As time marches on, more and more car brands have been developing and have begun to sell electric vehicle (EV) models. Some brands have even electrified existing models in the form of hybrids. And suffice to say, there is a growing demand for hybrids and EVs around the globe.
The Subaru Solterra
The latest brand to have entered the realm of EVs is Subaru with the reveal of the Solterra battery electric vehicle (BEV). Of note, this is the Japanese marque’s first-ever BEV, and it has been in development in partnership with Toyota since 2019 via the bZ4X concept.
To that end, the Solterra is essentially a rebadged version of the production Toyota bZ4X. It also uses the e-Toyota New Global Architecture Platform (e-TNGA), which was rebranded to the e-Subaru Global Platform (e-SGP).
Exterior
At first glance, the Solterra looks a bit like the current Toyota and Lexus compact crossovers available in the market. This, of course, is very apparent once you view the Solterra from its side.
The Solterra from the side
Speaking of sides, its wheel arches are covered in black plastic cladding, providing it with an outdoorsy feel. It also has roof rails, as well as a ground clearance of 210mm, which further enhances the idea that one can take this vehicle on rough roads.
The angular front and rear then gets LED headlamps, front fog lamps, and LED taillights. The EV model also features a hexagonal grille.
Interior
While nothing has been revealed in terms of interior features, the pictures show a very premium-looking cabin that’s pleasing to the eye. It features a large floating headunit, a stubby joystick-like gear selector, and an expansive center console with physical buttons.
Do you think the Solterra's interior is pleasing to the eye?
The prototype is also sporting orange-colored seats, which look like they are clad in fabric and leather for the bolsters. The elbow rest for the front cabin also gets leather as well.
Tech & Safety
Just like most EV models available today, the Solterra will be equipped with numerous driver-assist features. From what we have gleaned from the reveal, it is equipped with lane-keep assist, pedestrian and object detection, adaptive cruise control, among others.
Subaru also highlighted the Solterra’s body, which was optimized for both collision safety and weight reduction.
Engine & Drivetrain
For power, the all-new Solterra uses two separate motors, one for the front wheels and another for the rear. This of course means that the electric crossover comes with all-wheel-drive (AWD). There’s also a single motor version with front-wheel-drive (FWD).
Subaru then enhanced the said drivetrain by adding the X-Mode AWD control system, which ensures maximum traction without sacrificing performance on a variety of terrains.
Like other Subies, the all-new Solterra has AWD
At maximum, the two electric motors can produce up to 215 horsepower, while torque figures are yet to be revealed by Subaru. For range, the AWD variant can travel up to 460 kilometers, whereas the FWD variant has a longer range of 530 kilometers. This is according to the Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Cycles (WLTC) standardized emissions and fuel consumption test for light vehicles.
As of the reveal, the Solterra is still in its final pre-production stages, and the pictures shown here are of the Solterra prototype. The model is then scheduled to launch in the middle of 2022 in Japan, Europe, China, and North America.
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