Australian Subaru is “very, very close” to describe its purely electrical details solterra The SUV is intended for the local market, with the brand’s local boss confirming that it will only be offered with all-wheel drive here.
Blair Read, managing director of Subaru Australia, said auto expert at the new product launch diagonal line that the Solterra – due out in the second half of 2023 – will be “a true Subaru”.
“What I can tell you today is that it is due at half past two. We are very, very close to announcing final details on pricing and when we will start pre-sales,” Mr. Read said.
“It will only be four-wheel drive, I can tell you that on the spec sheet. It would be a true Subaru – all-wheel drive, great ground clearance, X-Mode, a true Subaru SUV.”
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Foreign models in the picture
“We will reveal more about specs and pricing, and we will make that announcement soon. We’re getting very close to being able to share all that information on Solterra with the public,” Read added.
Subaru will exclusively offer the Solterra a twin-motor electric powertrain, although an entry-level single-engine front-wheel drive option is available in other markets.
According to Japanese specifications, Solterra AWD sets 80kW/169Nm electric motor per shaft, with system output rated at 160kW And 337Nmconnect with a 71.4kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
The maximum AC charging speed is 6.6kW and the maximum DC charging speed is 150kW.
Range varies depending on wheel package and fitted tires, with base model on 18-inch wheels quoting 542km Top range and models on quoting 20 inch wheels 487km – both are measured during the test cycle of the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
Measures Solterra 4690mm . long, 1860mm . wide And 1650mm . high on a Wheelbase 2850mm.
That makes it slightly longer and wider than the Forester. clearance is 210mmor 10mm less than a foresterwhile the weight restriction is in the range of 1930kg and 2020kg.
Previously, Subaru Australia indicated that the all-electric crossover would land below during the event. first half of 2023and because the original notice was received thousands of expressions of interest. The company cited supply struggles for the most recent delays.
Subaru and development partner Toyota hit roadblocks when launching their first electric vehicles globally – Solterra is the upcoming Toyota twin bz4X like BRZ in order to GR86 sport car.
An issue with a crippled wheel hub bolt, which can cause the wheels to fall out, causing breakdowns. Massive recall campaign and stopped production for months – Toyota USA even offered to buy back the car – as brands scramble to find solutions.
Toyota Australia is also expected to introduce the bz4X in the second half of 2023, having delayed its first foray into the burgeoning electric car market in Australia by about 12 months.
Both vehicles use the e-TNGA electric architecture (dubbed the e-Subaru Global Platform by Subaru). Luxury Lexus has also put its own spin on the platform, in a new form RZ will release Down Under this month.
Pricing has yet to be announced for both vehicles, but while Mr Read is rather vague, Toyota has indicated that the bz4X will be a premium offering in the same way that the original Prius did when it was at the forefront of the market. the introduction of a series of hybrid technologies in the 2000s .
It’s unclear if Subaru will follow the same approach, but auto expert understands that the local division will be targeting a starting price within close proximity to their current flagship Outback SUV — which tops out at $55,990 plus on-road costs for the XT Touring, if you get $56,490 off the special edition 50 Years Edition. Just announced this week.
If Solterra starts at around $60,000-$65,000, it will knock out major competitors like Tesla Model Y (from $69,300), as well as the like of Hyundai ioniq 5 (from $72,000) and KIA EV6 (from $72,590). Add in the dual-motor AWD factor and the price gap widens even further for all of those established competitors.
Stay tuned auto expert for all the latest Solterra news in the coming months.
