VW ID.7 Sets Its Sights on the Tesla Model 3

Jay Ramey
·4 min read
2023 volkswagen id7 prototype
VW ID.7 Sets Its Sights on the Tesla Model 3Volkswagen

  • VW reveals camouflaged ID.7 sedan, promising up to 435 miles and headed into production soon.

  • The midsize electric fastback will compete with the likes of the Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai Ioniq 6 at a time when a number of competitors finally are targeting this segment.

  • The 2024 ID.7, set to be built in Emden, Germany, is headed to North America as the second ID model to be sold here, along with the ID.4 that is now produced in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Volkswagen is using the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas to reveal the battery-electric ID.7—albeit in camo—closely resembling the ID. Aero concept that debuted last summer.

The ID.7 will use a version of the MEB platform that underpins the current crop of ID models including the ID.4, but is expected to offer a much larger battery, good for around 700 kilometers or 435 miles.

That's a range category that we haven't seen from any of the existing ID models released around the world to date, and it shows Wolfsburg aiming for the space just below the high-priced EV sedans from German and American competitors. Of course, we expect to see at least a couple of battery options, so take the 435-mile figure with an asterisk.

"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," said Thomas Schäfer, CEO of Volkswagen Passenger Cars. "The ID.7 is one of ten new electric models that we are planning to launch by 2026. Our goal? To deliver suitable products for our customers in every single segment."

2023 volkswagen id7 prototype
The ID.7, previewed earlier by the Aero concept, will follow VolkswagenVW

Admittedly it's tough to get a sense of scale from the first photos of the ID.7, which will be revealed in production form later this year. But with an overall length of 194.5 inches it's almost 10 inches longer than a Tesla Model 3, and will be about 4 inches taller as well, at 60.2 inches. Volkswagen certainly needs to field a competitor for the Model 3—while seeking to offer owners a lot more space inside. Beyond interior packaging, aerodynamics are another reason we'll see a profile like this.

2023 volkswagen id7 prototype
The ID.7 will land at a time when EVs are gaining market share and the competition is ratcheting up.VW

"Air intakes located in the front end guide the air flowing through them down the sides of the vehicle to the rear in a targeted way," the automaker notes. "They therefore form an air curtain, which calms the air flow at the sides of the vehicle. The roof slopes to the rear" to improve airflow.

Inside, VW promises a massive 15-inch screen in addition to the augmented reality head-up display, along with smart features like climate controls that can detect when the owner is approaching the vehicle and turn on the heat or the cold air, depending on the outside temperature. The ID.7 will also take voice commands for a number of vehicle systems, including climate control.

When will we see the ID.7 in production?

2023 volkswagen id7 prototype
The ID.7 will offer a 15-inch infotainment screen, among other items.VW

The model will begin rolling off the assembly line in Emden, Germany, later this year, after a full reveal in the second quarter of 2023.

The 2024 ID.7 will be the sixth model to enter production in the current crop of ID vehicles that have been revealed to date, even though just one of them is currently on sale in the US.

VW has already confirmed for nervous buyers (and dealers) that the ID.7 is headed to North America, where it will compete with the likes of the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and the older Model 3, which hasn't seen much direct competition since its debut in 2017. VW certainly wants a piece of that action.

Will the VW ID.7 do well in sales against the Model 3, or does Tesla's midsize sedan offer something VW does not? Let us know your thoughts below.