Volkswagen’s Scout Is Back With a New All-Electric SUV and Truck
Zombies aren’t the only thing rising from the dead this Halloween.
Volkswagen has just unveiled a pair of electric concepts inspired by the long-defunct International Harvester Scout off-roader. And if everything goes to plan the battery-powered Traveler SUV and Terra truck will go into production later this decade.
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Built between 1960 and 1980, the Scout was one of the first mainstream SUVs and was developed as International Harvester’s answer to the original Jeep. It may not be as fondly remembered as the Ford Bronco and Chevrolet K5 Blazer that would debut in its wake, but it has its adherents among off-roading enthusiasts thanks to some quirky features like a removable hard-top roof and fold-down windshield. Had International Harvester kept building the Scout, there’s a possibility it could have become a household name, but the automaker stopped building passenger vehicles in 1980, mere years before SUVs really started to take off.
A lot has changed over the last four and a half decades so it’s little surprise that the concepts don’t look much like their namesake. Both concepts are big and sleek and feel in line with other SUV/truck combos, like the Rivian R1S and R1T. The best features are those that call directly back to past Scouts. These include a faux grille and tailgate that features the Scout name in retro-style script updated lighting. Both vehicles also can accommodate up to 35-inch tires, something we imagine will appeal to the off-road junkies out there.
The Traveler and Terra will both be available with two powertrains. The first is an all-electric option while the second is a hybrid setup that uses a small combustion engine as a range extender (similar to what Ram is doing with the 1500 Ramcharger). The former will have a range of 350 miles, the latter 500 miles. Scout also says that the EV will be able to sprint from zero to 60 mph in as little as 3.5 seconds.
We’ll have to wait for the full details, but the early signs are that the new Scouts will be very capable. The EVs will feature body-on-frame construction and a solid rear axle. They’ll also be capable of carrying a 2,000-pound payload, with the Traveler also capable of towing an additional 7,000-pound load and the Terra a 10,000-pound load. The 800-volt electric architecture utilized by the vehicles will also allow for bi-directional charging, something that could come in handy in a pinch.
Unlike most concepts we see, Volkswagen has made clear that it intends to put the Scout Traveler and Terra into production. Right now the plan is to launch the resurrected brand in 2027, with both vehicles starting at under $60,000.
Click here to see more photos of the Scout Traveler and Terra.
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