Subaru confirms Solterra and Outback Turbo for NZ

Tuesday, 24 May 2022

Subaru has revealed its version of the all-electric SUV it co-developed with Toyota.

Subaru New Zealand has confirmed the imminent local arrival of two much-anticipated vehicles – the Outback 2.4T and the Solterra EV.

At a media event for the launch of the new WRX, Subaru New Zealand boss Wally Dumper confirmed that the turbocharged Outback would arrive before the end of the year, while the EV would touch down in 2023.

Replacing the 3.6 six-cylinder Outback that was dropped last year, the new 2.4T is powered by a 195kW/375Nm version of the 2.4-litre turbo-four found in the new WRX, where it currently produces 202kW/350Nm (although the Japanese domestic market version pumps out 375Nm).

Subaru New Zealand has confirmed that the more powerful turbo version of the Outback is definitely heading here.

The previous six-cylinder Outback produced 191kW and 360Nm, while the naturally-aspirated 2.5-litre currently in the Outback makes 135kW and 245Nm.

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Subaru’s first all-electric offering is also heading here in 2023.

”The most powerful Outback yet will be here before the end of the year,” Dumper said, before adding a “we hope” caveat, reflecting the current state of production uncertainty all brands are currently facing.

”Wagons are really important to us, even when we sold Legacy 85% of them were wagons. When they discontinued Legacy, we moved to Outback and became one of the highest per capita countries in the world for Outback sales.

”We’ve got a queue of people waiting for a more powerful Outback, so we’re pretty confident the 2.4T will sell really well. Of course, we need it before the end of the year to save our customers some tax,” he said, referring to the Clean Car fines that kick in for distributors on top of the current high-emitter fees next year, before adding that Subaru in Japan is “responding really well” to the idea of getting the 2.4T here before the end of 2022.

While fuel consumption and CO2 figures are yet to be revealed for the local configuration of the turbo Outback, the same engine in the WRX attracts an estimated fee of $1400 when equipped with the Subaru Lineartronic CVT.

On the rebate attracting end of the scale, however, Dumper also confirmed that the Solterra EV would be hitting our shores in 2023, although he couldn’t confirm an exact date.

“Solterra is definitely coming. We’ve got it confirmed. We’ve been able to collaborate with Subaru Australia (to get it), so we’re pretty confident that Australia will take Solterra early, but we’ll get it before them,” he said.

Dumper said that the company already had an example on the way for evaluation.

Like the Toyota bZ4X it is closely related to, the Solterra packs a dual motor AWD set up of two 80kW motors powered by a 71.4kWh battery pack that Subaru says is good for a range of up to 460km.

”People are always reluctant to accept change, but Solterra is going to bring us a lot of new opportunities,” Dumper said of the company's first all-electric offering.

“The percentage of electrified cars is ramping up, and we would have our heads in the sand if we said we didn’t want Solterra – we actually wanted Solterra about two years ago.”