It’s officially labeled as a concept car, but seeing as how the STI-badged Solterra is merely a body kit and some fancy wheels, it shouldn’t take long until Subaru will have it on sale. The zero-emission SUV gets a front spoiler lip in a contrasting shade, complemented by the extended side skirts and rear under spoiler extending onto the sides of the bumper.

A closer look reveals a chunky roof-mounted rear spoiler with red STI lettering on the endplates along with tiny fins to guide the airflow more efficiently. Sadly, Subaru doesn’t go into any details about its upgraded Solterra, only saying the add-ons accentuate the “superior driving dynamics” of the purely electric SUV.

The regular model has been on sale for a while in Japan whereas the United States will have to wait until later this year when the equivalent bZ4X is scheduled to arrive. While Toyota’s version is going to be available in a front-wheel-drive guise as well, Subaru will sell the Solterra exclusively with AWD courtesy of dual motors producing a total output of 215 horsepower and 246 pound-feet of torque.

The battery pack will provide enough energy for an estimated 220 miles before having to recharge, which isn’t great, but it’s not terrible either. Even with these STI upgrades, it’s easy to tell the Solterra is largely the same EV as the Toyota bZ4X, and while that’s necessarily a bad thing, a bit more variety wouldn’t have hurt.

Source: Subaru

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That’s hardly a surprise seeing as how Subarus are known for sending power to both axles even in their most basic configurations. Joining the Outback, Forester, and Crosstrek in the company’s SUV portfolio for the US, the 2023 Solterra can be had with a single drivetrain setup. You get a combined output of 215 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque along with a battery pack with enough juice for more than 220 miles on a single charge.

There’s not much to say about the design since it’s a spitting image of the bZ4X, with only a few mild modifications to give the Solterra a different identity and bring it somewhat in line with the current Subaru products. A major improvement ushered in by the zero-emissions SUV is on the inside where it gets a newly developed 12.3-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system equipped with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration as well as wireless charging.

As standard, the 2023 Solterra will get LED headlights with high-beam assist, while a 360-degree surround-view camera will be making its debut on a Subaru model. Also worth mentioning is the X-Mode for better off-road performance, combined with 8.3 inches of ground clearance. By riding on a dedicated electric platform, it comes with a completely flat floor in the same vein as its Toyota sibling.

Pricing details have not been disclosed, but Subaru is expected to reveal how much the Solterra will cost closer to the vehicle’s market launch programmed to take place in 2022 when the bZ4X is also due. Meanwhile, here are all the technical specifications released so far by Subie about its electric SUV co-developed with Toyota.

Source: Subaru

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The 2023 Solterra adopts modified headlights and taillights along with a discreetly revised front bumper incorporating fog lights that you’re not going to find in that spot on the equivalent bZ4X. The badge placement is different since it’s mounted just below the frunk’s outline on the Toyota while Subaru’s Pleiades star cluster sits front and center in the mildly tweaked hexagonal grille.

Aside from these changes, the two SUVs are virtually identical, save for the fresh set of alloy wheels for the bZ4X. The angular design of the Subaru looks substantially different than the company’s other models, and it’s easy to notice the body panels are shared with the Toyota model. We could say the same thing about the black plastic body cladding on the wheel arches, the placement of the charging port on the front fender, and the quirky roof-mounted, two-piece spoiler at the back.

The similarities don’t end here as the Solterra and bZ4X largely share the same interior with a center console dominated by a large touchscreen. In both cases, there are several physical controls providing quick access, along with a fully digital instrument cluster mounted near the windshield to be closer to the driver’s line of sight.

As far as the technical specifications are concerned, the Solterra is 4,690 millimeters (184.6 inches) long, 1,860 millimeters (73.2 inches) wide, and 1,650 millimeters (65 inches) tall, which is the same as the bZ4X. Subaru doesn’t specify the length of the wheelbase, but logic tells us it mirrors that of the Toyota, which stretches at 2,850 millimeters (112.2 inches).

While its cousin is also offered in a base version with a single electric motor and front-wheel drive, the Subie will sell its EV exclusively with AWD courtesy of a dual-motor setup. It packs the same punch as the all-paw bZ4X, with dual 80-kilowatt motors producing a combined output of 160 kilowatts (215 horsepower).

Interestingly, the Solterra tips the scales at 2,020 kilograms (4,453 pounds), which makes it 15 kilograms (33 pounds) heavier than the bZ4X. Both share a 71.4-kWh lithium-ion battery, offering enough energy for 460 kilometers (286 miles), but bear in mind this number is based on the local Japan standard WLTC. That means we should expect different range figures for the WLTP and EPA cycles. For what it’s worth, the Toyota electric SUV can do 450 kilometers (280 miles) in WLTP, while the EPA figure has yet to be disclosed.

Details regarding the US-spec 2023 Solterra will be released on November 17 when Subaru will host the vehicle’s North American debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Both EVs are scheduled to go on sale in mid-2022.

Source: Subaru

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What do we know so far about the Solterra? Well, not a lot because Subie has been tight-lipped about its upcoming EV offering. However, all we have to do is look at the technical specifications of its equivalent Toyota, which will be offered with a front-wheel-drive layout featuring a 201-horsepower electric motor. The AWD model will use a pair of motors for a combined output of 201 hp.

Sticking with the base model will translate into a 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) sprint in 8.4 seconds, but you can shave it off to 7.7s provided you step up to the dual-motor configuration. Bear in mind the latter is the heavier of the two due to its extra weight, tipping the scales at 4,420 pounds (2,005 kilograms). Stick to the FWD variant and the weight drops to 4,233 lbs (1,920 kg).

It’s too premature to say the Solterra will have the exact same setup as the bZ4X, although the numbers shouldn’t be significantly different. The same holds true for the size, with the Toyota measuring 4,690 millimeters (184.6 inches) long, 1,860 mm (73 in) wide, and 1,650 mm (65 inches) tall. The wheelbase stretches at 2,850 mm (112 in) and hosts a 71.4-kWh battery of the lithium-ion variety, providing a range of more than 450 kilometers (280 miles) per WLTP.

Both the Solterra and bZ4X will share an all-wheel-drive system developed by Subaru and adapted specifically for EV applications. We also know the two are going to feature a flat-floor layout thanks to the dedicated electric platform and are going to feature support for fast charging at a maximum of 150 kW. In the case of the Toyota, that will replenish the battery to 80% in 30 minutes.

The bZ4X has been confirmed to go on sale from the middle of next year, and with Subaru already confirming the Solterra will be a 2023MY product in the United States, it can only mean it won’t be far behind its Toyota twin.

Source: Subaru

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Subaru has been tight-lipped about the technical specifications of the Solterra, but we’re expecting the specs to mirror those of the bZ4X. Toyota’s version of the zero-emissions SUV will come in both rear- and all-wheel-drive configurations with a choice of single- and dual-motor setups, respectively. The FWD model will rely on a single motor rated at 201 horsepower (150 kilowatts) whereas the AWD model will have a pair of 80-kW motors for a total of 215 hp (160 kW).

In terms of performance, the Subaru Solterra could match its equivalent Toyota version, which goes from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 8.4 seconds for the FWD model and in 7.7 for the more powerful AWD variant. If you’re wondering about weight, the single-motor bZ4X weighs 4,233 pounds (1,920 kilograms) while the dual-motor model is heavier, at 4,420 lbs (2,005 kg). Bear in mind these specs apply to the electric SUV due to be sold in Japan.

The Solterra could have a similar lithium-ion battery as the bZ4X, which features a 71.4-kWh pack providing a maximum range of 450 kilometers (280 miles) based on the WLTP test cycle. Once you’re out of juice, recharging at the maximum 150 kW will replenish the battery to 80% in just 30 minutes.

While the Solterra will be heavily linked to the bZ4X underneath the skin, we strongly believe Subaru has come up with a significantly different design inside and out to separate its version from the Toyota model. Their sizes are probably going to be quite similar, so the Solterra should be roughly 4,690 mm (184.6 inches) long, 1,860 mm (73 inches) wide, and 1,650 mm (65 inches) tall, with a wheelbase measuring 2,850 mm (112 inches).

Built on a dedicated EV platform with a flat-floor layout, the Toyota bZ4X is scheduled to go on sale in mid-2022, and chances are the Subaru Solterra won’t be too far behind.

Source: Subaru

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Details are limited at this point as we only know the Solterra is underpinned by the e-Subaru Global Platform and will serve as a compact EV with all-wheel drive, so expect a dual-motor setup. Much like its sister model from Toyota, Subaru’s counterpart is expected to have an angular design and a long wheelbase creating a spacious interior.

Toyota uses the e-TNGA name for this dedicated electric platform and promises it will be a highly flexible architecture it will adapt to a variety of vehicle lengths. It’s going to underpin front-, rear-, and all-wheel-drive EVs and is being engineered to support several battery sizes depending on the application. Being a bespoke electric vehicle, we are not expecting any of the compromises that companies make when adapting a platform originally intended for vehicles with internal combustion engines.

For this reason, the Subaru Solterra likely has a generous wheelbase for a vehicle of this size by shortening the front and rear overhangs as much as possible. That should create a spacious interior cabin with more room than a conventionally powered C-segment SUV. A completely flat floor is expected, along with the other benefits that come with vehicles developed from day one as EVs.

Subaru will have the Solterra on sale by the middle of next year at home in Japan as well as in the United States, Canada, Europe, and China. Expect to learn more about the technical specifications in the build-up to the world premiere likely taking place before the end of 2021 or early 2022.

Source: Subaru

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