Our Rides: A New Scout for a New Generation

In a year’s time, we should see the return of an off-road icon.

It is not the return we were expecting, but there’s a story behind all of this. We have to go back to get the entire picture.

Back to 1960, to be exact. International Harvester produced pickup trucks and family haulers, as well as farm implements, tractors and other trucks up to their famous big rigs. They introduced a “recreational vehicle” with four-wheel drive that joined a growing market for rural and off-road transportation. The original International Scout was more of a curiosity, yet it looked more modern than Kaiser’s Civilian Jeep series.

The Scout was never the most popular vehicle around. They were hard to find when it came to buying one. International Scouts were sold at hardware stores, truck dealers in an industrial part of town, or small gas stations or garages. However, they found loyal owners who appreciated their usefulness on and off the highway. They took their Scouts to the cabin, the lakeshore and camp sites. Sometimes, they played on the trail.

By 1980, International Harvester was in financial trouble. To save the company, they ended production of the Scout, along with their pickup truck and family hauler. Years later, Volkswagen Group would invest in its successor company, Navistar. Part of the deal was ownership of all intellectual property from International Harvester’s automotive and truck business.

It made sense that Volkswagen Group would resurrect Scout into its own independently operated entity. A company that would create a very capable SUV for a growing market.

There is a twist: this Scout is a completely electrified vehicle.

When the Scout is produced at their plant near Columbia, S.C., by 2026, they will offer fully electric and extended range electric drivelines on their two initial models — the Traveler SUV and Terra pickup truck. The extended range EVs will be known as Harvesters, available on both the Traveler and Terra.

At a recent event for members of the media at Elkhart Lake, Wisc., we got a real good look at the upcoming Scout in the Traveler concept. What we saw was a full-scale concept that appears close to what the production model should look like.

The design was inspired by the Scout II, the last generation model introduced in the 1970s. The difference between the two is the number of doors, as the new Scout will be offered with four doors. The C-pillar glass on the Traveler concept is reminiscent of the older Scout with its five-sided shape.

The design nods to the past but has some modern twists. Scout uses what is called “ghost lightning.” It is a yellowish hue to the LED elements, including the badge on the “grille.” Actually, it’s not a grille, but a solid piece that looks like one. The headlamp units were inspired by binoculars, although split with the LED lightning signature across each unit.

Another modern design element of the Scout is the alloy wheels that wear all-terrain tires. This is a sign of its off-road prowess that the Scout should deliver on. That leads to a rear end that both references the past with its vertical LED taillights and spare tire mount that opens to the passenger side. The concept shown to us included a jerry can for extra fuel, which should be included with the Harvester EREV driveline.

As with the previous Scout, the new Traveler model will feature a split rear gate. The two-piece gate has lower and upper parts opening to a large cargo hold in the rear. This is perfect for tailgating or setting up camp. The rear LED lightning signatures, including the logo, are lit up in red “ghost lighting.”

The concept’s cabin shows off a mix of both classic and modern elements. Scout II models had a long dashboard with a canted area creased rearward, sporting a long speedometer and attached gauges. The new Scout takes the same dashboard shape and adds two digital displays. One will be for the instrument cluster, while the other is a touchscreen for the infotainment system.

With this interior design, Scout made a commitment to providing tactile switchgear for several key functions. These switches appear to be substantial, especially for the climate control. The gear lever is on the column, opening up the center console for more stowage.

Standard seating is for up to five. However, you can order a front bench seat with a folding center seatback that converts into an armrest and center stowage. This is another nod to Scout’s past. There is also a sliding tray available for the front passenger.

For fully electric models, there is a front trunk that opens to the bumper. It looks spacious enough to load up for a weekend away. It also could serve as a place to stow recovery equipment, charging cables or other necessities when the Scout is out deep in the woods or anywhere away from the highway.

Scout Motors projects that the Traveler and Terra will have an all-electric range of 350 miles. Harvester extended range models could get up around 500 miles of range on combined electricity and fuel.

Final specifications have not been set at this time. We expect that by 2026, we will see what the actual configurations will be. There is some information available on the Scout Motors website, along with putting in a reservation for your Traveler or Terra.

In terms of dealers, there are initial plans on creating 15 retail locations across the U.S. That will expand to 100 locations across North America by 2032. That also includes service centers. If there is not a service center open near you, Scout Motors will have mobile service available to its owners.

There are some takeaways from viewing the Scout Traveler concept. One, the commitment and backing by Volkswagen Group enables Scout Motors to build something from the ground up. This also provides many advantages for this brand, such as access to capital, technology and supply chains for production.

Secondly, timing is important. As more consumers, including LGBTQ+ ones, are looking for more rugged vehicles to drive anywhere, Scout will deliver with electrified drivelines in the capable SUV space. It is also a lifestyle proposition for those who love on- and off-road adventure.

The promise of the new Scout is about a year or so away. It should meet the expectations of those of us who want adventure and sustainability simultaneously. It will also bring back memories of SUVs past, while delivering on the latest engineering and technology.

Will it be worth the wait? From what we have seen, it should be.

Scout Motors
scoutmotors.com