Today’s a big day for pickup trucks and SUVs in America, as a beloved brand is coming back from the dead. For more than two years, we’ve been eagerly awaiting the revival of the Scout brand, and today we find out a whole lot more about a brand new incoming pickup truck and SUV. It’s all being revealed on a livestream, and we’re doing a liveblog as it happens.
As I previously detailed, a diesel emissions scandal here in America at Navistar International led to Volkswagen acquiring the Scout brand, and now we’re about to see the fruits of the group’s labor. So, what can we expect?
Well, judging by past teasers, expect retro-inspired design on both a pickup truck and an SUV. Scout is a big heritage play, and it has some great styling language to play with. At the same time, expect body-on-frame construction, as CEO Scott Keogh previously detailed in a blog post. It’s an unusual play, mostly because we also know that the incoming Scout models will use electric motors to drive their wheels. However, it’s also a rugged one that should appeal to Americans.
We also know that the new Scout models will be built in South Carolina, potentially to take advantage of IRA tax credits. A brand new plant is expected to crank out 200,000 vehicles a year, so this is a mass-market play, as reaching that capacity requires serious ambition.
Regardless, let’s tune into this livestream and find out what’s about to happen. Obviously, since this is a liveblog, I’ll be updating this regularly, but you’re about to find out what’s happening as I’m about to find out what’s happening. Cowabunga it is, dudes, dudettes, and those who identify as neither.
Update #1: Huh, so it seems that the actual show is starting at 4:30 p.m. central time, but on the plus side, the thumbnail for the livestream suggests that at least one of the new Scout models might be available with a sweet roof-mounted compass. I guess we’ll find out in half an hour or so.
Update #2: It’s 37 minutes past and nothing’s happened yet, so, uhh, stay tuned, I guess?
Update #3: 5:50 p.m. ET, it’s finally happening!
Update #4: Lots of talk about the new Carolinian plant, targeting a claimed 4,000 employees. Scout also plans on being profitable after one year of operations, so let’s see how that shakes out. More than 50 percent of suppliers are expected to be within 200 miles of the Blythewood, S.C. plant, which makes sense from a timeliness perspective.
Update #5: Here we are! Look at that, an SUV and a pickup truck and they’re both damn good looking. The SUV is called the Traveller, the truck is called the Terra. Check out the massive moonroof on the Traveller, and that fantastic shade of orange. So far, so promising.
Also, check out the external spare tire carrier on the Traveller. It looks to be a separate swinging assembly from the tailgate, so it’ll be interesting to see how big of a tire it can hold.
Little details: Apparently the little hole in each front tow hook is made for a climbing hook. Nifty. Also, there’s a C-pillar grab handle for the 5.5-foot bed on the Terra. Nice touch.
Next up, the interior. There are a ton of physical controls here — knobs, buttons, and toggle switches. Scout claims that key functions like adjusting the stereo and the climate control are all managed through real controls, and that’s a breath of fresh air. The dashboard looks upscale, there’s an optional cool box in the console, and both models will be offered with a front bench seat instead of a center console.
Look at that bench seat right there. Hell yeah.
Also, the dial on the right side of the screen is the volume control for the passengers, presumably since there’s a volume control on the steering wheel for the driver.
Scout has confirmed that both models ride on galvanized separate frames, along with capabilities of 10,000 pounds towing on the Terra and 7,000 pounds of towing on the Traveller. Also, 2,000 pounds of payload on the Terra, 35-inch tires, locking front and rear differentials, and 1,000 lb.-ft. of torque. Hot damn. As for power on-board, the Terra sports 120-volt and 240-volt outlets. That ought to help with tailgating. Oh, and both vehicles ride on an 800-volt architecture, will feature NACS ports to use Tesla Supercharger stations, and claim to offer a projected 350 miles of EV range.
Oh snap, a split tailgate on the Traveller, that’s fire. Every SUV should have a split tailgate.
Mic-drop: You’ll be able to get either Scout model with a gasoline-powered range extender called the Harvester. Expect 500 miles of total range that works much like a BMW i3. Engine powers motors, motors power wheels.
Base price? Scout claims around $50,000 after incentives, or below $60,000 without incentives. Considering what a GMC Hummer EV SUV or a Rivian R1T goes for, that’s aggressive. Let’s see if Scout can stick to it when production’s expected to start in 2027.
(Photo credits: Scout Motors)
I don’t get them going with a solid rear axle, especially with the air suspension.
Worst of both worlds imho.
If this was an EV Land Rover launch, I’d say this is great. As a Scout relaunch, I think it’s a miss. Doesn’t look good next to the classics. Seem like Rivian ripoffs to be honest. And considering how expensive these appear, that must be who they’re targeting. Most Wrangler/Bronco buyers aren’t going to be swayed to come over to something this upmarket.
Given that VW just took a significant stake in Rivian, I suspect that is not by accident.
Yay, volume button fights…
I think I see a column shifter.
Fuck modern style, GIVE ME REAL PLAID
Full on front bench seat option? Nice.
Lacks a headrest for the middle seat, so that’ll probably be added for the production variants.
A fucking bench seat!!!!!!!
Infotainment Screen is 1/3rd the length of the dash, and you got a digital “gauge cluster”, so 2/3rds of the dash is screens…
What did you expect, analogue gauges on an EV?
Minimally sized infotainment screen, storage in dash instead.
Wtf are people going to tie down to the hood?
Yo man, I heard you hate forward visibility, so I put a long hood on your off road BEV, then I put tie down points on the hood so you can make the forward visibility even worse by piling shit on the hood.
You never seen a deer on the hood during the rut?
A dead deer
people put random shit on there al the time. My personal (not) favorite is the hi-lift jack on the hood
But for real, if you put something on the roof, it’s nice to have a tie down on the hood.
Agreed, that being said the tie down points seem very inboard.
I assume it’s a customer safety design.
That interior! <3
Why not give the SUV and the Truck the same hood, front bumper, etc.?
Save cost by having parts commonality…
Probably doing what Ford did with the Bronco. Make the SUV it’s own brand/lifestyle and keep the truck seperate from it for the buyers.
ooh, those are cute
“…almost like the equator runs around the earth”
Dear lord, how much cringe can we get? I’ll wait for the recap
designers gotta design
First launch video ya watched?
These are pretty goddamn nice
I don’t like the headlights at all. They should be round. Other than that, it’s cool so far.
Not gonna lie, styling is good.
-These are beautiful
-Why do they have a hood big enough for an LS swap?
Frunk baby!
I’m not mad. Those look nice.
ok, ok! I like the way they look!
Calling them “scouts” is super annoying.
My oh my those are pretty
Well the door handles are external, that’s a good sign.
And their announcement trailer is a lagging so much they might as well made it in flipbook form.
I’m not crying, you’re crying.
this is so stupid. just show the f’n cars.
yes…I know that’s not how these things work haha
IH invented the SUV segment? That’s a bold claim, as the Suburban preceded it it by 25 years.