Unveiling of the VW ID.7 GTX: Does It Pack a Punch?
Quantity of ID Needed for Humans? This query might have caught Volkswagen's attention. The car manufacturer from Wolfsburg is launching vehicle after vehicle based on the modular electric construction kit. Is this beneficial? ntv.de delves into this query.
To clarify any confusion: What Volkswagen is marketing as vehicles based on the modular electric construction kit - they're quality products. However, an analysis of the Federal Motor Transport Authority's registration data shows that more than 209,000 out of approximately 228,000 Volkswagen registrations from January to May 2024 were not battery-electric vehicles. That's a hefty figure to digest.
What's the deal then? occasionally issues with deliveries are reported, but examining the model lineup also shows that gasoline engines are still highly sought-after or at least hybrids. For instance, the Golf, with 52,363 registrations in the considered period, is clearly the leading vehicle among the newly registered cars from Wolfsburg. The electric equivalent, ID.3, ranks low at only 6,940 units. Lack of interest in electric cars from the customer base?
Now, Volkswagen could have hoped for a bit more traction with the ID.7 as a tourer, because the commonly desired station wagon segment has yet to be considered in Volkswagen's electromobility. However, less traction in sales, but more so in driving dynamics, is the recently introduced ID.7 GTX as a sedan. This is a substantial car of 4.96 meters with equally substantial 340 horsepower from two motors underneath the well-designed bodywork.
The GTX stands out optically from its more modest model counterparts with its independent front and rear body parts: It's all about honeycomb in the skirts. Gloss-turned aluminum wheels in the 20-inch format accentuate the sporty look. The first test drive revealed that this Volkswagen is far from being an unattractive car. Seats with special perforation that forms the GTX logo, plus red contrast stitching, definitely appeal to the senses and make you want to take a (scheduled) test drive.
Does the ID.7 GTX have enough power?
But Volkswagen must still question if the power is sufficient, which the GTX label claimed for a price of 63,155 Euro. Yes, the material finish is top-notch. And there's a fancy-looking, lit-up ambient lighting plus a large head-up display, plus many other amenities, including an optimized massage seat. And the fast ID.7 should also have comfortable seats, it's meant for long trips.
However, the question arises whether Volkswagen isn't falling short. An 86 kWh battery for around 600 kilometers of range is one thing. But being able to charge from 10 to 80 percent in 26 minutes, as the factory claims, is still a pipedream. But it's also not extraordinary, as a look at products from Genesis, Hyundai, and Kia reveals. There, it goes under 20 minutes. Volkswagen only uses 400 volts on-board voltage and not 800. However, 200 kW peak charging power is acceptable, but you have to wait for the load curve.
The competition for the highly performance-oriented customer lies in another corner - it also comes with a 400-volt on-board network. The Tesla Model 3 Performance, priced from €56,990, may not have the polished interior of the ID.7, but 3.1 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h and a top speed of 262 km/h are striking. Well, the 2.3 tonne all-wheel-drive Wolfsburg model should at least reach highway speed in 5.4 seconds. But could we not expect just a bit more from the ID.7 top model than just the transplanted powertrain of the ID.4 GTX? And with a top speed of 180 km/h, we certainly won't sway performance-oriented gasoline car drivers to electric mobility in this country. And that should be the goal, right?
Of course, under the hood, the ID.7 GTX is a fine sedan with numerous great features, impressive driving performance, lots of practicality (nearly 1600 liters of trunk volume), and solid quality. And the passenger space offering is also impressive, with loads of legroom in the rear being incredibly generous - a wheelbase of 297 meters. But for a performance model, there should be more. Volkswagen should keep that in mind. And even if a top model of a series is no longer a significant seller.
This means that the ID.7 GTX's registration figures won't significantly boost the electric inventory. But the image of electromobility could perhaps be a spearhead in the company with truly compelling features. And that includes some performance. And if it's just charging performance.
Read also:
Despite Volkswagen's focus on electric vehicles, only 209,000out of 228,000 Volkswagen registrations from January to May 2024 were battery-electric, with the ID.3 ranking low in sales compared to the popular Golf. However, the electrified future of Volkswagen models continues with the introduction of the ID.7 GTX, which boasts 340 horsepower from two motors and a substantial size of 4.96 meters.
Future federal regulations, such as those enacted by the Federal Motor Transport Authority, may further push automakers like Volkswagen to prioritize electric vehicles, making the Federal Motor Transport Authority's role crucial in encouraging and guiding the electromobility transition within the automobile industry.
