VW ID.7 shatters official range, driving 584 miles on single charge

A Volkswagen ID.7 has covered 584 miles on a single charge, beating its official range by more than 140 miles.

The factory-standard car acheieved the feat during a range test at the 7.8-mile Nardo proving ground in southern Italy, smashing the WLTP-claimed range of 441 miles by almost a third.

The German manufacturer used an unmodified ID.7 Pro S, which comes with an 86kWh battery and produces 282bhp from a single motor on the rear axle.

Although it’s an impressive figure, the challenge did vary from the standard WLTP assessment, focusing on how the car performs in urban driving.

The test involved several traffic and endurance scenarios to reflect the flow of traffic in Amsterdam and Hamburg, and took place in temperatures ranging from 5C to 15C.

Using data sourced from sat nav manufacturer, TomTom, VW cited that the average speed in Amsterdam was 19mph and 14mph in Hamburg, although the average speed recorded by the ID.7 at the end of the test was 18mph.

This is significantly lower than the 29mph averaged in WLTP testing, meaning that the car experienced less aerodynamic drag, and friction on its motor.

In addition to its 584 mile record, the ID.7 recorded a consumption rate of 6.75m/kWh – more than one and a half times its official efficiency of 4.4m/kWh.

VW attributes the success of the run to the ID.7’s 86kWh battery, new, efficiency-focused APP550 electric motor, and low drag coefficient of 0.23 in fastback form.

Following its 2024 debut, the ID.7 has proved a hit for VW and has earned several accolades including German Car of the Year, Autocar’s Best Saloon award, and the What Car? Safety Award.

According to VW, the ID.7 is now outselling the Passat.

“We are seeing a positive trend in incoming orders in Europe and are currently selling more ID.7 models than [the] Passat,” said VW marketing and aftersales chief, Martin Sander.
“This shows that the ID.7 is a meaningful all-electric addition to the brand’s product portfolio and, in addition to our successful Passat, is also suitable for long distance drivers and as a company car.”

Pricing for the ID.7 starts at £51,580 for the entry-level Match trim, £55,480 for the mid-tier Pro S Match, and £62,010 for the flagship GTX 4Motion.