This is the first look at VW’s highly anticipated electric station wagon

If the Watson comment column were representative of Switzerland, half the country would be eagerly awaiting an electric station wagon. Whether that is really the case, we will see next year at the latest, when VW rolls out its first electric station wagon.

According to Motor1, a prototype of the electric station wagon has now been spotted during a test drive near the German city of Kiel. Until the official unveiling, the vehicle will have a fairing with a fake grille and tailpipes designed to mimic an internal combustion engine car.

The name of the E-Kombis has been VW’s well-kept secret so far. The only thing that is clear is that it is a variant of the ID.7 luxury sedan presented in April. The name ID.7 Variant is therefore conceivable.

The ID.7 in combination form

The photos published by Motor1 show the ID.7 sedan’s 15-inch touchscreen. The station wagon should also inherit the sedan’s head-up display and higher-quality interior compared to previous ID models.

Also technically, the station wagon will largely correspond to the sedan. At the start, it should therefore be equipped with rear-wheel drive with a single engine and a power of 210 kW. A more powerful version with twin engines and all-wheel drive is likely to follow a little later. Customers will probably be able to charge quickly with 200 kW and, as with the ID.7, can choose between batteries with 77 or 86 kWh. Due to its less streamlined design, the station wagon will probably not quite reach the maximum range of the sedan of up to 700 kilometers.

Don’t start before 2024

Motor1 expects a presentation later this year, but is likely to be delivered in 2024, especially as the ID.7 saloon and the last combustion engine Passat will launch in autumn 2023.

It is not yet known what the E-Kombi will cost. According to VW, the sedan should be available for “well under 60,000 euros”.

The now almost completed electric station wagon is based on Volkswagen’s Vizzion Concept presented in 2019 (see slideshow at the end of the article).

In addition to VW, BMW, Opel and Peugeot have also announced or already presented e-combi’s. The Peugeot e-308 and the technically almost identical Opel Astra Electric should be available from the summer of 2023. Prices have not yet been announced.

(oli)