JUST two days after GoAuto found and reported on a thriller trademark utility filed by Subaru for the ‘Solterra’ nameplate, the Japanese model has confirmed its upcoming electrical automobile will brandish the identify when it goes on sale in Japan, North America, Europe and China mid-next 12 months.
Regardless of the mechanically associated Toyota bZ4X being earmarked for an Aussie launch at across the similar time subsequent 12 months, Subaru Australia has confirmed the manufacturing facility has no concrete timeline for the Solterra in regard to our market.
The potential for an area introduction has not been dominated out totally nonetheless with nationwide company affairs and public relations supervisor David Rowley revealing there was already ongoing dialogue between Subaru Australia and the manufacturing facility in regards to the prospect.
“Future electrical automobile tasks type a part of ongoing dialogue between Subaru Australia and the manufacturing facility,” he stated.
In accordance with Subaru, the identify Solterra was created by becoming a member of the Latin phrases ‘sol’ and ‘terra’, which translate to ’solar’ and ’Earth’ respectively, a transfer reportedly made as an appreciation of nature and a contemporary dedication to delivering go-anywhere capabilities.
With no present plans to develop its hybrid line-up past the XV and Forester, the Solterra continues to be in ballot place to be the following electrified Subaru to materialise right here regardless of the shortage of a launch affirmation.
Given the Toyota’s tough launch time, we might not count on the Solterra to lag too far behind its rebadged twin so to not miss out on very important gross sales.
When requested if Subaru Australia thought the Australian market as prepared for EVs, Mr Rowley stated there was clearly a “small however vital pattern creating” amongst new automobile patrons with the quantity of EVs being offered rising nearly month-to-month.
Confirmed to be an electrical mid-sized SUV, little or no is understood in regards to the Solterra with neither Subaru or Toyota revealing a lot to date about their respective – co-developed – EVs apart from that the ‘e-Subaru International Platform’ and ‘e-TNGA’ platforms are modular in nature and can be tailored for future makes use of past the inaugural fashions.
In Toyota’s case, seven devoted ‘bZ’ fashions, together with the bZ4X, are anticipated to be launched between now and 2025 with one other eight set to journey on different platforms.
Subaru in the meantime is protecting its playing cards a lot nearer to its chest, revealing no particulars in any respect of its future electrical plans nonetheless it could make sense for different fashions to emerge utilizing the identical platform at some stage or one other in coming years.
The model’s native arm has offered 13,525 new automobiles to date this 12 months ending April to be up 47.7 per cent year-on-year with the Forester as soon as once more proving the most well-liked mannequin (5006).
