022, a redesigned Passat is being developed for the remainder of the world. Will probably be supplied solely with a wagon physique fashion.