Skip advert
Advertisement

Subaru electric car will be ready for launch by 2021

With hybrid models in the pipeline for 2018, Subaru has become the latest car maker to pursue electric power. Its first EV is due in 2021

Subaru electric car platform

Subaru will launch an all-electric vehicle at the beginning of the next decade, after the firm takes its first step towards electrification with the release of new hybrid models in 2018.

A Subaru EV is planned for 2021, which will be based on the firm’s all-new Global Platform architecture.

The best electric cars on sale

Advertisement - Article continues below

In order to save on development costs it won’t be a bespoke EV model and will be based on one of Subaru’s core models. The firm plans to release a new car every year until 2020, with a firm focus on the growing SUV market.

According to engineers the project is still very much in its infancy, and powertrain information and specifications are still unknown. Presently, engineers are tasking themselves with how best to package battery cells from a safety point of view.

It could be all-wheel-drive, however, as Subaru intends to keep its distinct identity in tact as the global marketplace begins to drift towards electrification.

2017 Subaru XV crossover arrives in Geneva

Hybrid versions of existing Subaru models will appear towards the end of 2018, mating battery technology to the firm’s trademark boxer engines. New generation engines are on the agenda too, with a new downsized turbocharged engine set to arrive in Subarus from 2019 onwards.

The firm has also unveiled future plans for its EyeSight driver assist technology, with semi-autonomous driving modes targeted from 2020. Later this year EyeSight will get a traffic jam assist function capable of keeping the car in lane on motorways, while a semi-autonomous motorway driving mode will follow, with lane changing capabilities. To do this, the current EyeSight technology  - which uses stereo camera and two radars - will be upgraded with multiple new radars and other sensors.

Are you excited by the idea of Subaru joining the EV market? Let us know below!

Skip advert
Advertisement

Find a car with the experts

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Subaru STI performance models could be making a comeback
Subaru WRX STi

Subaru STI performance models could be making a comeback

Brand’s European boss reveals to us “there are plans to bring back the sportiness to Subaru”
News
17 Apr 2025
New Subaru Trailseeker puts all-electric spin on the trusty Outback’s formula
Subaru Trailseeker - show front

New Subaru Trailseeker puts all-electric spin on the trusty Outback’s formula

Subaru’s second EV will arrive in 2026, featuring permanent all-wheel-drive as standard
News
17 Apr 2025
The best ever Japanese kei cars: lightweight, lovable and back in vogue
Best kei cars - header image

The best ever Japanese kei cars: lightweight, lovable and back in vogue

Car weight has become a big issue with the rise of EVs, but Japanese kei cars have had the problem solved for years. These are the best…
Best cars & vans
30 Jan 2025
Tokyo Auto Salon 2025: all the highlights and exciting new cars
Tokyo Auto Salon 2025 header image

Tokyo Auto Salon 2025: all the highlights and exciting new cars

TAS 2025 highlighted the latest in tuning, off-road accessories, and new cars...
News
14 Jan 2025

Most Popular

New Citroen Holidays 2025 review: a cheaper and cheerful VW California campervan rival
Citroen Holidays - front

New Citroen Holidays 2025 review: a cheaper and cheerful VW California campervan rival

The new Citroen Holidays is the perfect option for those that want to camp on a budget
Road tests
15 Apr 2025
New Subaru Outback morphs into an SUV for Mk7 generation
Subaru Outback New York - front

New Subaru Outback morphs into an SUV for Mk7 generation

The boxer engine and off-road focus has been retained despite the Outback’s new SUV look
News
17 Apr 2025
Long live the Kia K4: striking hatch set to replace the Ceed in Europe
New Kia K4 hatchback at the New York Auto Show - front

Long live the Kia K4: striking hatch set to replace the Ceed in Europe

The new Kia K4 hatchback is the petrol-powered replacement for the family-friendly Ceed
News
16 Apr 2025