The Subaru Elten was a concept hybrid 4WD hatchback designed by Subaru. It was introduced at the 1997 Tokyo Motor Show. [1] The name Elten was a contraction of 'electric' and 'K10' (development code for the Subaru 360). [2]
The Elten with one driver-side door and two passenger-side doors was a successor to the 360 in taking many design elements from that vehicle, including a similar grille and headlights. It was 3,410 mm (11 ft 2 in) long, 1,500 mm (4 ft 11 in) wide, 1,500 mm (4 ft 11 in) tall and had a 2,260 mm (7 ft 5 in) wheelbase. Its weight was 960 kg (2,120 lb). The design was later scrapped for a different model. [3] [4]
In the front, the Subaru concept had a 4-cylinder, 658 cc gasoline engine producing 46 hp (34 kW) at 6,000 rpm and 5.8 kg⋅m (57 N⋅m; 42 lb⋅ft) at 3,600 rpm, and an electric motor with 30 kW and 3.9 kg⋅m (38 N⋅m; 28 lb⋅ft) at 7,500 rpm, combined through an eCVT transmission. [4] The batteries (a manganese-lithium battery and a condenser battery) were under the floor and were charged by the combustion engine, by regenerative braking and through solar panels on the roof. [2] The roof panels could charge enough energy in 3 hours to drive 67 km (42 mi). [5]