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Subaru STI E-RA

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STI E-RA Concept
At Osaka Auto Messe (Feb 2022)
Overview
ManufacturerSubaru Tecnica International
Production2022
Powertrain
Electric motor4× Yamaha IPMSM, 800 kW (1,100 hp) total output
Battery60 kWh lithium-ion
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,690 mm (105.9 in)
Length5,010 mm (197.2 in)
Width2,000 mm (78.7 in)
Height1,310 mm (51.6 in)
Curb weight1,690 kg (3,726 lb) (estimated)

The Subaru STI E-RA is a racing vehicle equipped with a battery-electric drivetrain. It was developed by Subaru's performance and racing division Subaru Tecnica International (STI). The car's initials stand for "Electric—Record Attempt", keeping with STI's tradition of designating its highest-performance models with the "RA" label; a concept car prototype debuted at the Tokyo Auto Salon in January 2022.

Design

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Rear side view
Rear view

Development of the two-seat STI E-RA began in 2020.[1] Early speculation, based on a late-December 2021 teaser photograph showing just the front of the forthcoming concept, was that it could be based on the same platform as the Toyota Sports EV concept unveiled two weeks earlier.[2] The STI E-RA Concept debuted on January 14, 2022, at the Tokyo Auto Salon.[3]

Subaru stated the concept is a prototype of a forthcoming STI E-RA racing car being developed by STI under the project "STI E-RA CHALLENGE".[3] "E-RA" stands for "Electric—Record Attempt", with a stated goal of recording a lap time of 400 seconds at the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 2023.[4] The current Nordschleife lap record for electric vehicles is held by the Volkswagen I.D. R, which recorded a lap record of 365.3 seconds in 2019.[5] Prior to that, the EV record was held by the NIO EP9, which recorded a lap record of 405.9 seconds in 2017.[6] Development will continue throughout 2022 by testing the prototype at tracks in Japan.[4] In addition, the STI E-RA was developed to the requirements of the FIA Electric GT Championship, which is scheduled to hold its inaugural season in 2023.[7]

STI's first project set speed and endurance records using three specially-prepared Subaru Legacy sedans in 1989;[8] its first model sold to consumers was the 1992 "Legacy RS Type RA" to commemorate the "Record Attempt",[9] and since then, STI has used the "RA" designation for its highest-performance models.

The concept was shown in February 2022 at the Osaka Auto Messe, where it proved to be quite popular with children.[10]

Drivetrain

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True to Subaru design heritage, the STI E-RA Concept features all-wheel drive (AWD); for the concept, AWD is implemented using one motor at each wheel, allowing torque vectoring by varying the output at each wheel individually.[4] Total output is stated to be 800 kW (1,073 hp)[4] and 1,100 N⋅m (810 lbf⋅ft).[1] Each motor has an output of 200 kW (268 hp).[11]

The traction motors were developed and supplied by Yamaha Motor Company,[4] which had begun development of high-performance permanent magnet synchronous motors in 2020.[12] Yamaha announced in April 2021 they were accepting orders for a newly developed "Hyper-EV" traction motor, with a maximum output of 350 kW (470 hp) per motor[13] and confirmed the "Hyper-EV" motor was being used in the STI E-RA Concept.[14]

The STI E-RA Concept is equipped with a 60 kWh lithium-ion storage battery.[4] In the FIA Electric GT Championship, cars are required to make a pit stop to charge at least once during the 45-minute race, and Motor Trend speculated the relatively small capacity was designed with this rule in mind.[7] In addition, FIA rules would limit total output to a combined 430 kW (577 hp), and a street-legal homologation variant would need to be produced to qualify, in accordance with Group GT3 rules that would be applied to Electric GT.[11]

Chassis

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The body of the STI E-RA Concept is a carbon fiber monocoque, drawing on experience gained by STI in campaigning the BRZ GT300 in Japan's Super GT racing series.[1] It is equipped with a large roof-mounted scoop for cooling and numerous wings and cutouts to increase downforce.[15]

Brakes are supplied by the AP Racing division of Brembo.[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d 高橋 学 (January 14, 2022). "スバル、4モーター4輪独立トルクベクタリング式AWDを採用したスタディモデル「STI E-RA コンセプト」" [Subaru prototype "STI E-RA Concept" adopts 4-motor, 4-wheel independent torque vectoring-type AWD]. Car Watch (in Japanese). Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  2. ^ Banner, Justin (December 29, 2021). "Subaru Teases High-Performance STI EV Concept for Tokyo Auto Salon". Motor Trend. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Subaru debuts two new concept cars at Tokyo Auto Salon" (Press release). Subaru Global Media. January 14, 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Subaru Tecnica International Unveils the Near-future Motorsport EV Concept "STI E-RA CONCEPT" at the Tokyo Auto Salon" (Press release). Subaru Tecnica International. January 14, 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  5. ^ "Volkswagen ID.R sets new electric record on the Nürburgring" (Press release). Volkswagen US. June 3, 2019. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  6. ^ Duff, Mike (July 5, 2017). "The Story behind the Nio EP9's Briefly Held Nurburgring Lap Record". Car and Driver. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  7. ^ a b Banner, Justin; Wright, Micah (January 21, 2022). "A New E-RA for STI: Subaru Shows Off Concept EV Race Car". Motor Trend. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  8. ^ Donnelly, Jim (Summer 2018). "Legacy of Endurance". Drive Performance. Vol. 15, no. 2. Subaru of America. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  9. ^ Orlove, Raphael (April 3, 2018). "The First Subaru STI Was This Forgotten Record-Breaking Legacy". Jalopnik. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  10. ^ 谷川 潔 (February 11, 2022). "スバル/STI、AWDモータースポーツEV「STI E-RA コンセプト」など展示 子供に人気のスバルブース" [Subaru/STI AWD motor sports EV 'STI E-RA concept' and other exhibits at the Subaru booth popular with children]. Car Watch (in Japanese). Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  11. ^ a b Katsianis, Jordan (14 January 2022). "Subaru STI E-RA Challenge Project concept reveals FIA E-GT ambitions". EVO. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  12. ^ "Yamaha Motor Begins Accepting Orders for High-performance Electric Motor Prototype —Customized units to be produced rapidly for cars and other vehicles—" (Press release). Yamaha Motor Corporation. February 4, 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  13. ^ "Yamaha Motor Begins Accepting Orders for Prototype Hyper-EV Electric Motor Development — New electric motor reaches 350 kW class in maximum output —" (Press release). Yamaha Motor Corporation. April 12, 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  14. ^ "Yamaha Motor Supplying Hyper-EV Electric Motors for Subaru Tecnica International (STI) — To be mounted on STI E-RA EV for future motorsport aiming for Nürburgring record —" (Press release). Yamaha Motor Corporation. January 14, 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  15. ^ Wilkinson, Luke (14 January 2022). "1073bhp Subaru STI E-RA electric race car to take on the Nurburgring". Auto Express. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
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