Volkswagen’s new electric flagship now has a more practical wagon counterpart, but it’s unclear whether either body style will come to Australia.
Pre-sales of the Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer will begin in Europe in the first quarter of 2024.
The ID.7 Tourer offers up to 685km of range under the WLTP cycle from its 86kWh battery, with DC charging at speeds of up to 200kW.
Autocar reports a smaller 77kWh battery will also be available, with DC charging at speeds of up to 175kW.
Regardless of battery size, all ID.7 Tourer models will use a single, rear-mounted electric motor with 210kW of power and 545Nm of torque, though a more powerful dual-motor all-wheel drive GTX is expected to follow.
Volkswagen says the ID.7 Tourer’s styling is a “fusion of a classic estate [like the Passat] and a dynamic shooting brake such as the Arteon”.
External dimensions are essentially identical to the ID.7 fastback. Both are 4961mm long on a 2971mm wheelbase, and measure 1862mm wide (excluding the mirrors) and 1536mm tall.
There’s 605L of boot space, expanding to 1714L (measured to the roof) when the rear seats are folded.
Standard equipment includes an augmented reality head-up display, a slim digital instrument cluster, 10-colour ambient lighting, keyless entry and start, dual-zone climate control and heated front seats.
19- and 20-inch alloy wheels are available, with 21-inch wheels to follow.
The 15-inch touchscreen infotainment system features Volkswagen’s new IDA voice assistant, which can be operated using natural language and integrates ChatGPT.
An available ‘smart’ panoramic glass sunroof features a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal layer, which allows it to be electronically switched to be either opaque or clear.
There’s a new in-car wellness app, which can adjust the ambient lighting, sound, climate control, sunroof glass and front seats to relax the driver or keep them alert.
Volkswagen also touts air-conditioning vents automatically operated by small control motors, plus ergoActive seats with a pressure-point massage function and automatic air-conditioning.
Autonomous emergency braking and traffic sign recognition are standard. The optional Travel Assist system integrates lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control and emergency assist, and supports assisted lane changes.
An exit warning system provides visual and audible alerts if it detects an occupant is opening the door into the path of another vehicle, and can even briefly prevent the door from being opened.
The German brand has yet to confirm the ID.7 for our market, where it has thinned out its passenger car lineup. It announced last year it was axing the Arteon globally, but also removed the Golf wagon from sale locally and confirmed the Passat wouldn’t continue in our market with the new generation.
Given Volkswagen is prioritising the ID.4 crossover for our market and Australia remains a much less wagon-friendly region than Europe, the ID.7 Tourer isn’t necessarily a shoo-in for our market.
