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VW subsidiary Scout has Bronco and Wrangler firmly in its crosshairs – here’s what we know about its electric SUV so far
by Josh Byrnes
February 4, 2024 at 11:49
Volkswagen’s latest venture, Scout Motors, is gearing up to electrify the trail with an electric pickup and SUV, paying homage to the revered International Harvester Scout from the 1960s to 1980s.
Although the names of these models remain undisclosed, recent trademark applications, including Scout 80, Scout 800, Scout II, Terra, Traveler, and Super Scout, indicate many possibilities. Keen to learn more? We’ve taken an illustrated look at the SUV variant and explored everything we know to date.
Boxy Business
Led by former Stellantis designer Chris Benjamin, the Scout SUV boasts a distinctive boxy silhouette. It embodies the robust posture reminiscent of classic Scout models, with minimal overhangs and impressive approach and departure angles.
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Both pickup and SUV share the same front end, featuring chiselled bonnet indentations, plastic cladding on bumpers and pumped wheel arches. The illuminated grille seamlessly merges with LED headlights, and a spacious five-door greenhouse with a floating roof effect is an aesthetic nod to rival SUVs from Range Rover and Rivian.
Illustrations Josh Byrnes / Carscoops
All New Platform
Unlike its VW counterparts, the Scout SUV and pickup will rest on a new off-road-focused architecture. This platform, designed with versatility in mind, may eventually serve other brands within the VW Group, such as Audi and its rumored G-Class rival.
More: Everything We Know About The 2025 Kia EV3 Small Electric SUV
Notably, the bespoke EV architecture will support a range of aftermarket off-road accessories, enhancing the vehicle’s adaptability compared to some of its electrified rivals.
Silent Power
Official powertrain details have yet to be divulged, yet we have on good authority that it will feature a dual-motor, all-wheel drive setup, while a tri-motor arrangement remains a plausible option.
Read: The 2025 Chery Pickup Is Coming For The Ford Ranger And Toyota Hilux
Base variants are expected to deliver around 300 horsepower, propelled by an 800-volt architecture in tandem with a large lithium-ion battery pack. It will have an estimated range between 350 and 400 miles. Future updates could see a switch to solid-state cell battery chemistry, with promising testing results already evident in VW’s partnership with battery developer QuantumScape.
Production Plans
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VW has enlisted the expertise of Austrian automotive manufacturer Magna Steyr to develop both the Scout SUV and pickup. Magna is renowned for producing rugged vehicles like the Mercedes G-Class and the electrified Jaguar I-Pace.
The EVs will be built at a new $2 billion manufacturing plant outside Columbia, South Carolina, with a workforce of 4,000 workers. At its maximum, the plant has a production capacity of up to 200,000 units per annum.
Rivals and Reveal
Positioned as a proper, mudslinging off-roader, the Scout SUV competes with established rivals like the Ford Bronco, Rivian R1S, Land Rover Defender, Mercedes-Benz G-Class, and Jeep Wrangler.
An official reveal of the SUV and pickup will occur this summer, with sales kicking off next year. Unfortunately for right-hand-drive markets such as Australia, the UK, and New Zealand, the Scout will primarily be an American market affair.
Would you take the Scout over a Bronco or Wrangler? We’d love to hear what you think in the comments below.
Note: The independent illustrations in this story are not endorsed by VW or Scout.
