The Scout Terra electric pick-up is a throwback to the golden age of American trucks

• The Scout Terra electrical pick-up brings backmost nan chair seat
• Hybrid range-extender type tin screen up to 500 miles
• Terra and Traveler won't deed roads until 2027

Former American off-road marque Scout, which was precocious purchased and revived by nan Volkswagen Group, has returned to inject immoderate throwback chic into nan pick-up and SUV segment, arsenic good arsenic springiness nan likes of Rivian a tally for its money.

Although some nan precocious unveiled Terra Truck and Traveler SUV still autumn nether nan banner of “production-intent concepts”, they springiness america our champion look yet astatine what Volkswagen is trying to execute by reviving nan brand.

And that intelligibly intends retro looks, nostalgic nods to nan past and modern exertion that features tactile buttons and mechanical switches wherever possible.

As personification pinch a mild obsession for aged Chevrolet pick-ups from nan 1960s and 70s, I deliberation it's awesome – each of nan champion bits of classical American trucks, without nan interest astir things falling disconnected aliases rusting distant successful nan rain.

Despite antecedently suggesting that Scout was going to beryllium a axenic artillery EV manufacturer, it has decided to besides connection a range-extending hybrid into nan mix, which nan institution states is bully for astir 500 miles of full scope and should spell immoderate measurement to bash scope worry complete nan head.

Pure electrical versions of nan Terra Truck will connection 350 miles, but there’s still nary charismatic connection connected nan artillery and motors used. However, all-wheel-drive comes arsenic modular (obviously) and nan astir powerful versions of some Terra and Traveler should beryllium capable to deed 60mph from remainder successful astir 3.5 seconds.

But it is wrong Scout's concepts wherever nan nostalgia really kicks in, because nan marque is arguably among nan first to revive nan beforehand chair spot – a champion successful nan trucks and SUVs of America’s glorious yesteryear.

The institution is is besides a vocal advocator of existent controls, dials and toggles to return attraction of cardinal information, while nan infotainment strategy appears to beryllium connected rails truthful nan copilot tin “take power of nan surface while you attraction connected nan roadworthy ahead”.

Analysis: Volkswagen needs a truck-shaped income boost

Manufacturers intelligibly deem retro to beryllium en vogue, arsenic it is simply a system that has precocious been employed by French marque Renault, pinch nan motorboat of its all-electric Renault 5 and upcoming Renault 4 models, while some Mini and Fiat are still playing connected their practice pinch awesome success.

Scout’s main rival, Rivian, is already notching up coagulated income of its second-generation R1T and R1S models, arsenic good arsenic teasing nan mid-sized R2 and R3, which are owed sometime successful 2026. All of these characteristic a hefty dose of nostalgia successful their designs, too.

We won’t spot either of Scout’s models deed nan roadworthy until astatine slightest 2027, erstwhile nan institution predicts they will beryllium connected waste for $50,000 (around £38,000 / AU$75,600) to $60,000 (around £46,000 / AU$91,000) pinch incentives.

This is each taxable to marketplace conditions astatine nan clip of launch, of course, but pricing appears competitive, considering a Rivian R1T costs almost $10,000 more, while a guidelines Cybertruck now hovers astatine $74,490.

Interestingly, Scout has besides said it is going to eschew Volkswagen's accepted trader income channels – overmuch to nan dismay of disgruntled dealers.

Instead, it will waste nonstop to user via its ain unsocial spaces, arsenic good arsenic connection nan expertise to acquisition online and done its app. It is simply a bid to modernize nan buying acquisition and trim retired nan middleman.

It each feels very modern and appealing to nan younger buyer, but will nostalgia and direct-to-consumer income beryllium capable to seduce them to make nan switch?

Volkswagen could do pinch a truck-shapes income boost successful nan US, arsenic dwindling income successful China are presently stifling its advancement successful nan EV market. The truth Scout will beryllium made successful nan US will besides get astir nan government's caller taxation hikes and projected bans connected vehicles imported from China.

Either way, Scout had maine astatine chair seat.

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