Subaru has spent the past few months slowly teasing the all-new Solterra EV, the first all-electric offering that the company has produced while also solidifying its partnership with Toyota. The Solterra is making its debut at the 2021 Los Angeles Auto Show, and the company has decided to release a few more photos of the EV ahead of its debut under the lights in L.A.
Toyota DNA Is Evident But Solterra Has Subaru Charm Too
When you first look at the Solterra, its uncanny resemblance to the Toyota bZ4x is evident when you look at its exterior styling. While Subaru tried to stand out by kindly naming it with a more conventional moniker, the core design similarities between the two are hard to ignore, with the cladding, roofline, and wheelbase all being shared with its Toyota twin.
The fundamental changes focus on the front and rear fascias, which aim to make themselves stand out to Subaru buyers. The front fascia is less concentrated on odd creases and angles. Instead, it goes for a smoother approach, with the front fascia featuring a faux grille outline and a softer nose with the Subaru logo placed front and center. The rear is also tweaked with darker taillights and smaller red accents to allow the Solterra to match other Subaru models.
The interior also comes with its fair share of tweaks, with the Toyota’s radical yoke-style steering wheel being pitched for a more conventional rounded unit and brighter splashes of trim to help give the Subaru a more vibrant personality the darker monotone that defines the bZ4x. As for performance, it’s known that Japanese spec models will come with either a front-wheel-drive biased 201 hp electric motor or an optional 214 hp dual-motor version that comes bundled with all-wheel drive. However, Subaru is making us wait a bit longer to see what U.S. customers will get but look for the dual-motor model to make the trek to our shores.
Look for the Subaru Solterra to make its official debut next week at the 2021 L.A Auto Show with the first production units making their way to dealerships later this year.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.