VW ID.7 Tourer GTX: VW's most powerful Variant ever

In the ID.7 GTX, the 210 kW (286 PS) permanent magnet synchronous motor (PSM) of the APP550 type also operates in the rear. Depending on power requirements and driving conditions, the front electric motor can be engaged within fractions of a second. This is an asynchronous motor (ASM) with the designation AKA150. It develops a maximum output of 80 kW (109 PS). In standby mode, the ASM system consumes hardly any energy – a characteristic of asynchronous motors, making them ideal as auxiliary drives, though with some minor energy disadvantages in operation.

The power distribution is controlled via a modified all-wheel drive controller and interventions from the electronic differential locks (XDS+). All this is intended to lead to increased vehicle stability, improved load change reactions, and thus more driving enjoyment.

VW also increased the range between individual driving modes – from maximum comfort to highest sportiness. Additionally, thanks to 4MOTION, the maximum trailer load (braked on an 8 percent incline) rises from 1,000 to 1,400 kg.

The largest VW battery ever: 86 kWh net capacity, HPC charging with up to 200 kW

VW has also upgraded the battery in the ID.7 GTX – the largest in the company's history: it provides 86 kWh (net) of capacity; the gross energy content is 91 kWh. Compared to the 77 kWh battery, the 86 kWh battery is equipped with 13 instead of 12 cell modules, among other things. At DC fast charging stations, it can be charged with up to 200 kW, and here too, charging from 10 to 80 percent is "completed in well under 30 minutes under ideal conditions." There is still no information on the range. According to WLTP, something with a six should be possible, realistically always at least 400 kilometers plus x, even under the worst conditions.

A charging and thermal management system is also in place here to ensure that the battery is conditioned before the next DC charging stop. Thanks to this electronic preparation, the ID.7 GTX Tourer is recharged as quickly as possible on long distances with one or more charging stops. Specifically, the battery is warmed up to an ideal temperature before the charging stop to be able to charge with maximum power. Especially in winter, this can reduce the charging time by several minutes. With active guidance from the optional navigation system with e-route planner, preconditioning for the next fast charging stop is automatically started. Without active route guidance, the function can also be manually activated via the charging menu in the infotainment system. In practice, however, we have had rather mixed experiences with this feature in other models from the group.

Up to ten charging stops can be programmed

But you can program long-distance trips: Routes with up to ten charging stops and ten intermediate destinations can be planned on the smartphone or web portal and then transferred to the infotainment system of the ID.7 GTX Tourer. The software automatically integrates the ideal charging stops into the navigation system's guidance, so the driver does not have to search for charging points but simply follows the suggestions of the infotainment system.

Here, too, VW has subtly changed the look – as with the ID.3 GTX, so subtly that only experts will recognize the GTX at first glance. The front end is differentiated here as well with an independent bumper featuring a honeycomb grille and a GTX-typical lighting graphic from the 210 kW models of the series. All black elements are executed in high gloss. This also applies to the side skirts and the lower area of the rear bumper designed in GTX style. Also always black: the complete outer roof frame strips, otherwise set off in "matte silver." The new 20-inch "Skagen" alloy wheels are also tuned to the GTX design. A new 21-inch alloy wheel will follow as an optional feature. The interior is refined with features such as customized seats (heated in the front) with perforated GTX lettering in the backrests, a GTX-specific multifunction steering wheel with red decorative stitching, red piping on the seats, and red trim in the instruments and door panels.

Up to 1,714 liters of trunk volume

Loaded up to the backrests of the first seat row (roof-high with luggage partition net), 1,714 liters of volume are available. The capacity with five people on board, loaded up to the height of the rear seat backrest, is 605 liters (with the rear seat backrest in the rather uncomfortable upright cargo position). The trunk floor measures 1,075 mm in length up to the rear seat. When the rear seat backrests are folded down, the largely flat loading length increases to 1,948 mm. The maximum width between the wheel arches is exactly 1,000 mm. Essentially strong values and yet we wonder why, at almost five meters in exterior length, the supposedly so space-efficient electric package can't offer even more.