The wagon version of the new electric Volkswagen ID.7 has been spied completely undisguised in Europe.
In images and video taken by Instagram user Audi_pictures and reshared by Wilco Blok, we can see the rather upright styling of what could be called the ID.7 Variant.
Indeed, from the rear it appears almost SUV-like – almost like we’re looking at a Chinese-market VW Tavendor or Viloran from behind.
The wagon will join the previously revealed ID.7 liftback, and ride the MEB electric vehicle (EV) architecture that underpins a glut of Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda, and Cupra models.
With the Arteon exiting production this year and the Passat sedan dead, the ID.7 liftback and wagon and Passat wagon will be Volkswagen’s only vehicles in the mid-sized segment – at least in Europe.
The ID.7 may not come here, with Volkswagen Australia telling CarExpert late last year it’s not a priority for the brand locally.
“We’re not in the project at the moment. We have looked at it a few times, but currently it’s not on our list of ones that we’re trying really hard to bring in,” said Michelle Rowney, head of product for Volkswagen Passenger Vehicles in Australia.
Thanks to its flat underbody and aerodynamic five-door liftback body, the ID.7 has a drag coefficient of 0.23. We’d expect the wagon to have a different figure.
At launch, the ID.7 will be available in a sole single-motor rear-wheel drive configuration with a new in-house developed AP550 motor. Making 210kW and 545Nm, it’s the most powerful electric motor offered so far on the MEB architecture.
A GTX version of the ID.7, to be revealed in September, is likely to feature this motor paired with a less powerful motor up front to generate around 290kW in total.
In addition to the more powerful motor, the ID.7 also ushers in revised components for the MEB architecture. Fast-charging speeds now top out at 200kW, rather than the 170kW on the ID.Buzz and the 125kW limit on earlier models.
The Pro S trim in Europe also comes with a 86kWh battery pack, the largest yet seen on an MEB car, with an estimated WLTP driving range of 700km.
The familiar 77kWh battery from other Volkswagen ID models is also available, and this is said to provide 615km of driving between charges.
Mirroring the updates under the skin, the ID.7 also features a revised interior interface with a 15.0-inch infotainment touchscreen. It not only features an updated user interface with configurable shortcut buttons and climate controls always visible at the bottom of the screen, but is paired with capacitive sliders that are illuminated at night.
Some unloved elements of recent Volkswagens remain, though, including capacitive buttons on the steering wheel, and window switches that require a button press to alternate between front and rear window control.
The brand’s new CEO, however, has been quite candid about working to remove features that alienated customers, including ditching capacitive steering wheel switchgear.
Available features in the ID.7 include an augmented reality head-up display, adaptive Climatronic front seats with heating, cooling, and drying functions, a 700W 14-speaker Harmon Kardon sound system with boot-mounted subwoofer, and a panoramic glass roof that can be electrically switched from transparent to opaque.
When fitted with the Travel Assist feature, the ID.7 can perform assisted lane changes at up to 90km/h when prompted. The car is also capable of automated parking that can monitored from either inside the car, or outside the vehicle via a smartphone app.
The ID.7 is set to be available in Europe and China from the third quarter of 2023, and in the US some time in 2024. European and US models will be built in Emden, Germany, while Chinese vehicles will be built locally.
While Tesla has the Model 3 sedan and Model Y crossover, Volkswagen can counter those with the ID.7 liftback and ID.4 SUV while also uniquely offering a wagon version of its Model 3 rival.
Wagons have remained popular in Europe even as SUVs continue their ascent there, but there hasn’t been much activity in the electric wagon space.
Currently, there’s only the small, budget-priced MG 5 and the high-end Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo and Cross Turismo.
There will soon be more activity in this space, with BMW set to introduce a Touring version of its i5 and Audi having previewed its upcoming A6 e-tron in concept form.
Nio has also revealed a Touring version of its Tesla Model 3-rivalling ET5.
