Scout Traveler SUV And Terra Pickup EVs: Everything We Know
Volkswagen has chosen to revive the Scout brand (of International Harvester Scout fame) for a new line of off-road-focused electric vehicles over 40 years after the last Scout II rolled off the production line. The new company’s first offerings will be an electric SUV and pickup duo that promise to blend retro-inspired design, go-anywhere capability and the best of VW’s EV tech into a package specifically designed for the American market and built locally.
The Scout Terra pickup and Traveler SUV will be all-electric vehicles, but a range-extended version wearing the “Harvester” badge will also go on sale, most likely ahead of the EVs. That’s because Scout customers overwhelmingly chose the EREV versions during the reservation process, with 85% of the 150,000 refundable pre-orders going toward the gas-assisted models.
The two reborn Scout vehicles will put off-road ability and usability above opulent luxury, which will be reflected in their price. They are expected to undercut the vast majority of rivals, although only time will tell what the competition will come up with and whether or not there will even be a competition. Ram canceled the all-electric 1500 pickup to focus on the extended-range model, and Ford pulled the plug on the F-150 Lightning.
Power And Platform
Scout Terra Electric Pickup Truck
Photo by: Scout Motors
Underpinning both vehicles will be an all-new platform not shared with any other VW models. It’s not going to be a modified version of the MEB platform that underpins most electric VWs, nor is it related to anything else the group makes, like the PPE platform used as the basis for the Porsche Macan EV and the Audi Q6 E-Tron.
This is because the two Scout vehicles will have a body-on-frame construction, which should make them more rugged and truck-like compared to unibody rivals like the Tesla Cybertruck. With the outdoorsy image that the brand wants to portray, a dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain comes standard, with a solid rear axle and mechanically locking differentials front and rear.
However, even though the ladder chassis will be new and bespoke to Scout, it will be packed with parts sourced from VW likely shared with other group vehicles. The electronics, motors and other vital components will benefit from the extensive VW parts bin and while this may not sound particularly exciting, we’ve seen what other startups like Rivian managed to achieve without the backing of one of the world’s biggest automakers.
Range, Batteries And Charging
Photo by: Scout Motors
The final figures are still a work in progress, but Scout Motors CEO Scott Keogh laid out the basic specs for the two models’ all-electric and extended-range versions.
The Terra and Traveler EVs will be powered by a huge battery that’s roughly 120 to 130-kilowatt-hours, enabling an estimated driving range of around 350 miles on a full charge.
Meanwhile, the EREV versions will have a smaller, lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack with a capacity of roughly 63 kWh, which should result in an all-electric range of about 150 miles. That said, the Harvester EREVs will also have a naturally-aspirated four-cylinder gas engine mounted at the rear, close to the rear axle, acting as a generator to top-up the batteries. With a full tank of gas and a full battery, Scout’s EREVs will offer around 500 miles of range.
On an EREV, the gas engine is not physycally connected to the wheels, and only turns on to provide energy to the high-voltage battery.
Charging will be handled through a Tesla-style NACS port which can accept up to 350 kW of power from a compatible DC fast charger.
Design And Exterior Dimensions
Photo by: Scout Motors
Scout made headlines when it revealed the first Traveler and Terra prototypes, both of which are expected to go into production with minimal changes. They feature a very short front overhang and a retro-inspired design, but elevated to today’s standards. Inside, there are lots of physical buttons, and everything looks premium.
Size-wise, the Traveler SUV prototype is 190.9 inches long without the spare wheel carrier, 79.9 inches wide and 76.3 inches tall. The wheelbase measures 120.4 inches.
The Terra pickup is considerably longer than the SUV, coming in at 229.2 in, and the wheelbase is increased to 148.6 in. The width is the same as the SUV, but the maximum height a little higher, at 77.7 in.
Scout Traveler Electric SUV interior
Photo by: Scout Motors
Towing And Payload
The Scout Terra pickup’s tow rating is 10,000 pounds, while the Traveler SUV can tow up to 7,000 pounds. The payload capacity is 2,000 lbs for both models.
Pricing
Scout has confirmed that the starting price for its new models will sit somewhere around $60,000, but it’s unclear which powertrain will be more affordable. The EVs have huge batteries, and this usually hikes up the price, while the EREVs are more complicated because they also integrate a gas engine.
Reveal And Production
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Source: Scout Motors
The Scout Traveler SUV and Terra pickup concepts were unveiled in late 2024. Both are expected to go into production at a brand-new factory in South Carolina by the end of 2027 as 2028 models.
Most likely, the EREV versions will be the first to go on sale, considering that the vast majority of Scout’s reservations so far have been for these variants.
