Sun-and-earth kissed all-electric Subaru Solterra revealed

Teased as far back as May, only to be headed at the end of last month by Toyota’s version called the bZ4X, Subaru has now taken the wraps off of the new Solterra that will make its first public showing at next week’s Los Angeles International Auto Show.

The second Subaru-Toyota co-developed model after the GR86 and BRZ, the Solterra, like the bZ4X, has been devised from the start as an electric model only with no petrol or hybrid version set to be offered.

Deriving its name from the Latin words for sun (sol), and terra (earth), the Solterra differs incrementally from the bZ4X on the outside in that it receives Subaru specific LED headlights, the Subaru logo on the sealed grille and fog lamps on the flanks of the front skidplate.

Bar the Subaru badge and “Solterra EV” letting on the tailgate, the rear facia is unchanged from the bZ4X with wheel sizes ranging from 18 to 20-inches.

ALSO READ: Dedicated battery-powered Toyota bZ4X revealed

In addition to its dimensions being identical to the bZ4X, the Solterra’s interior has been carried over with little change, bar the Subaru badges on the steering wheel. Unlike its sibling though, the Solterra won’t be offered with the yoke style steering setup.

Based on the e-TNGA platform, renamed e-Subaru Global Platform (e-SGP), the Solterra, again like the bZ4X, derives motivation from a 150 kW electric motor powered by a 71.4-kWh lithium-ion battery pack that produces 150kW/265Nm.

The claimed range is 530 km with top speed being identical at 160 km/h. The 0-100 km/h sprint is dispatched with in 8.4 seconds.

Upping the ante, the all-wheel-drive model comes with two 80 kW motors mounted on the respective axles that translates to outputs of 160kW/336Nm. While still limited to 160 km/h, the benchmark sprint time drops to 7.7 seconds with the claimed range falling to 460 km as a result of the heavier mass associated with the second motor.

Going on sale next year in key markets such as Europe, North America, China and Japan, the Solterra, like the bZ4X, won’t be coming to South Africa anytime soon.