Pure-electric Subaru SUV confirmed for Europe

Subaru has confirmed it will launch its first battery-powered vehicle in Europe in the first half of this decade, with an unveiling expected in 2021.

Revealing that the first pure-electric Subaru tailored to European tastes would be a mid-size SUV, the Japanese brand also confirmed it will be a twin to the all-new Toyota SUV currently under development and which is scheduled to go on sale as early as next year.

The Subaru will arrive later, but will be a closely related to the Toyota SUV that's tipped to be named the 'BZ'.

While the Toyota BZ will be RAV4-sized, Subaru says its first EV offering will be about as big as the Forester which is only 25mm longer than a RAV4, suggesting they will loosely share the same footprint.

According to the partnership, Toyota is set to share its electric car tech while Subaru will lend its four-wheel drive expertise.

Not that all models will come with all-wheel drive. Cheaper versions based on the same e-TNGA architecture will be driven by a single electric motor that drives the rear wheels, with four-wheel drive versions only available on more expensive models that get a second front-mounted motor.

Under the joint venture, the European mid-size SUV is expected to be the first of a small family of electric models from Subaru that will include a large SUV and a sedan.

Like its Toyota stablemates, all will benefit from the e-TNGA's ability to mount the batteries low in the platform for a perfect 50:50 weight distribution.

An electric model in Europe is vital for the small Japanese car-maker to meet its average fleet CO2 emissions while preparing for the outright ban on sales of petrol and diesel engines in many countries.

By 2030, Subaru says pure-electric or hybrid vehicles will account for 40 per cent of its global sales.