Subaru revealed an all-new in-house electric vehicle platform to the media this weekend, according to Automotive News– a model boasting a very exciting 500+ horsepower from its battery-powered all-wheel drive system.
Toyota and Subaru have been partnering on electric vehicle development for more than five years, but Subaru is now ready to go solo, according to the report. The new dedicated electric vehicle platform, along with a new battery, new electric motor technology and a new integrated control unit, were revealed on Sunday at Subaru’s test drive north of Tokyo. And a generous portion of performance is on the menu.
The current Subaru Uncharted, one of four EV SUVs it currently offers that are co-manufactured with Toyota.
Subaru said Automotive News that its EV prototype’s two motors combine for a combined output of about 510 horsepower and a 0 to 62 mph sprint in less than four seconds. The automaker declined to specify a production timeline, but Subaru executives have said the technology will begin rolling out in 2029. The new platform also weighs about 220 pounds less than its current EV platform.
The impetus for the electric break with Toyota was the need for greater brand independence, said Takatomo Watamori, Subaru’s general manager of engineering. “By developing vehicles in-house and having our own EV technologies, we can quickly offer our customers the peace of mind and driving pleasure that define Subaru, even in this era of change,” Watamori told A. “What matters is whether the technology itself can adapt flexibly and whether our engineers themselves can change and evolve. »
The electric axle motors developed with Aisin Corp and the batteries developed with Panasonic Energy are the real stars of the show here, as both components are lighter and more compact than Subaru’s current drivetrain technology. Subaru engineers said Automotive News that the engines, which develop 150 kW (201 hp) at the front and 230 kW (308 hp) at the rear, are 30% more efficient than the industry average. The Panasonic battery uses 4,000 cylindrical cells for 25% lighter weight and a 20% increase in energy density compared to the industry average.
The Subaru Solterra.
To show off the new electric platform, Subaru bolted it to the body of a latest-generation Outback. Since the new electric platform features a longer wheelbase than the Outback, the automaker’s engineers had to extend the wheel arches and leave awkward gaps between the fender and tire. (Obviously the prototype was not developed with mass production or market introduction in mind, but the body of the test bench wagon certainly reflects Subaru well.)
An all-new platform will join the new drivetrain, but Subaru declined to share range, battery size, or charging speeds. However, characteristically, Subaru shared the safety attributes of the new EV platform. The front end has been redesigned to increase cabin protection, while new support elements above the front wheels are intended to channel impact forces. Subaru even built the front electric motor to spin to help cushion the shock in the event of a crash.
That’s not to say Subaru is done with combustion power. The automaker said it would continue to develop gasoline engines, with an emphasis on 50 percent thermal efficiency. And Subaru is seeking to reduce its costs by also integrating the development of ECUs in-house; a new, independently developed integrated electronic control unit will control the driver assistance systems, chassis and powertrain control as well as infotainment. By partnering with Advanced Micro Devices, Subaru even developed a custom system-on-a-chip to run the code and be compatible with future versions of its EyeSight security suite. These new ECUs will also allow Subaru to perform over-the-air updates, a first for the automaker.
A New York native and Pacific Northwest native, Emmet White has a passion for all things: cars, bikes, planes, and motorcycles. After learning to drive at age 17, Emmet worked in the motorcycle industry before joining Autoweek in 2022 and Road & Track in 2024. The woes of alternative side parking have kept his fleet moderate, with a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta GLI and a BMW 318i E30 parked on the street in his Queens community.
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