Does anyone remember the International Scout? The Scout was an American brand built in Indiana, an off-road alternative to the Jeep sold between 1960 and 1980. Ring any bells?
Well, VW certainly hopes you remember, and they hope you have some warm fuzzy feeling about those old trucks because they've just made a big investment in acquiring that brand, building a new HQ in South Carolina and producing two new retro-inspired models - the Traveler SUV and the Terra Truck - both original nameplates from the Scout brand.
We have our doubts that anyone outside of the off-road community remembers or particularly cares about the original Scout brand. These are vehicles largely lost to history, now maybe seen at a random car meet here and there and probably mistaken for Broncos by casual passers by.
But here's the thing - even if you're not excited about the old Scout brand, this new Scout brand has already given us plenty to lust over. VW has created something that we believe is truly unique and compelling here. Let's take a look.
The Scout will come in two flavors, a large SUV and a pickup truck. Both models have a strong retro look in all of the right ways. These boxy, clean designs evoke that era of 70s and 80s trucks even if you can't quite place the specific references to the original Scout that VW is drawing upon. These retro cues extend to the stance, the tailgate-mounted full-size spare tire on the Traveler, and the short approach and departure angles. These vehicles also look retro because they are built in that old tradition of body-on-frame trucks. These are not unibody cars masquerading as trucks - these are legitimately trucks that should bring impressive off-road capability.
Scout is estimating the BEV versions will bring over 350 miles of range. That's seriously impressive considering the aerodynamics on display here, and has left us scratching our heads on just how they're stuffing that much battery and/or efficiency into a body-on-frame configuration. If 350 miles of range isn't enough for you, Scout plans to offer a range extended series hybrid (EREV) version, using an on-board gas generator to keep the batteries charged. This configuration will offer 500 miles of range, and will run as long as there is gas in it. In a fun nod to the original "International Harvester" brand, Scout calls their range extender the "Harvester".
As if that wasn't impressive enough, these Scouts have an 800V architecture with 350 kW charging speed, which would place them among the fastest charging vehicles available today (granted, the Scouts are not available today). They should also be available for the Clean Vehicle Tax Credit (assuming that credit remains in place by the time these vehicles reach the market) because they will be built here in the U.S. in South Carolina, and will use the North American Charging Standard (NACS) with access to the Tesla Supercharger network.
Scout has promised quad motor versions, and teased a solid rear axle which should make off-road enthusiasts very happy. They'll also do 0-60 in as little as 3.5 seconds, and offer 1,000 lb-ft of torque. The truck will have a towing capacity of 10,000 lbs, and the SUV will tow 7,000 lbs.
About that off-road capability, Scout says the most capable trims will offer a foot of ground clearance and will be able to ford 3 feet of water. They can fit 35" tires without modification.
Inside, both Scouts appear to blend a really nice balance of luxury and stoutness, with large screens AND physical buttons plus premium materials. The Traveler SUV will be available with a retractable soft top for an open-air experience.
Scout says the Traveler will start "as low as" $50,000, and the Terra "around" $51,500 (which feels oddly specific). Neither is available until 2027. Reservations are open now at scoutmotors.com.
We'll be watching developments on these with high anticipation.
