Volkswagen has opened orders for its ID.7 electric saloon – the brand’s first all-electric upper mid-sized car and the new pinnacle of its range.

The ID.7 Pro Launch Edition enables fast DC charging at up to 175kW and offers a 384-mile range from its 77kWh battery

Prices start from £55,570 – and VW is offering a number of “highly attractive offers” until 2 January 2024.

Unveiled in April this year, the Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai Ioniq 6 rival is designed as a “comfortable limousine for long distance travel”, opening up a new segment in the ID family and indirectly replacing the Passat and Arteon.

A Tourer fully electric estate version will follow next year but for now the focus is on the saloon.

The introductory model, the ID.7 Pro Launch Edition, enables fast DC charging at up to 175kW and offers a 384-mile range from the 77kWh battery. A Pro S version due to arrive in 2024 will allow charging at up to 200kW and is projected to have a range of about 430 miles thanks to its larger 82kWh battery.

The powertrain features a newly developed drive unit that’s the most powerful and highest-torque electric drive motor in a Volkswagen ID. model so far, with 286hp on tap.

“We are really excited to introduce the ID.7 to our customers,” said Rod McLeod, director of Volkswagen UK. “We know lots of people – including many business drivers – have been eagerly awaiting its arrival. The ID.7 is a hugely attractive package, offering state-of-the-art technologies that impress through their exclusivity, premium comfort and a really high degree of everyday usability.”

Almost five metres long, the ID.7 features an aerodynamic design that uses a long wheelbase and short overhangs to create “exceptional space” for occupants.

The luxury focus for the interior includes high-quality materials, smart air conditioning and a new panoramic sunroof with smart glass that can switch between opaque and transparent settings by touch control or voice commands, using the new IDA voice assistant. Other onboard tech includes head-up display and a 15-inch infotainment screen, featuring illuminated sliders to control cabin temperature.

The ID.7 also debuts optional ergoActive premium seats, certified by the German Campaign for Healthier Backs (AGR) and offering massage programmes, automatic air con and an advanced activation function for muscle groups in the spine and pelvic regions.

Driver assistance include Travel Assist with swarm data, which introduces assisted lane changing at speeds above 90km/h (56mph) on motorways, and automatic parking with memory function over a distance of up to 50m.

Volkswagen is marking the arrival of the ID.7 Pro Launch Edition with a number of money-saving offers and finance packages.

Retail customers ordering an ID.7 by 2 January 2024 can get a free Ohme wall charger, or £750 in charging credit from We Charge by Elli, a public charging network owned by Volkswagen

VW is also offering a £3,000 deposit contribution alongside a 4.9% personal contract plan (PCP) from Volkswagen Financial Services; a separate fixed-price servicing plan is also available for customers to buy.