Volkswagen aims to dethrone the Tesla Model 3 with its long-range ID.7 electric car

Volkswagen is pulling the lid off its flagship ID.7 electric vehicle, aiming to rescue the sedan from the dustbin of car history. After teasing it at the Consumer Electronics Show earlier this year, the ID.7 makes its official debut at the Shanghai Auto Show today.

Volkswagen is still keeping some key details under wraps. Crucially, we still don’t know how much it will cost. This will help answer the question of whether the ID.7 can dethrone the Tesla Model 3 as one of the best-selling electric cars in the world. Sales of the ID.7 will begin in China later this year, followed by the United States in 2024.

As a sedan, the ID.7 has plenty going for it, including a roomy interior, great aerodynamics, and a healthy amount of range. An 86 kWh battery is expected to push the ID.7 to nearly 700 km (435 miles) of range based on the WLTP standard, while the smaller 77 kWh battery can get you 615 km (382 miles). (The EPA-based range is likely lower.)

The ID.7 will be able to afford a lot more than VW’s ID.4 SUV. While this EV can accept up to 125kW of DC fast charging, the ID.7 can take up to 170kW of fast charging, while the newer ID.7 Pro S will be able to accept 200 kW. The ID.7 will also have a more powerful engine than the ID.4, capable of producing 282 hp compared to the 201 hp.

The ID.7 is based on the ID Aero concept, which was revealed last year as a model designed for production in China. Like the concept, the new EV will be built on VW’s modular electric motor matrix (MEB), which also supports other ID models, such as ID.4 and ID Buzz. It will feature a very low drag coefficient of 0.235, which will put it on par with German luxury electric cars, such as the BMW i4 and Mercedes-Benz EQS. The next-generation MEB will serve as the platform for the ID.2all, a more affordable EV hatchback priced under $27,000.

The ID.7 also has the potential to capture the mantle of the Passat, which has struggled to keep up with the larger, heavier vehicles in VW’s lineup. The Arteon is offered as a facelifted Passat, which could open the door to the sporty intent of the ID. Maybe we’ll get an R-Line version somewhere down the line.

And while it may be a sedan, it’s still bigger than a Passat or Arteon. The ID 7 is 195.3 in (4,961 mm) long and has a wheelbase of 116.8 in (2,966 mm). The luggage compartment, with a capacity of 532 liters, should be spacious for both passengers and cargo. The ID.7 is 73.3 inches (1,862 mm) wide (without outside mirrors) and 60.6 inches (1,538 mm) tall, giving it an overall shape that is taller and taller than the Tesla Model 3.

Some of the biggest updates can be found inside the ID.7, where Volkswagen has reimagined its cockpit design to include an augmented reality display. The digital instrument panel is integrated into the instrument panel behind the steering wheel. And physical buttons continue to be a thing of the past, with VW directing most of its controls through a central touchscreen (although customers have repeatedly expressed a preference for more tactile controls).

The 15-inch landscape display has an all-new menu system that keeps heating and cooling controls as well as seat ventilation on display at all times. Tactile sliders below the screen control the temperature, while the heated steering wheel can be operated using voice activation.

The ID.7’s sleek shape is designed to reduce drag, improve energy consumption, and give the car a longer stride than others in its class. The shape is unique in another important way: It’s a sedan. While most American automakers have eliminated sedans from their lineup in favor of heavier, taller trucks and SUVs, European and Asian automakers continue to produce new versions in hopes of winning over customers who still prefer a smaller vehicle.