Subura is not the brand that has distinguished itself the most for its electric vehicles, but that is about to change.
The world of the electric car is slowly making its way into the automotive universe and the global vehicle fleet. Today, there are still few brands that offer thermal cars for sale, the new market being mainly electric or at least hybrid.
So to stay in this current movement, Subaru, a Japanese brand known mainly for its exploits in the WRC (world rally championship) has just presented an electric car, with disproportionate power. Indeed, and as the brand proudly announced, the new STI E-RA has an engine of more than 1000 horsepower.
A figure that is only very rarely achieved in the automotive world, even thermal. By way of comparison, a Bugatti Chiron has an output of 1369 horsepower in its most powerful version. Formula 1 cars have a 1000 to 1100 horsepower engine depending on the team.
A time to fetch on the demanding Nordschleife
The Subaru concept, announced at the Tokyo Motor Show therefore boxed in this category, in the middle of what is best in the automotive world. In order to make an even bigger place for itself in the world of the electric car, Subaru could soon try to go under 6 minutes 40 seconds per lap in one of the most dangerous circuits in the world: the Nordschleife of the Nürburgring, also called “green hell”.
A mythical track in the history of motorsport which, like the Le Mans circuit, can serve as a judge of the peace between several concept cars in order to know who is the fastest. This time targeted by Subaru is not, however, the track record, established in 6 minutes and 5 seconds by the Volkswagen IDR, another electric concept car.
But the Japanese firm intends above all to beat the lap time established by the Tesla Model S Plaid. A top-of-the-range electric car that sets the benchmark for the market. The Texan car had thus taken more than 7 minutes and 35 seconds.
In any case, Subaru’s ambitions seem clear as the Japanese brand presents what it knows how to do best in “its” living room in Tokyo. With this concept car, Subaru is showing its seriousness in this area, although the brand is a latecomer to the world of electric cars compared to Mercedes and other Audis, which have already moved from the prototype stage to the production vehicle.
Electric, the future of motorsport?
A very complex step, but one that is necessary for Subaru. If the firm wants to continue to perform in the world of motorsport, it will quickly have to succeed in supplying electric cars, which will soon rule the roost, both on endurance circuits and on less orthodox rally surfaces.
The last edition of the Dakar, which has just ended, clearly shows that Audi with its all-electric car risks establishing unchallenged domination in the coming years, the brand with the rings still suffering from too many reliability problems.
