New Scout Electric SUV from VW

[casioqv]

So they 'revealed' the new Scouts today, and I'm pleasantly surprised... it is in no way just a badge engineered Rivian like I expected it would be, but seems to be a heavy duty purpose built offroad vehicle, and may be the first EV that can actually work as a long distance overlander or handle really technical terrain.

• real tactile buttons for everything
• lots of tiedown points for gear on the outside
• front bench seat option
• body on frame chassis w/ galvanized frame
• 3 ft fording depth
• swaybar disconnects
• 35" tires
• mechanical lockers front and rear and solid rear axle
• 2,000lb payload, 10k towing capacity
• 350 miles range as EV, 500 with optional gasoline range extender
• massive front trunk in place of an engine compartment

They even have an optional built in gasoline range extender like the BMW i3 which basically solves the entire issue of offroading with an EV- it will have more range than my Touareg TDI, and can be refueled in the field with a jerry can.

I like the interior and exterior styling and layout- and it seems like a lot of visual nods to the old scouts like the Scout II my dad had when I was a kid, without seeming overly trendy, or anachronistic.

They say it will be $50k after EV incentives.... that is quite impressive since it seems like a lot more vehicle than the much more expensive Rivian, cybertruck, etc.

I can't wait to buy one on Craigslist for 10 grand 10 years from now. I love my diesel VW now, but would really like to switch to an EV once it becomes actually practical for overlanding in terms of cost and range.

 

[geoffff]

I guess VW does currently own International Harvester, or whatever it has morphed into over the years.

 

[casioqv]

I guess VW does currently own International Harvester, or whatever it has morphed into over the years.

No, VW just owns the Scout brand name. International Harvester (now Case IH) is still a major tractor company but just makes tractors and stopped making Scouts back in 1980.

 

[SDDiver5]

I did not have high hopes for the reveal but am very impressed. As an owner of a 1970 Scout 800 I could potentially see one in my driveway down the line.

 

[04Ram2500Hemi]

The range extender is game changing. I have zero interest in an EV, but you put the range extender as an option, and now you’ve got my attention. Scout did this right!

 

[crazysccrmd]

I like the truck. Looks like a good combination of modern but not over the top and maintains a lot of mechanical input rather than relying on just one big touchscreen. Range extender variant solves a lot of concerns with range and charger availability for rural areas or longer off-road trips. Definitely interested to see how the final products turn out and if they can stay close to the $60k price tag (doubt it).

 

[Todd n Natalie]

The range extender is game changing. I have zero interest in an EV, but you put the range extender as an option, and now you’ve got my attention. Scout did this right!

Agreed. i thought it was a neat idea but a non starter for me. Then I found out about the range extender and I thought...



I'd be hard pressed to decide between this and the RamCharger. Best of both worlds IMO.

I could do my 60 mile daily work commute on battery power and still have the range for longer trips...

But then I remember I'm cheap and these will both probably be 100K vehicles here...

Pretty good looking vehicles though.

 

[casioqv]

The range extender is game changing. I have zero interest in an EV, but you put the range extender as an option, and now you’ve got my attention. Scout did this right!

Range extenders are a great solution.... I had a BMW i3 REx, and it completely eliminated range anxiety, and let you refuel quickly on the road from a regular station - yet the tiny moped engine cost virtually nothing to maintain, and only needed to be used like 1% of the time in practice.

What would be ideal to me would be a small diesel range extender option- but I don't really see that happening.

 

[plainjaneFJC]

Those are good looking trucks- I hope they succeed!

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

No, VW just owns the Scout brand name. International Harvester (now Case IH) is still a major tractor company but just makes tractors and stopped making Scouts back in 1980.

International sold the ag division to the folks that owned Case to form Case IH, they have merged and been passed around and now its Case New Holland (CNH)

International kept doing the truck thing on their own, they were bought out by the company that owns VW's truck division in 2021. That is how VW ended up with the keys to the Scout name.

Although to muddy the waters CNH's answer to the John Deere Gater is called the Case-IH Scout. They never really seemed to catch on like the Gater, I don't know if they still make them. If so I wonder how the trademark deal is worked out with VW.

 

[Todd n Natalie]

International sold the ag division to the folks that owned Case to form Case IH, they have merged and been passed around and now its Case New Holland (CNH)

International kept doing the truck thing on their own, they were bought out by the company that owns VW's truck division in 2021. That is how VW ended up with the keys to the Scout name.

Although to muddy the waters CNH's answer to the John Deere Gater is called the Case-IH Scout. They never really seemed to catch on like the Gater, I don't know if they still make them. If so I wonder how the trademark deal is worked out with VW.

Maybe a non issue because no one will confuse the two?

Like how Polaris and Ford both produce a product called the Ranger?

Just a thought.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Maybe a non issue because no one will confuse the two?

Like how Polaris and Ford both produce a product called the Ranger?

Just a thought.

Ford never owned Polaris at one time though... and doesn't use Ford's name on it.

Polaris Ranger
Ford Ranger

Case-International Scout
International Scout

I've only seen one or two of the ATV's, I wouldn't be surprised if they are out of production.

 

[casioqv]

International kept doing the truck thing on their own, they were bought out by the company that owns VW's truck division in 2021. That is how VW ended up with the keys to the Scout name.

Interesting... seems I was wrong. I wonder why they didn't just call it the International Scout like they used to, in that case. Although I get the impression from the reveal video this is a sort of Skunkworks type operation, that has a lot of autonomy and isn't really tied to VW or International.

 

[driveby]

My guess is the independent part was a deliberate move by VW. No technical debt by having to use some other division's nuts and bolts etc. VW is way behind on the EV front. This allows them to steal parts and tech back into other brands. IE anyone not think an EV Atlas will be born out this? Shrink it down and you have the Tiguan etc. Same for SEAT and SKODA in other countries. Brands like KIA are a major threat to Toyota and VW globally. KIA is way ahead on the EV stuff. So smart move by VW and if it fails there is little downside on the VW branding.....

 

[driveby]

The tow capacity and range extender options are the winner here. And eventually when the batteries get better range they'll just kill that option. Tow a Bruder or such behind and you've got a pretty sweet set up. Excess solar can be back charged into the truck when at camp and when driving.