Scout Motors creates connections with its new electric Terra truck and Traveler SUV

Scout Motors invited astir 300 group to nan hills of Franklin, Tennessee, to uncover nan Scout Traveler SUV and Terra truck electrical conception vehicles. The automaker brought successful journalists specified arsenic myself, progressive manner bloggers, YouTubers, automotive manufacture analysts, and enthusiasts and fans of nan original International Harvester Scout.

Scout Motors calls nan new, rugged conveyance nan Connection Machine. The uncover arena aimed to found a coagulated relationship betwixt nan conception EVs and nan attendees. The automaker besides utilized nan juncture to denote nan contiguous expertise to reserve a Scout conveyance pinch a $100 afloat refundable deposit.

The Scout legend

International Harvester was an cultivation and commercialized conveyance manufacturer. In 1961, IH introduced nan Scout arsenic a small, multipurpose inferior vehicle. The original Scout preceded nan fame of sports inferior vehicles (SUVs) by complete 30 years. Still, it caught connected pinch farmers, hunters, and different outdoor sportspeople who utilized it for off-road adventures erstwhile location were fewer alternatives different than early Jeeps.

The earliest Scouts were two-wheel-drive pickup trucks, but liking successful four-wheel-drive vehicles pinch tops aliases roofs that extended to nan backmost of nan motortruck furniture grew quickly. Most of nan Scouts manufactured during nan 19-year accumulation tally were SUVs. The 1970s state situation and economical conditions resulted successful nan Scout’s demise, and accumulation ceased successful 1980.

The Scout community

Since International Harvesters stopped manufacturing nan Scout, it has maintained a cultlike following, pinch progressive proprietor and enthusiast groups, societal media groups, and typical liking forums worldwide.

Scout Motors has committed connected its blog to engaging pinch existing owners and instrumentality communities to support nan tone of nan original Scout alive, respect nan vehicle’s heritage, and perceive to suggestions to amended nan modern Scout trucks and SUVs.

Bruce Brown / Digital Trends

Scout Motors invited galore original Scout owners and enthusiasts to nan arena successful Franklin. Some brought vehicles to show to attendees.

The Scout Motors reveal

Scout Motors constructed stadium seating for nan 300 guests and a ample compass look shape connected a mountaintop successful Franklin. After describing nan International Harvester Scout arsenic nan “original SUV,” President and CEO Scott Keogh said astir nan progressive Scout organization and thanked respective elected officials successful attendance from South Carolina, wherever nan Scout Motors mill is being built successful Blythewood.

I was opinionated connected nan apical statement successful nan mediate of nan stadium erstwhile nan vehicles entered, and nan crowd’s support was palpable.

“Two years successful nan making, nan time has yet travel to stock nan adjacent procreation of Scout vehicles pinch nan world,” said Keogh. “The original halfway thought — rugged, versatile vehicles tin of off-road escapade and family work — is much applicable than ever. We couldn’t beryllium prouder to revitalize this iconic American brand, create thousands of American jobs, and put American ingenuity backmost to work.”

Bruce Brown / Digital Trends

Then, arsenic nan crowd looked to nan correct of nan stage, Keogh revealed nan Scout Traveler SUV and Scout Terra truck arsenic they drove onto nan stage.

I was opinionated connected nan apical statement of seats successful nan mediate of nan stadium erstwhile nan vehicles entered, and nan crowd’s support was palpable. The assemblage clapped loudly, which you’d expect if conscionable from courtesy, but nan smiles, laughter, and enthusiasm were overmuch greater than usual. Sure, this assemblage was skewed for a affirmative reaction, but I thought some vehicles were gorgeous, and astir others seemed to person nan aforesaid reaction.

Bruce Brown / Digital Trends

Scout Motors Chief Design Officer Chris Benjamin took nan shape adjacent to item galore ideas and concepts that inspired nan Scout Traveler and Scout Terra during nan creation stages. Versatility and adaptability are cardinal creation concepts.

“A Scout conveyance should ever beryllium a adjuvant companion,” Benjamin said. “It should ever alteration nan customer to do nan things they want to do and make their acquisition easier, better, faster.”

Several important features shared by some vehicles were received pinch affirmative outbursts from nan assemblage arsenic Benjamin recounted them.

• Rugged off-road readiness: Both models will person body-on-frame chassis, four-wheel drive, a coagulated rear axle, and beforehand and rear mechanical lockers
• Great than mean capacities:  Both vehicles will person astir 2,000 pounds of payload, pinch 7,000 pounds projected towing capacity for nan Scout Traveler and much than 10,000 pounds for nan Scout Terra.
• Fast acceleration: The modular electrical powertrain will person much than 1,000 lb-ft of torque, pinch 0-60 mph times arsenic accelerated arsenic 3.5 seconds.
• High range: The afloat electrical modular exemplary will person up to 350 miles of range. An inverted hybrid action pinch a state generator that supplies energy to nan artillery that powers nan drivetrain is estimated to person much than 500 miles of range.
• Yes, location will beryllium a hybrid: Scout Motors is responding to user request pinch an extended-range version that uses a state combustion generator.
• Charging: Scout vehicles will usage nan North American Charging Standard (NACS) charging plug ans 800-volt architecture, and person up to 350-kilowatt charging capability. They will besides support bidirectional charging to powerfulness a location electrical system.
• Zonal architecture software: They will person over-the-air (OTA) updates and distant diagnostics.
• Buttons and dials: Scout Motors won’t require buyers to usage screens to set audio aliases HVAC settings.
• Spacious frunks: Both models will person beforehand retention ample capable for play bags and more, positive aggregate powerfulness outlets.
• Optional beforehand chair seat: They will person optional beforehand spot accommodation for a 3rd passenger.
• Direct-to-consumer income and service: Scout Motors will waste straight to customers.

The Scout Traveler successful pictures

I was amazed by nan Scout Traveler’s size. It’s astir apt larger than nan photographs would lead you to judge because there’s nary visible reference conveyance for comparison. The Scout Traveler is 207.9 inches successful wide length, 91.6 inches wide, and 76.3 inches high, which is only 2 inches shorter successful magnitude and 2 inches thinner than a 2025 Ford Expedition astatine 210 inches long, 93.1 inches wide, and 76.4 inches high. The Scout Traveler is a overmuch larger SUV than a 2025 Ford Explorer successful each dimension.

Scout Motors expects nan Scout Terra to commencement astatine $60,000 and costs $50,000 aft power incentives.

The Scout Terra successful pictures

The Scout Terra pickup motortruck is adjacent successful size to a 2025 Ford F-150 Supercrew pinch a 5.5-foot bed. The Terra’s 229.2 inches wide magnitude is 3 inches little than nan Ford’s, and its 91.6-inch width is only 4 inches narrower.

Scout Motors expects nan Scout Terra to commencement astatine $60,000 and costs $51,500 pinch power incentives.

Scout organization acceptance

After nan mountaintop Scout Motors reveal, nan crowd shuttled to a societal hr followed by a meal for nan 300 attendees. I sat pinch a group of Scout forum members who owned original Scouts. We discussed our reactions to nan Scout Terra, nan Scout Traveler, and Scout Motors.

I wasn’t amazed that their comments were wide highly positive. They liked nan vehicles’ size, off-road features, spaciousness, and capabilities, and particularly nan wide scope of options and accessories that Scout Motors is developing.

One forum group personnel told maine he had talked pinch a fewer Scout owners who didn’t want thing to alteration and were not successful favour of immoderate modernized version, but those group weren’t successful attendance.

I was besides unsurprised that nan enthusiasts I dined pinch had already made reservations connected nan Scout Motors website pinch a $100 afloat refundable deposit successful nan fewer hours since nan uncover event. I laughed erstwhile 1 of nan forum members said that erstwhile they called home, their partner suggested putting successful deposits for 2 caller Scouts, nan pickup and nan SUV.