Subaru electric car confirmed for Europe; SUV could be named Evoltis

Subaru has confirmed its upcoming pure-electric model – built a platform jointly developed with Toyota – will be offered in Europe. No further details, or even an official name for the car, have been revealed, although it's thought the 'Evoltis' badge is being considered.

In a statement, the Japanese brand said: "[T]he company is preparing for the launch of a full electric vehicle. Scheduled for introduction in the first half of 2020’s, Subaru’s all-electric vehicle will be a mid-size SUV, similar in size to the Forester model. It will be built on a platform shared with Toyota. Additional information will be shared sometime next year.

Toyota and Subaru first announced they were collaborating on a new electric-car platform in 2019. The first model to come from each brand on this platform will be a Nissan Qashqai-sized family SUV. Toyota teased its version – expected to have name beginning with BZ – in the first week of December 2020.

Subaru electric-car concept

Subaru has already shown a concept car that points towards a production version of its joint-venture SUV. The unnamed vehicle (pictured above) was shown in January 2020, and its angular styling gives us a hint towards the future of Subaru design.

While technical details are scarce, we expect both the Toyota and Subaru SUVs to offer a range of around 310 miles (500 kilometres). There's no information on power or battery size, nor whether multiple variants, specifications or trims will be offered.

In a joint statement issued in 2019, the two brands said they'd be combining their respective strengths, including Subaru's expertise with four-wheel drive and Toyota's experience with hybrids and electrification, in order to "take up the challenge of creating attractive products with appeal that only [electric cars] can offer." The statement added that this agreement "represents a new area of collaboration that especially focuses on the urgent need to respond to [the requirement for] electrified powertrains and components."

As is the case with electric-car platforms developed by the likes of the Volkswagen Group and PSA, the platform being pursued by Toyota and Subaru will be capable of underpinning a wide variety of models, including an executive saloon and a larger SUV in the future.

Toyota has said it plans to start mass-producing electric cars in China in 2020. After launching in China, the company will gradually introduce them to Japan, India, the US and Europe, with 10 pure-electric models being available worldwide within the next few years.

It's promising to take a "co-operative stance" and work together with various other companies and partners to drive electrification. Its electric-vehicle strategy includes 'ultra-compact' vehicles like personal and mobility scooters, as well as electric cars adapted to the needs of various global markets and the development of high-performance batteries.

This isn't the first time Subaru and Toyota have worked together; Toyota owns a stake in Subaru's parent company Fuji Heavy Industries, a connection which lead to the development of the rear-wheel-drive Subaru BRZ and Toyota GT86. The companies have had a collaboration agreement in place since 2005.

Aside from this, the two brands have concentrated largely on hybrid technology (what Toyota calls a 'self-charging' setup). Toyota contributed to the development of the Crosstrek, a plug-in hybrid SUV model that Subaru sells in the US. Subaru has recently launched an 'e-Boxer' hybrid version of its distinctive internal-combustion engine. The brand says that from now on, all of its pure-electrification efforts will be focused on the Toyota collaboration.