Subaru’s game breaking new car

The Japanese brand has debuted its first full electric car, the Solterra.

The Solterra is a similar size to the Forester SUV and has been co-developed with Toyota, sharing its underpinnings with Toyota’s first battery-powered electric car, the bZ4X.

Subaru is known for its cars being almost exclusively all-wheel drive, but the Solterra will be available in both front- and all-wheel drive layouts.

The front-wheel-drive versions will use a single 150kW motor and the all-wheel drive Solterra will have an 80kW motor on each axle making a combined 160kW.

A big 71kWh battery will allow for a driving range of up to 530km on the front-wheel drive versions and 460km on the all-wheel drive model.

It is capable of fast charging, accepting up to 150kW via a DC charger or about 80 per cent of capacity in 30 minutes.

Buyers can also add solar panels on the roof, which can add up to 1800km of driving range every year.

Blair Read, Subaru Australia’s general manager, said: “The Solterra heralds a new era for the Subaru brand and its global reveal stirs great anticipation and excitement as we see the next expression of Subaru Corporation’s commitment to electrification.”

Subaru Australia hasn’t confirmed if the Solterra will make it to Australia, but it appears unlikely.

The Solterra is planned to launch in global markets with more favourable conditions for EVs such as Europe, China and the US in the middle of next year.

Australia is missing out on a number of high-quality new electric cars due to lack of government incentives and emissions targets.

Volkswagen isn’t bringing its critically acclaimed ID.4 and ID.3 electric cars to Australia because they are prioritising markets that have emissions reduction targets.

The ID.3 small hatchback and ID.4 compact SUV are known for their relatively affordable price, generous driving range and good driving dynamics.