The stella partnership that produced the Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ twins, has taken the wraps off an all-new, fully electric, battery-powered SUV.
The Subaru Solterra takes its name from the Latin words for “Sun” and “Earth” and sits on the e-Subaru Global Platform, a new all-electric vehicle architecture.
Available in two and all-wheel drive form, power comes from a 71.4kWh lithium-ion battery pack, with a 150kW electric motor for the front wheels and 80kW unit for the rear in all-wheel drive models.
Total output however is pegged at 150kW or marginally more at 160kW for the all-wheel drive.
Maximum range is a claimed 530km with two wheels driven, or 460km if all four wheels are brought into play (WLTP).
No word on charge times.
In the tradition of the BRZ sports car, Solterra’s Toyota counterpart is the bZ4X, while the “e-Subaru Global Platform” (e-SGP) is a copy of the Toyota e-TNGA platform.
That said, Subaru says it is committed to electrifying all of its vehicles by 2035.
It plans to develop products that both meet societal needs and contribute to the environment through advanced technologies, contributing to the protection of the environment.
Subaru Australia’s Blair Read said Solterra heralds a new era for the Subaru brand.
“Whilst Subaru Corporation are yet to confirm a timeline for the Solterra in Australia, we are working very closely and future electric projects form part of ongoing dialogue between Subaru Australia and the factory,” he said.
Solterra is designed to be a real Subaru that will meet and exceed customer expectations.
By doing so, it hopes customers can choose it comfortably and confidently, as the vehicle will be the cornerstone of Subaru’s future BEVs.
Solterra has adopted a new system that drives the front and rear wheels with separate motors.
Taking advantage of its expertise in all-wheel drive technology, it fully utilizes four-wheel grip to offer confidence and peace of mind.
Like the other Subaru SUVs, Solterra features the X-Mode all-wheel drive system to enhance the sense of security on rough roads.
By adding a new Grip Control function, which enables the vehicle to run at a constant speed while stabilising the vehicle even on rough roads, the capability is further enhanced.
The launch of Solterra is slated for the middle of 2022 in Japan, the US, Canada, Europe and China — no mention of Australia.
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