Subaru has announced
plans to electrify its entire lineup by 2035 and during a technology briefing
in Japan, displayed the first design study of a new electric vehicle it’s
working on. The all-electric crossover pictured is being co-developed with
Toyota and will hit the market before 2025. It appears as though the full-sized
mockup presented was a clay model but even still, it provides us with a solid
(albeit early and conceptual) first look at the crossover.
Dominating the exterior design
of the vehicle are sharp edges and angular lines. Like many electric vehicles
currently on the market, it does without a traditional front grille but does
feature a set of faux air intakes on the sides of the fascia and along the
lower portion of the bumper finished in gloss black. Also visible are two
blacked-out areas where the headlights would sit.
Viewed from the site, it’s
obvious that Subaru wants to make the cabin of the electric crossover as spacious
as possible and has pushed the steeply-raked windshield very far forward. The
roofline is also quite flat which should allow for a decent amount of headroom
in the second-row. Of course, as this is an early design mockup, there’s a
chance the production vehicle will look significantly different.
Toyota and Subaru confirmed
they would co-develop an EV platform in June, 2019. This platform will underpin
C-segment electric SUVs that will be built by both automakers. The platform
will also have the flexibility to underpin a host of other vehicles including
C-segment and D-segment sedans and SUVs.
