Scout Terra and Traveler EVs revealed
Production starts in 2027 at South Carolina plant
Prices to start below $60,000
Volkswagen Group’s new U.S.-based electric vehicle brand, Scout, has revealed concepts for an electric SUV and an electric pickup truck destined to go into production in 2027.
The Scout brand takes its inspiration from the original International Harvester Scouts, which were in production from 1961 to 1980 and have been part of VW Group’s intellectual property since the German auto giant purchased Navistar, the successor to International Harvester, in 2020.
Scout Traveler Terra pickup concept
Scout’s new concepts are the Traveler SUV and Terra pickup truck, and they feature designs clearly inspired by the original Scout Traveler and Terra models. A company spokesperson said the designs of the concepts are close to 85% of what we’ll see on the production models.
The vehicles are based on a newly developed body-on-frame platform and measure close to full-size dimensions. The Traveler is 207.9 inches long, or roughly seven inches longer than the rival Rivian R1S, while the Terra measures a massive 229.2 inches long, or 12 inches longer than Rivian’s R1T.
Scout Terra concept
They will be rugged from the get-go, thanks to features like dual-motor all-wheel drive, a solid rear axle, mechanical locking differentials front and rear, a front sway bar disconnect, available 35-inch off-road tires, more than one foot of ground clearance, and approach and departure angles that will ensure the vehicles keep clear of trouble. Some of the Scouts will be able to climb 100% grades, too.
The vehicles are expected to deliver a payload capacity of nearly 2,000 pounds, with the SUV featuring a split tailgate and the truck a traditional drop-down tailgate that opens to a 5.5-foot bed. The SUV is expected to have around 7,000 pounds of towing capacity and the truck more than 10,000 pounds.
Scout Traveler concept
Scout hasn’t provided much detail on the electric powertrain but said there will be enough battery capacity to deliver more than 350 miles of range. A series hybrid option that Scout calls the Harvester, will use a gas engine to charge the battery and boost range to more than 500 miles. The electrical system will be 800 volts, which will enable charging at rates of up to 350 kw when using a DC fast charger. All Scouts will come with a NACS connector and be capable of bidirectional charging.
A peak power figure wasn’t given but torque will rise up to almost 1,000 lb-ft, which will help deliver 0-60 mph acceleration in some Scouts in just 3.5 seconds.
Scout Traveler concept
The interior design, much like the exterior, follows a simple theme fit for purpose, while still delivering all the technology buyers crave. Facing the driver will be a square-shaped steering wheel and a digital gauge cluster spanning 12.3 inches, and in the center stack will be a 16.2-inch touchscreen display for infotainment. Toggle switches and knobs will sit below this screen for easy use of certain features, like the climate controls. Scout has confirmed that buyers will be able to opt for individual seats up front or a bench seat. There will also be an available Cabana Top for the SUV, which can provide an open-top feel for almost the whole cabin. A glass roof will also be offered.
Scout also confirmed its vehicles will feature a modern zonal software architecture, which Scout’s VW Group parent is likely developing with Rivian in a deal announced in June. Scout said this software architecture will enable over-the-air updates, remote diagnostics, and many more services and personalization options than what’s typically found in a vehicle.
Scout Traveler concept
Like the original Scouts, there will likely be multiple variants of the new Traveler and Terra. Scout has made moves to trademark some of the earlier nameplates used by International Harvester for its own Scouts. There are close to 30 trademarks that cover Scout 80—the name of the first Scout launched by International Harvester—Scout 800, and Scout II, as well as package names such as Aristocrat, Rallye, Sno-Star, Sportstar, and more.
Production will be handled at a new plant to be located near Columbia, South Carolina. Close to $2 billion is expected to be invested in the site, which could churn out vehicles for other VW Group brands, possibly sharing Scout’s platform. A rugged Audi SUV targeting the likes of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class and Land Rover Defender is a possibility.
Scout is already accepting reservations for the Traveler and Terra. The company plans to establish its own sales and service network that will provide direct sales to customers, much like Tesla, and said the vehicles will be designed in a way that around 80% of repair types could be completed outside of a Scout service center.
