Scout Motors – a new electric vehicle maker with an old and famous name – announced two new retro-styled, off-road-capable electric vehicles this week at an event outside Nashville, Tennessee. Meet the Scout Traveler SUV and Scout Terra pickup, scheduled for deliveries in 2026. The rugged electric vehicles combine trail-ready features, such as solid axles and locking differentials, with future-proof technology, including bi-directional power and the NACS charging standard. And if the look alone wasn’t retro enough, there’s a version that runs partially on gas.

VW Group launched the Scout Motors brand in 2022 after acquiring the brand as part of its takeover of American truck maker International Motors (formerly Navistar International and, before that, International Harvester). The new brand of rugged electric vehicles takes its name from International Scoutinga 4×4 off-road vehicle built in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in the 1960s and 1970s – before the term “SUV” even existed. The startup, as CEO Scott Keogh calls it, is now headquartered in Virginia, operating independently of Volkswagen of America. Its mission is to exclusively manufacture off-road electric trucks and SUVs, with a focus on the US market. (Keogh’s last job was as CEO of VW USA, where he helped launch the ID 4.)

Let’s first take a look at the Scout Traveler, a retro-style SUV with a boxy, boxy aesthetic. The two-tone white-roof design pays generous homage to the classic Scout 800 and Scout II, but the ultra-short front overhang, upright proportions and broad-shouldered stance also recall Ford’s recently relaunched Bronco. The Traveler’s fascia is defined by a dark rectangular “mask” that integrates the SUV’s square quad-beam LED headlights and grille. A similar mask element can be found at the rear, except here the rear-mounted spare wheel carrier is integrated into the design for a cohesive look. Rotate the spare wheel and the rear cargo area opens with a split tailgate. Up front, the hood and grille lift to reveal even more storage in the large “trunk,” similar to that of Ford’s F-150 Lightning.

Alongside the SUV is the Scout Terra, a mid-size dual-cab electric pickup truck that looks like it was aimed directly at the SUV’s bow. Rivien R1T. The design carries many of the same elements as the Traveler, but it features a three-box truck silhouette, a tougher hood, and a distinct bumper treatment. The pickup is also longer than the SUV (229.2 inches versus 207.9 inches) with a longer wheelbase (148.6 inches versus 120.4 inches). With no spare tire hanging out the back, the “ghost light” taillights and Scout script badge stand out more, punctuating the pickup’s 5.5-foot bed. (That’s a foot longer than the R1T for those measuring.) Look closely and you’ll also be able to spot the Scout 80-inspired foil in the sheetmetal crease where the bed meets the cab.

These are modern electric vehicles, so there’s no escaping the inevitable massive touchscreen that dominates their dashboards. However, lead designer Chris Benjamin tells us that physical controls are a big part of the brand identity and interior design DNA. Large, sturdy knobs and buttons sit on the dashboard and steering wheel, giving passengers tactile control over the technology and climate systems. I particularly like the volume button nestled into the edge of the screen, which resembles a wristwatch crown for easy access for front passengers.

The dashboard behind the screen features a halo of accent lighting that echoes exterior ghost lights at night and incorporates a subtle ledge on which passengers can rest an iPad. The Scout’s large center console provides plenty of storage, but Traveler and Terra models can be optioned without it, instead offering a front bench seat – probably my favorite back style.

Scout’s new electric vehicles are built on a unique body-on-frame platform that is completely different from the MEB platform used by the VW Group’s other electric vehicles. Specially designed for maximum off-road capability, the trucks each feature a solid rear axle, a disconnectable front stabilizer bar for maximum articulation on rough terrain, up to 35-inch tires, front and rear mechanical lockers and with a fording depth of almost 3 feet. . Specs are scarce this early in the game, but we’re told to expect nearly 1,000 pound-feet of torque and a 3.5-second 0-60 mph sprint. The Traveler will be capable of towing more than 7,000 pounds while the Terra is expected to haul more than 10,000 pounds, with both trucks having nearly 2,000 pounds of payload.

Scout estimates up to 350 miles of range per charge, but that’s subject to change closer to launch. The automaker also hasn’t specified the exact battery capacity at this point. The electric vehicles will be built on an 800-volt electrical architecture, which should enable relatively fast charging at sufficient power. DC charger. Scout adopts the North American charging system from its inception, so both electric vehicles will have the Tesla Pioneer NACS Port. Bidirectional charging will also be supported at launch with vehicle to load Power supply via an assortment of external 120-volt and 240-volt outlets located next to the slim NACS outlet or in the pickup bed.

The heavy-duty utility vehicles will be built at Scout Motors’ new $2 billion plant in Blythewood, South Carolina, which began construction earlier this year. With an estimated capacity of around 200,000 vehicles per year, the factory is expected to begin producing the electric vehicles in 2026. The Traveler and Terra are expected to start “below $60,000,” and Scout estimates the price could go as low as $60,000. ‘to $50,000 with incentives. . (If there are still incentives to have in two years.)

The automaker’s “one more thing” at the end of the Traveler and Terra’s debut was a preview of Harvester variants of both models. This extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) configuration adds a gasoline-powered range extender/generator to the mix, allowing drivers to continue venturing away from the power grid. It looks a lot like a series plug-in hybrid for me, but Scout points out that the combustion engine has no mechanical connection to the drive wheels – the battery and electric motors still turn the wheels – so it’s technically still an electric vehicle. It’s unclear where the ICE will fit in the chassis, but judging by the location of the fuel door in the photos, I’m guessing it goes in the trunk. The conversion also requires the battery to shrink a bit to make room for the gas tank. Even so, Scout estimates a range of 500 miles on a full tank and battery. I hope we learn more in the coming months.

The original International Scout competition included vehicles like Jeep’s CJ Wrangler 4×4 and the Ford Bronco. Today, the Wrangler 4xe is the best-selling plug-in hybrid vehicle in America for three consecutive years, and the Bronco returned to the market in 2021 with a wide range of robust configurations and imposing names like Raptor And Sasquatch. In addition to competition from combustion engines, there is competition from electric vehicles. General engines, Tesla and of course Rivian.

Rivian is an interesting analogue to the Scout revival in the United States. Both are new American brands that exclusively offer electric trucks and EV SUVs. Earlier this year, Volkswagen Group and Rivian Motors signed a $5 billion investment and technology sharing partnership, so the bond between the brands could end up being more than that of fierce rivals. The details of how this partnership will work and how – if at all – Scout Motors will benefit from it have yet to be clarified. However, Scout’s mention of a new “modern zonal architecture”, over-the-air updates and remote diagnostic capabilities – pioneering technologies in Rivan’s newly updated R1 platform – suggests the partnership may already be bearing fruit.