Subaru teases first hybrid Wilderness and a new EV

Subaru has teased a pair of new electrified SUVs ahead of the 2026 New York auto show, one being the first hybrid Wilderness model and a supposedly all-new EV that’ll output up to 313kW.

Starting with the Wilderness, there are only two models it could be: the Forester, or the smaller Crosstrek.

Both SUVs already have a Wilderness halo, and both are available in the North American market with a 2.5-litre ‘Strong Hybrid’ powertrain, so deciphering which one’s getting the electrified all-terrain makeover is next to impossible.

The Crosstrek was the first to gain a Wilderness variant while the Forester was the first to receive the Toyota-sourced hybrid system, and there’s nothing to be gained from the cryptic teaser image which only shows the updated ‘Wilderness Hybrid’ badge.

As for the EV, we get a more complete view of the vehicle, albeit in a shadowy environment where all we can see is its front lighting signature, including an illuminated Subaru badge.

All of Subaru’s EVs look pretty much the same these days so it’s hard to tell what it’s based on or where in the range it might slot, but its advertised peak power output of 313kW suggests it’ll be at the pointy end of the portfolio.

No other details of either upcoming model have been announced yet, but we don’t have too long to wait given that the global reveals will happen simultaneously in less than a week.

Subaru will livestream the event via a dedicated landing page on its North American website, and we wouldn’t be surprised if it was accessible via YouTube as well.

The brand’s Australian division hasn’t expressed a public interest in either model yet, but we wouldn’t be surprised if the Wilderness Hybrid was earmarked for our market given its planned Wilderness expansion and growing focus on hybrids.

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