Subaru’s first electric vehicle (EV) will be a compact SUV, developed jointly with Toyota. Called the Solterra, it is slated to hit showrooms in the early summer of 2022 as a 2023 model. The company released two teaser photos of the EV today.
Subaru announced no details on pricing. EVs often cost more than gasoline-powered cars, though government incentives can cut their prices significantly. We expect the Solterra to slot into the Subaru lineup above the Ascent. That would give it a price tag a little north of $45,000 before tax breaks.
Platform Shared with Toyota
The Solterra shares some of its bones with the upcoming Toyota bZ4X, though not its confusing alphanumeric name.
“Solterra,” Subaru says, was “created using the Latin words for ‘Sun’ and ‘Earth’ to represent Subaru’s commitment to deliver traditional SUV capabilities in an environmentally responsible package.”
The company offered few mechanical details, saying only “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.” Range, power, acceleration, and charging times are all mysteries for now.
EVs often achieve all-wheel-drive (AWD) by attaching separate motors to each axle. So, while we expect the Solterra to be AWD, it likely won’t use the brand’s well-regarded symmetrical AWD system.
Distinctive Subaru Shape … As Far As We Can Tell
The initial photos deliberately keep some mystery about the Solterra’s looks. But we see a family resemblance to the Ascent, with sharper LED headlights and a less-traditional C-pillar. We’re curious to see what takes the place of the hexagonal Subaru grille. EVs don’t need the airflow a grille provides, but automakers often design a false one in its place.
Automakers often tease the appearance of a new model with shadowy photos, then begin revealing details a few weeks later. Stay tuned for more on the first Subie EV.
