- The Subaru Outback is facing the chop in Europe due to emission regulations.
- While the new 7th generation Outback is coming here, it won't make it to the UK.
- The Toyota-eTNGA-based Trailseeker EV could wear the Outback name in European markets instead.
After six generations the Subaru Outback looks set to be dropped in markets like the United Kingdom and the European Union because of emissions regulations.
But, according to a report from UK’s Auto Express, the Outback name could live on as an electric car.
The publication quoted Subaru’s General Manager for Europe, David Dello Stritto, as saying that the seventh-gen Outback would be “simply unsellable in Europe” due to the amount of CO2 it produces and the related taxes.
This means it will also be dropped from the UK line-up after the current-gen model ends production.
However, the nameplate might continue. Auto Express said the new Subaru Trailseeker EV might not use that name when it launches and could instead go for something like ‘E-Outback’ or ‘Outback EV’.
The story is quite different in this part of the world where the Outback will continue to be offered in seventh-gen guise.
Subaru’s local importer is still yet to confirm timing for the new Outback.
Revealed at this year’s New York motor show, the new Outback adopts a traditional SUV shape, eschewing the jacked-up wagon look of all previous generations of the iconic nameplate.
Initially at least the Outback will be available with two petrol powertrains, including an updated 2.5 litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an continuously variable transmission (CVT) as well as a 2.4-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder unit also with a CVT.
A hybrid is believed to be in the works for the Outback but timing is unclear. The Trailseeker, which was also revealed at the New York motor show, is also under consideration for us but yet to get the official green light.
Based on Toyota’s e-TNGA platform that underpins the Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra EV twins, the Trailseeker is bigger in size and has a more wagon-like design.
The Trailseeker comes with a 74.7kWh lithium-ion battery and a 280kW output, good enough for an approximate driving range of 420km.
- Tim Nicholson, managing editor.