Subaru STI Shows Off E-RA Electric Motorsport Testbed Vehicle

While many Subaru enthusiasts are waiting for the high-performance version of the 2023 WRX to drop, STI has its eyes far off in its future with the E-RA. It’s an AWD electric vehicle meant for pushing new high-performance EV tech for Subaru as it enters the “carbon-neutral era.” Subaru hopes to not only break the 400 second (6 minute, 40 second) mark at the Nürburgring, but also possibly compete in the upcoming FIA E-GT category.

STI Still Loves AWD

With it being an STI build, it couldn’t just do with driving only two wheels. It was also not content with using only two motors to drive each axle, as the E-RA—which stands for Electric Record Attempt—is putting a motor on each wheel. The combined output is supposed to be 1,073 hp, which can be vectored to any of those motors to fine-tune grip.

But there are two shockers here: the battery of the E-RA is only 60 kWh, and the motors are outsourced to Yamaha.

Yamaha Power

Nope, this Subaru won’t be sharing any drive technology with Toyota, as it has with their Solterra. Instead, STI describes these Yamaha-sourced motors as “high-torque high-revolution type with an integrated inverter and a gear for hyper EVs.” Because of the expected high-output and regeneration capability with these Yamaha motors, it describes the driving characteristic of the E-RA as a vehicle with “a high level of responsiveness and a direct control of the yaw of the car body.”

Record Attempts

It also looks like STI is raring to race the E-RA. While the overall goal is to achieve a 6:40 lap time around the infamous Nürburgring in 2023, the E-RA will also run laps around various circuits across Japan in 2022. The E-RA is also built to the specifications of the FIA E-GT, where STI looks to compete in when that series starts in 2023. With its 60 kWh battery, it appears that STI might also be planning for the quick charging requirement that category has, as the 45 minute race will have at least one mandatory pit stop that will involve charging the vehicle. Its first Japanese test run hasn’t been announced yet, but we imagine it will be coming soon and can’t wait to see what it hints at for the Nürburgring and the E-GT.

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