What They Are: People who remember the Scout name from when it was owned by International Harvester in the 1960s and 1970s should be brought up in the introduction. Meet the new Scout Terra pickup truck and Traveler SUV, two electric off-road cars made for regular people by a name that has been brought back to life. However, their body-on-frame design and solid rear end make them different from other EVs and should make them useful, so they aren’t just based on how retro they look. The Scout brothers will also be sold as plug-in hybrids, which may make people more likely to adopt them. Why it’s important to have them Even though electric SUVs and pickup trucks are becoming more popular, there aren’t many real off-road vehicles on the market right now. With their plug-in hybrid versions, the Terra and Traveler try to fill that gap, and you don’t have to worry about range. The base Scout’s new platform blends electric powertrains with the traditional body-on-frame design. Frame rails are also used in the Ford F-150 Lightning, but the Scouts have a solid rear axle instead of the Ford’s independent back suspension. No other production EV has this feature yet. What drives it? The SUV and truck will come with two different powertrains. The electric versions will have front and back differentials that are locked mechanically, an 800-volt design, and one electric motor on each axle. Scout hasn’t said how much horsepower it has, but it thinks the all-wheel-drive system will give it 1000 pound-feet of torque. With a PHEV, the gas-powered engine only charges the battery; it doesn’t move the wheels. Scout says that the Terra and Traveler, which are both electric, can go up to 350 miles on a single charge, even without the “Harvester” range extension. Scout said that the Harvester models would last more than 500 km. Challenge The Scout models will compete against electric cars like the Rivian R1S and R1T, the Ford F-150 Lightning, and the GMC Hummer EV truck and SUV. Plug-in hybrid cars like the Jeep Wrangler 4xe and the Ram 1500 Ramcharger will also compete against the Terra and Traveler’s “Harvester” models. What Could Be Wrong? Volkswagen Group bought Scout in 2021, which helped it start over, even though it has American roots. A big car company endorsing Scout may make it look like the company is trustworthy, but remember that VW’s profits have been going down over the last year as it continues to switch to electric cars. Volkswagen made a lot of money in North America, including $2 billion for the plant in South Carolina that will make the Terra and Traveler. However, the Scout’s long-term future is still uncertain. Estimates of Price and Arrival Work on the Terra and Traveler will begin in 2027 at a new plant in Blythewood, South Carolina. Scout says both will cost less than $60,000 and be ready in 2028.
