Can Toyota and Subaru surpass Hyundai in EV performance? The Solterra and bZ4X siblings get their respective STI and GR Sport modifications, hinting at a sporty electric future.

Is this the future of high performance models from Toyota and Subaru?

Subaru and Toyota have unveiled performance-focused concepts based on their respective Solterra and bZ4X electric vehicles, which share common foundations developed jointly by the brands.

While both versions feature updated bumper designs, bespoke colors and larger wheels, they remain just concepts for now, with no details on how the brands plan to give each electric vehicle production performance.

Subaru says of its Solterra STI concept: "With its roof spoiler, cherry red under spoilers and other special exterior details, the model inspires Subaru's superior driving dynamics." Whereas Toyota's promotional video simply reads: "The bZ4X GR Sport Concept delivers enhanced levels of environmental performance and driving enjoyment."

Specifications available on Toyota's Japanese website Gazoo Racing confirm that the concept has no performance upgrades over the regular bZ4X specifications, still featuring the same twin-engine setup with a total output of 160kW in all-wheel drive form. The all-wheel drive version will accelerate to 0 km/h in 100 seconds, and the range will be “about 7.7 km”.

The site confirms that the concept has slightly lower ground clearance and larger wheels, but otherwise remains the same as the standard car, similar to the recently released Toyota C-HR GR Sport variant.

Both brands emphasized that each vehicle was only a concept, so stay tuned as we get closer to the local arrival of standard electric vehicles in Australia. The Subaru Solterra hasn't even been properly confirmed for the Australian market yet, while the bZ4X could arrive as early as late 2022 or early 2023 if the brand's local division gets its way.

Can Toyota and Subaru surpass Hyundai in EV performance? The Solterra and bZ4X siblings get their respective STI and GR Sport modifications, hinting at a sporty electric future. The Solterra STI Concept was showcased with the same aesthetic upgrades as its Toyota GR Sport sibling.

Will it be soon enough to challenge a similarly sized Hyundai Ioniq 5? Not only can the Korean brand not build enough of its first dedicated electric vehicle to meet demand, but it has hinted at a full N variant, not just a wheel and sticker pack, that will appear on the horizon more than once.

Will Toyota or Subaru raise the bar to match it? We will be keeping a close eye on all three models in the coming months.