- Subaru has been sluggish to get onboard with the electrical car transition.
- The automaker is now attempting onerous to catch up by partnering with Toyota for a number of new electrical SUVs.
- It has trademarked a number of off-roady names, together with an e-Outback moniker in Japan.
The one electrical automotive Subaru sells within the U.S. is a Toyota. The Solterra electrical crossover is a cross-badged Toyota bZ4x. Similar to the remainder of Japan’s auto business, the adventure-loving model has been sluggish to electrification.
Certain, it’s teaming up with Toyota for its upcoming EVs, but it surely’s unclear if they are going to be true Subies or extra rebadged Toyotas. Nevertheless, there may very well be one thing within the pipeline that has Subaru DNA, however with an electrical twist.
AutoGuide reported right now that Subaru has trademarked the “e-Outback” moniker in Japan. The trademark software was filed in early August and revealed right now. Rumors of a hybrid Outback have been working wild amongst Redditors for months however Subaru has but to substantiate something on these strains.
Early this yr, the automaker additionally trademarked a dozen different nameplates with the U.S. Patent And Trademark Workplace. All these names have a (form of) wilderness theme: Viewfinder, Trailwind, Trailseeker, Trailhead, Hightrail, Getaway, Highrood, Outsider, Everpass, Everguide and Confederate. (I would argue the latter is not the strongest alternative for a manufacturing mannequin, however we’ll see.)
The outlet reported that the e-Outback could also be a future hybrid model. Regardless of mass-market hybrids being almost three a long time outdated, they’re again in vogue today. An growing variety of automakers are betting huge on them and the hybrid gross sales development charge has outpaced BEVs. They’re more likely to play an even bigger function going ahead as automakers discover methods to satisfy strict emissions targets.
Furthermore, Subaru is partnering with Toyota and Mazda to develop the following era of combustion engines. On the “Multipathway Workshop” in Japan early this yr, Subaru showcased a Crosstrek outfitted with what it referred to as a “next-generation” hybrid system. Specs and different particulars weren’t revealed. However these are mere speculations. The e-Outback may very well be hybrid, absolutely electrical or one thing completely totally different.
Subaru showcased a Crosstrek Hybrid prototype at this yr’s “Multipathway Workshop” that it held in Japan alongside Toyota and Mazda.
All stated, it looks like the model is getting ready for a second half of the last decade the place extra electrified choices may very well be on the desk. “We’ll hone our automotive electrification applied sciences to make our horizontally opposed engines shine within the carbon-neutral period,” CEO Atsushi Osaki stated through the Multipathway Workshop. “Alternatively, we’ll proceed to hone horizontally opposed engines themselves to make the most of carbon-neutral fuels,” he added.
The automaker needs 50% of its new car gross sales to be electrical by the top of the last decade. And it looks like it might’t get there with out Toyota’s assist. “Notably with Subaru, we’ve had a ‘pleasant combating’ relationship for the reason that time of our predecessors,” Toyota CEO Koji Sato stated in Could. “We don’t need to be crushed by Subaru, simply as Subaru doesn’t need to be crushed by Toyota. I consider this aggressive spirit turns into a driving pressure for advancing know-how.”
Subaru showcased its next-generation horizontally opposed, electrified boxer engine in Japan this yr.
That looks like a logical subsequent step. As Chinese language automakers eye world dominance and software program is on the core of contemporary EVs, it’s a difficult panorama for a small automaker like Subaru. Teaming up is the best way ahead and the model plans to launch three electrical SUVs in partnership with Toyota. There’s additionally a hybrid Forester within the pipeline and as aforementioned, a hybrid Crosstrek.
Rivian is already the adventure-focused model of the EV period. Subaru could have misplaced some floor to the California start-up in that regard. But when it might deliver these promised EVs to life, be it an E-Outback or the upcoming three-row electrical SUV made within the U.S., it might have an opportunity to regain a few of its mojo again.
