Volkswagen is providing the world a sneak preview of its newest electric vehicle at this week’s CES consumer electronics show in Las Vegas.
Called the ID.7 and shown in a special luminescent paint designed to camouflage its shape, this large 5-seat electric sedan is slightly bigger than the outgoing Passat. Volkswagen predicts it will have a range of 700 kilometers in European testing.
Tests by the U.S. EPA tend to show shorter ranges. So, we expect the ID.7 to have a range of about 350 miles on a full charge by American standards.
VW will sell the ID.7 — with a coupe-like profile and a super sleek drag coefficient of approximately 0.23 — in Europe, China, and North America.
VW will build it in Germany, so it wouldn’t qualify for federal EV tax credits under the current rules. The ID.7 sits on VW’s modular electric drive (MEB) chassis, and the official world premiere (minus the special paint) will take place in the second quarter of 2023. Sales in the U.S. are to begin in 2024.
Smart Climate Control, Voice Commands
Although details are scant right now, the company says the ID.7 has profited from continued improvements in battery technology and from the feedback provided by owners of some 500,000 MEB vehicles already delivered by VW around the globe since September 2020.
VW says the new ID.7 has a significantly updated user experience with improved software and hardware. These include a completely new information display, a head-up display (with augmented reality), a 15-inch infotainment screen, and air conditioning controls now integrated into the first level of the infotainment system.
Also notable: The climate control benefits from “Smart Air Vents” that dynamically distribute air around the cabin as quickly as possible.
It responds to voice commands. If you say, “Hello, Volkswagen, my hands are cold,” it directs warm air toward the steering wheel.
Thomas Schäfer, CEO of Volkswagen Passenger Cars, says, “With the new ID.7, we are extending our electric model range into the upper segments. The sedan will offer top-class technology and quality. The ID.7 is one of 10 new electric models that we are planning to launch by 2026. Our goal? To deliver suitable products for our customers in every single segment.”
What About That Paint?
Don’t expect to see that trick luminescent paint to appear on any production VWs anytime soon. But it certainly deserves attention because it makes the Volkswagen ID.7 glow. Literally.
When an electrical current is applied to this unique multi-layer paintwork, it illuminates.
VW says the paint has 40 layers — some that are electrically conductive and some with insulating properties. Twenty-two areas can illuminate independently, allowing for patterns. While the QR codes on the hood and sides help disguise the contours of the ID.7 on display at CES, they also provide digital access to more information about this big new electric VW sedan.
The ID.7’s special paint is linked to its sound system. VW says the system can change the paint pattern to the rhythm of the music.
When KBB asked a VW rep about the cost of this special electroluminescent paintwork (which isn’t intended for production), the response came quickly. “Probably more than the price of the entire car.”
