The Shanghai Volkswagen version of the ID.7 has been revealed by a government regulator in China and there is a big surprise, in fact quite literally, it is longer and wider than the European version.
Volkswagen currently sells its cars through two main joint ventures, one with SAIC and the other FAW. With the complicated state of companies in China there is also a third venture known as Volkswagen Anhui which is 75% owned by VW (25% JAC) and concentrates on the R&D and production of new energy vehicles.
Like with Volkswagen’s ICE cars the ID. range is currently split between the two main JVs. While there is a degree of variation in the ICE models of the competing JVs when it comes to the ID. range each one is duplicated with the exception of the ID.3 which is only produced by Shanghai Volkswagen.
The ID.7 S revealed in the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) listings is the one produced by Shanghai Volkswagen (SAIC) – the FAW version is the ID.7 Vizzion. While the ID.7 S is overall larger than the European version it should be noted it’s not a long wheelbase version, the wheelbase remains unchanged at 2966 mm.
Nonetheless length is up significantly on the European version at 5026 mm versus 4961 mm. This translates into both longer overhangs at the front and back. In front it is up 39 mm for a total of 946 mm. Rear overhang is 1114 mm compared to the original 1088 mm. Width is almost the same at 1864 mm against 1862 mm. Height is slightly down at 1537 mm compared to 1538 mm.
China is no stranger to lengthened cars but this has usually been of premium models and via way of long wheelbase versions. There have however been some stretched versions of more mundane cars including many years ago the Citroen ZX Fukang. In more recent years the Skoda Yeti got a 60 mm plug for China and the third generation Ford Mondeo was 10 mm longer.
Power comes from a rear mounted 170 kW motor, there will also be a dual motor version available. Will the extra length of the ID.7 in China help it win sales? We will keep an eye on it!
