Scout Motors, the Volkswagen Group spinoff, unveiled Thursday two EVs it hopes will hook American clients with modern-meets-rugged styling that downplays digital and embraces the mechanical.
The catch? The corporate may also provide variants to its all-electric Scout Traveler SUV and Scout Terra Truck that can come outfitted with a built-in gas-powered generator utilizing a system referred to as Harvester — a nod to the model’s roots with the Worldwide Harvester Scout from the Sixties.
If the thought of electric-meets-gas-generator sounds acquainted, it’s. Stellantis model Ram unveiled final yr the Ramcharger, a battery electrical truck outfitted with a 3.6-liter V6 engine and on-board 130 kilowatt generator that, when mixed, guarantees a focused vary of 690 miles.
The Scout EVs — a truck and an SUV — received’t arrive till 2027. The brand new model that launched two years in the past was initially slated to supply the autos in 2026. Once they do lastly go into manufacturing, the autos can have a body-on-frame chassis, strong rear axle, and entrance and rear mechanical lockers in addition to a powertrain that can ship 1,000 pound-feet of torque and a zero to 60 mph acceleration of three.5 seconds (in sure trims).
These particular automotive particulars are foundational to what Scout hopes will resonate with patrons: new tech-forward EVs with off-road and on-road efficiency that additionally delivers nostalgia and reminiscences of actual buttons and switches. And whereas there are in actual fact buttons contained in the autos, there may be additionally a central touchscreen.
Scout Motors President and CEO Scott Keogh, who kicked off the reveal, appeared keenly conscious of the challenges going through the auto trade, to not point out this new model that was named after the long-lasting Worldwide Harvester Scout that got here to market within the early Sixties.
“These, without a doubt, are complicated times,” he mentioned at an occasion that was live-streamed. “Industries are facing labor tensions, unease about the shift to EVS, infrastructure, geopolitical uncertainty, inflation, supply chains, the need to get software done right, digital trust and, of course, return on investment.”
In Keogh’s view, the 2 new Scout EVs will circumvent these challenges.
Nuts and bolts
The corporate mentioned Thursday the totally electrical fashions are anticipated to supply as much as 350 miles of vary. The EVs may also be outfitted with Tesla’s North American Charging Commonplace. However in a twist that means Scout needs to hedge its bets, the corporate may also provide prolonged vary variants with greater than 500 miles of vary made attainable by means of a built-in gas-powered generator.
Keogh was fast to notice that the gas-powered generator model referred to as Harvester is “still a Scout.”
“All of that great ability, all of that capability, all that recognition, nothing goes away when you get the range extender,” he mentioned, including that it’s nonetheless an EV. “You still have the frunk, you still have all the packaging, and the battery will drive both of the axles, of course, the engine will power the battery. So this gives you a proper EV experience with, of course, the generator.”
He additionally famous that the Harvester mannequin future-proofs the model, which is “critical for us in these times.”
Whatever the powertrain, the EV platform will provide as much as 35-inch tires, multiple foot of floor clearance and practically 3 toes of water fording functionality, a entrance sway bar disconnect, entrance and rear mechanical lockers, aggressive method and departure angles, and sturdy suspension choices, in keeping with Scout. All of those particulars are a part of that rugged messaging Scout hopes will enchantment to clients.
The corporate additionally mentioned the Terra truck will have the ability to tow greater than 10,000 kilos whereas the Traveler SUV will have the ability to deal with 7,000 kilos. No phrase, on how that can have an effect on the autos’ vary.
The center of each of those EVs will embody what Scout describes as a contemporary zonal structure, that permits for over-the-air software program updates and distant diagnostics. Scout’s dad or mum firm VW has struggled to ship this sort of software program efficiency in its autos regardless of the creation of a 6,000-person plus subsidiary referred to as Cariad that’s devoted to precisely that.
Not too long ago, Volkswagen Group agreed to speculate $1 billion into EV startup Rivian as a part of a broad software program growth deal that might increase to as a lot as $5 billion. It’s attainable, and possible even, that the three way partnership will lend a software program hand to Scout as properly.
The inside continues with the theme of new-meets-old. The touchscreen is entrance and heart, however toggles and knobs, that are used to manage the air con and heating, are situated proper under it. There may be even a compass on the ceiling close to the rearview mirror. One element that embraces the Worldwide Harvester roots is the choice to eschew the multifunctional console for a entrance row bench seat.
“Americans have not forgotten how to do things like open a car door, like turn a knob, like pull a switch, so I promise you all sorts of functionality to let Americans stay functional and keep doing things themselves,” Keogh mentioned in a slight dig at quite a few fashionable EVs.
Pricing
The Scout Traveler and Terra fashions can have an entry worth beneath $60,000. Scout famous these costs may very well be as little as $50,000 with out there incentives. That’s assuming that incentives specified by the Inflation Discount Act stay. Scout is poised to seize these incentives since it is going to design the autos in Michigan and construct them at a brand new $2 billion manufacturing unit able to producing 200,000 EVs a yr in South Carolina.
Scout can also be taking the controversial step of promoting its EVs on to shoppers, which might keep away from utilizing VW dealerships. The corporate mentioned potential clients can reservation to order s Scout Traveler SUV or Scout Terra truck for a refundable $100.
