Subaru teases its first electric SUV, the Solterra

KUALA LUMPUR: Just like other automakers, Subaru is also on the way to embrace electrification. The brand recently released a teaser of its first electric car called ‘Solterra’  that it has been co-developing with fellow Japanese carmaker Toyota.

According to Subaru, the name Solterra comes from two Latin words - 'sol' and 'terra' which means sun and earth, it “represents Subaru’s commitment to deliver traditional SUV capabilities in an environmentally responsible package.” It is to be noted here that the EV was earlier referred to as the Evoltis.

Subaru Solterra underpins the e-Subaru Global Platform, an all-electric platform co-developed by the two companies; Toyota calls it e-TNGA. The Toyota bZ4X crossover shown at Shanghai Auto Show last month is based on this architecture only. While explaining the platform's abilities, Subaru stated, it can “combine multiple modules and components, such as the front, center, and rear of a vehicle”, and thus support “various types of EVs.”

In the released teaser images, the compact proportions of the upcoming Subaru electric SUV are clearly visible. Upfront, it features a muscular-looking hood, slim LED headlights, and broad side creases on the bumper. The roofline of the SUV is arched towards its back, while its ground clearance appears to be generous for underbody protection. In the second teaser image, we can see the model’s badge on the tailgate.

While the technical specifications of the SUV have not been revealed, we know that Solterra will have an all-wheel-drive system, which means it will be fitted with a dual electric motor set i.e. one for each end. However, power, acceleration, range, and charging times are all mysteries at the moment.

“Subaru engineers worked to bring together the brand’s all-wheel-drive capability, superior driving dynamics, and world-leading passive safety in a versatile, dedicated EV platform,” says the automaker. As per this, we can expect the Subaru Solterra to get the brand’s Eyesight driver assistance system and, rather, even more, recent tech developments like its Driver Monitoring System.

The Subaru Solterra will go on sale in 2022 in several markets including Japan, US, Europe, and China. Around the same time, Toyota is also likely to introduce its own first fully electric SUV to market.

Also read: Subaru XV gets updates for 2021 in Malaysia