Speed still sells, at least in Subaru’s eyes. The Japanese manufacturer recently unveiled the prototype of an all-electric racing vehicle designed to conquer “the green hell”, the demanding and perilous German circuit of the Nürburgring Nordschleife of 20.8 km.
Posted at 4:09 p.m.
The STI E-RA Concept, prepared by Subaru’s sports subsidiary named Subaru Tecnica International (STI), seeks to showcase the brand’s electric ambitions in the world of motor racing. A technological showcase that will promote its electric component, which currently only has one member, the Solterra, an SUV co-developed with Toyota whose marketing will begin this year.
With this creation, presented at the Tokyo Motor Show, Subaru declares that it wants to enter the new Electric GT Championship, which promises to be rather tough. For the record attempt however, the car will have at its disposal considerably more power than the 576 bhp limit required by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) when the discipline sees the light of day in 2023.
Four electric motors, one placed at each wheel, produce 1073 hp in unison. These were designed by the engine manufacturer Yamaha, known for many anthology parts in heat engines. Subaru specifies that this mechanical configuration allows extremely precise distribution of torque to all four wheels, which ensures great stability. To do this, the system collects a multitude of data in real time, affecting as much the angle of the steering wheel as the pressure applied to the brake pedal or the speed sensors of each of the wheels.
These four motors are powered by a 60 kWh battery, a capacity similar to that of a Chevrolet Bolt. It’s not much, but, like any racing car, we target a featherweight before autonomy.
The first tests involving the STI E-RA will take place this year and the record attempt for an electric vehicle will be articulated in 2023. We are initially targeting a rather fast time of 6 min 40 s.