VW spin-off Scout unveils its electric vehicle vision, including a gasoline-powered generator model

Scout Motors, the Volkswagen(VW) Group spin-off, on Thursday unveiled two electric vehicles (EVs) with which it hopes to capture the attention of U.S. customers, combining modern, rugged styling that prioritizes mechanical over digital.

What’s new? The company will also offer variants of its Scout Traveler electric SUV and Scout Terra pickup truck, which will be equipped with a built-in gasoline-powered generator using a system called Harvester, a nod to the brand’s origins with the International Harvester Scout of the 1960s.

If the idea of EVs with a gasoline-powered generator sounds familiar, that’s because it is. Stellantis’ Ram brand last year introduced the Ramcharger, an electric pickup truck with a 3.6-liter V6 engine and a built-in 130-kilowatt generator that together promise a range of up to 690 miles.

Scout’s EVs, a pickup truck and SUV, won’t arrive until 2027. This new brand, launched two years ago, initially planned to produce the vehicles in 2026. When they finally go into production, the vehicles will feature a frame chassis, solid rear axle, and front and rear mechanical locks, plus a powertrain that will deliver 1,000 lb-ft of torque and acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds (in some versions).

These technical details are central to what Scout hopes will resonate with buyers: EVs with advanced technology for both on- and off-road performance that also evoke nostalgia and memories of real buttons and controls. While the vehicles have buttons, they also include a central touchscreen.

Scott Keogh, president and CEO of Scout Motors, who led the presentation, seemed keenly aware of the challenges facing the automotive industry, in addition to this new brand named after the iconic International Harvester Scout that came to market in the early 1960s.

“These are certainly complicated times,” he said at a live-streamed event. “Industries face labor tensions, concerns about the shift to EVs, infrastructure, geopolitical uncertainty, inflation, supply chains, the need to develop software the right way, digital trust and, of course, return on investment.”

In Keogh’s opinion, Scout’s two new EVs will weather these challenges.

Nuts and bolts

The company reported Thursday that the all-electric models will offer a range of up to 350 miles. The EVs will also be equipped with Tesla’s North American Charging Standard. But, in a twist that suggests Scout wants to cover all its options, the company will also offer extended-range variants with more than 500 miles of range, achieved via a built-in gasoline-powered generator.

Keogh was quick to point out that the gasoline-powered generator version called Harvester “is still a Scout.”

“All those capabilities and that recognition don’t go away when you get the range extender,” he said, adding that it’s still an EV. “You still have the front trunk, all the space, and the battery will move both axles; of course, the motor will power the battery. This gives you a true EV experience with, of course, the generator.”

He also stressed that the Harvester model is future-proofing the brand, which is “crucial for us in this day and age.”

Regardless of the powertrain, the EV platform will offer tires up to 35 inches, more than a foot of ground clearance and nearly 3 feet of water fording capability, a front anti-roll bar disconnect, front and rear mechanical locks, competitive entry and exit angles, and robust suspension options, according to Scout. All of these details are part of the rugged message Scout hopes to attract customers with.

The company also reported that the Terra pickup will be able to tow more than 10,000 pounds, while the Traveler SUV will be able to handle 7,000 pounds. There was no mention of how this will affect the vehicles’ range.

The core of these EVs includes what Scout describes as a modern zonal architecture, which allows for wireless software updates and remote diagnostics. Scout’s parent company, Volkswagen, has struggled to deliver this kind of software performance in its vehicles despite the creation of a subsidiary called Cariad, with more than 6,000 dedicated employees.

Recently, Volkswagen Group agreed to invest $1 billion in EV startup Rivian as part of a broad software development deal that could expand to as much as $5 billion. It is possible, even likely, that this partnership will also offer software support to Scout.

Interior and pricing

The interior continues the theme of new and classic. The touchscreen is the center, but the switches and knobs, used to control the air conditioning and heating, are located just below it. There’s even a compass on the roof near the rearview mirror. One detail that embraces International Harvester’s roots is the option to replace the multifunction console with a front-row bench seat.

“Americans haven’t forgotten how to open a car door, turn a knob or flip a switch, so I promise all the functionality to keep Americans functional and keep doing things for themselves,” Keogh said in a slight criticism of modern EVs.

The Scout Traveler and Terra models will have an entry price below $60,000, with Scout indicating those prices could be as low as $50,000 with available incentives. That’s assuming the incentives set forth in the Inflation Reduction Act are maintained. Scout is well positioned to receive those incentives, as it will design the vehicles in Michigan and manufacture them at a new $2 billion plant capable of producing 200,000 EVs a year in South Carolina.

Scout will also make the controversial decision to sell its EVs directly to consumers, avoiding the use of VW dealerships. The company indicated that interested customers will be able to make a reservation to order a Scout Traveler SUV or Scout Terra pickup for a refundable $100 deposit.