The STI E-RA is a low-slung coupe with a massive roof scoop and a giant front splitter that could easily double as a snowplow. At the back, it’s impossible to miss the gargantuan diffuser and the STI badge illuminated in red to go along with the rest of the body accents finished in the same traditional hue used by Subaru’s in-house performance division.

At the heart of the speedy concept are those quad motors we mentioned earlier, developed by Yamaha. These produce an astounding combined output of 800 kilowatts, which works out to 1,073 hp channeled to both axles. The e-motors get their juice from a lithium-ion battery pack with a capacity of 60 kWh. Although it’s only a concept for now, Subaru is planning to take the STI E-RA to the Nürburgring next year and try to complete a lap of the Green Hell in only six minutes and 40 seconds.

One can only dream of a road-legal production hypercar to serve as STI’s flagship model, but Subaru isn’t saying anything about the prospects of selling the STI E-RA and its centerlock wheels to the public. The concept is more along the lines of what’s to come in the exciting world of motorsport once more and more competitions will abandon the internal combustion engine.

Concepts like this one give us hope racing will remain exciting in the electric era, albeit nothing will ever come close to the raw noise delivered by a race-spec gasoline engine.

Source: Subaru

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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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Details are scarce for the time being, with Subie only saying the concept signals a “new project launched with an aim of gaining experience and practice in new technologies in the world of motorsport which is making its way toward a carbon-neutral era.” The statement tells us a production model is unlikely to arrive in the foreseeable future.

The sole teaser image provides an early look at the STI E-RA concept with a significantly changed design compared to the new gasoline-fueled WRX sports sedan. The “C” shape of the daytime running lights lends the EV a more imposing look, further accentuated by what seem to be hood vents to cool down the electric bits.

A closer look reveals the STI light up in red and it seems the faux front grille also has a red backlight. The body appears to be finished in the same shade, but it’s unclear whether we are dealing with a sedan akin to the WRX or a different body style. If it’s not a sedan, our money would be on a coupe, perhaps linked to the 2022 BRZ given the similar C-themed daytime running lights.

Since WRX and Subaru in general are known for the symmetrical full-time all-wheel-drive system, we can’t help but wonder whether the upcoming concept car will have two electric motors – one for the front axle and the other at the back. That should give it a generous amount of near-instant torque, likely considerably more than what you get in the WRX or the BRZ.

All will be revealed on January 14 when Subaru will take the wraps off the STI E-RA concept at the 2022 TAS.

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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To that end, Toyota is forming an alliance with fellow Japanese brands Subaru and Mazda to use carbon-neutral fuel in their quest to ultimately reach carbon neutrality. This weekend, the trio is racing cars equipped with zero-emissions combustion engines at the Super Taikyu Race in Okayama. From 2022, Subaru and Toyota will use biomass-derived synthetic fuel in the same competition, based on the BRZ and GR86 sports cars, respectively.

As for Mazda, it plans to enter the ST-Q class of the Super Taikyu Race in Okayama with its Spirit Racing Bio concept Demio vehicle equipped with a 1.5-liter diesel engine feeding exclusively on biomass-derived diesel fuel.

The three are not alone in their initiative as motorcycle companies Kawasaki and Yamaha are joining forces to co-develop a hydrogen engine for two-wheeled applications and four-wheeled recreational off-highway vehicles. Honda and Suzuki are also expected to get involved and bolster the development of eco-friendly combustion engines for two-wheeled vehicles.

These Japanese companies are not the only ones actively researching methods to save the internal combustion engine as Porsche also believes it could save it with synthetic fuel. It’s known as eFuel and consists of CO2 and hydrogen produced using renewable energy. The German performance brand claims the end result is a liquid that will burn much like gasoline created from crude oil, with the major difference being that the eFuel is made in a carbon-neutral environment.

Source: Toyota

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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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Subaru showed a concept for the vehicle in question at the aforementioned press briefing, and it might go by the name of “Evoltis” if we were to rely on recent reports. The Japanese company announced today the model will be sold in Europe by the middle of the decade and will be similar in size to the Forester. In other words, we’re dealing with a midsize SUV, one that will ride on a platform co-developed with Toyota.

Subaru’s announcement comes only a few days after a similar disclosure made by Toyota. The RAV4-sized electric SUV will be unveiled in full sometime in 2021, but it won’t hit the market in the foreseeable future. The plan is to roll out the electric SUV “in a couple of years,” according to the firm’s sales and marketing chief, Matt Harrison.

Little else is known about the jointly developed midsize EVs, but the platform is being engineered to support rear-, front-, and all-wheel drive. The batteries will vary in capacity from 50 to 100 kWh while the power provided by the electric motors will range from 80 to 150 kilowatts (107 to 201 hp). The main idea behind the platform is to have a number of key fixed elements combined with others that vary to create vehicles that have different sizes and wheelbases.

Subaru promises to share additional details about the electric SUV in 2021 when we’re hoping to learn more about its Toyota sibling as well. These two models were originally announced in June 2019 when the two parties inked a deal to work on the EV-dedicated platform, with an SUV riding on the new underpinnings for each brand.

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