Scout also Introduces the Traveler SUV
Scout Motors Inc. introduces the next era of rugged trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUV) with the unveiling of two production-intent concept vehicles, the Scout® Traveler™ SUV and the Scout® Terra™ truck. The new Scout vehicles are designed and engineered in Michigan and will be manufactured in South Carolina – creating over 4,000 American jobs.
“Two years in the making, the day has finally come to share the next generation of Scout vehicles with the world,” said Scott Keogh, President and CEO, Scout Motors. “The original core idea — rugged, versatile vehicles capable of off-road adventure and family duty — is more relevant than ever. We couldn’t be prouder to revitalize this iconic American brand, create thousands of American jobs, and put American ingenuity back to work.”
Scout Motors’ first priority was to honor the spirit of the original Scout vehicles. The new Scout
Traveler and Scout Terra take inspiration from the design and utility of the original Scout vehicles manufactured by International Harvester from 1961-80.
Engineered for Work and Play
The Scout Traveler and Scout Terra will be built on an all-new and proprietary body-on-frame platform with a solid rear axle that is designed to deliver credible capability and off-road performance. The platform is projected to deliver more than 10,000 pounds of towing on the Terra truck, over 7,000 pounds of towing on the Traveler SUV, and nearly 2,000 pounds of payload on both models.
In addition, the platform is intended to offer up to 35-inch tires, over 1 foot of ground clearance, nearly 3 feet of water fording capability, a front sway bar disconnect, front and rear mechanical lockers, competitive approach and departure angles, and robust suspension options.
Scout vehicle capability will largely be controlled through a tactile experience. From mechanical door handles, to grab bars, to switches and dials, Scout vehicles will provide a real hands-on user experience.
A Tool for Today
Both the Scout Traveler and Scout Terra will be configurable with 100 percent battery electric or gasoline-fueled range-extended energy systems to give customers the confidence they need to electrify on their terms. Fully electric variants are anticipated to offer up to 350 miles of range, and range-extended variants are projected to offer more than 500 miles of range through a built-in, gas-powered generator.2 Both energy systems will preserve the Scout Traveler and Scout Terra off-road characteristics as well as the packaging benefits of electric propulsion. Both Scout energy systems are designed to be flexibly integrated into the platform and into the production process, ensuring Scout Motors can respond to evolving market demand.
Scout vehicles will include a four-wheel-drive system made up by an electric drive unit on each axle. Fully electric Scout vehicles are targeted to climb 100 percent grades and accelerate 0-60 mph in as quick as 3.5 seconds made possible by an estimated nearly 1,000 lb.-ft. of torque.1 All Scout vehicles will use the North American Charging Standard (NACS), 800-volt (V) architecture, up to 350 kilowatt charging capability, and will be capable of bi-directional charging.
Scout vehicles will leverage a modern zonal software architecture, enabling over-the-air (OTA) updates, remote diagnostics, and enhanced customer lifetime value. The in-vehicle experience will benefit from the software architecture through snappy touchscreen interfaces, high-resolution camera views, and the ability to personalize experiences.
The Scout Traveler and Scout Terra are designed as versatile multitools with durable materials and flexible cargo areas throughout. Both vehicles will include a front trunk capable of fitting golf clubs, a gym bag, and a small cooler, as well as powering multiple devices with 120V and USB-C power outlets. The Scout Terra will feature a 5.5-foot pickup bed which offers two 120V power outlets and one 240V power outlet—power for heavy-duty tools at a jobsite or to keep your home appliances running during an outage. In addition, the Scout Traveler split tailgate offers easy access to cargo and protection from the elements when opened, shielding both passengers and cargo from the weather.
Building the next “8-day-a-week truck” also means letting Scout vehicle owners personalize their vehicles for a variety of use cases. Scout Motors will offer a full portfolio of accessories, including auxiliary lighting, assist steps, power off-boarding solutions, off-road bumpers with recovery points, a heavy-duty winch, and more. Powered accessories are projected to be integrated into the Scout user experience, assigned to switches, and in some cases controlled by the customer’s mobile app, so installation, set-up, and control are easy.
The near-silent electric drive system will encourage drivers and passengers to experience their surroundings. Multiple available roof types will offer an open-air experience, but with a refined, quality execution that doesn’t distract from the experience. The available Cabana Top, targeted to be one of the largest roof openings of any SUV, will connect drivers and passengers with an open-air experience on demand. The available glass roof will provide expansive sky views with the privacy and thermal benefits of a powered shade.
A Bold, Iconic Design
When designing the Scout Traveler and Scout Terra, the way drivers and passengers will use the vehicles shaped how designers thought about the product in the design phase.
“A Scout vehicle should always be a helpful companion,” said Chris Benjamin, Chief Design Officer, Scout Motors. “It should always enable the customer to do the things they want to do and make their experience easier, better, faster.”
Scout vehicles are multiuse tools which will allow Scout Motors customers to accomplish many things. They are designed for the makers, doers, and everyday explorers.
The Scout SUV and truck feature a bold, rugged design with iconic proportions. A hallmark of those proportions is a very short front overhang, long dash-to-axle, with the visual weight of the cabin shifted to the rear.
The vehicles themselves define their rugged capability without add-on cladding or other adornments. The bumpers and rockers are separated from the body as protective elements, as well as showing off the body-on-frame platform.
The front and rear of the vehicle purposefully make a bold, graphic statement. The black masks on the front and rear are a nod to Scout heritage and are proudly vertical. They are the furthest forward and rearward, with the exception of the bumpers which provide protection coming and going.
In the front view, each vehicle has broad shoulders for a rugged stance and a greenhouse that was tailored to fit the people in the vehicle, not the other way around. The stance and location of the tires accentuate the off-road capability of the vehicles as well.
The daytime running lamps (DRL) form clean, horizontal lines. They continue from the mask, into the body and mimic the visual of the side markers on the original Scout II™ SUV. The front and rear DRLs are drawn in one line that sweeps around the vehicle like the equator sweeps around the earth, creating a subtle but proudly present grounding line for the vehicles.
On the lower part of the body, there is a very simple undercut that happens, signifying the lower of the vehicle and solidifying the volume. This undercut balances the volume between the wheels and accentuates the ground clearance.
Reminiscent of a signature on a piece of art rather than an emblem on the vehicle, the Scout logo is offset to the right. The Traveler and Terra models are the Scout designers’ artwork.
The Scout Terra was designed from the outset with a right-sized 5.5-foot bed. The Scout Traveler offers a rear spare tire carrier that intentionally integrates into the body structure and the graphic of the rear mask, carrying up to a full 35-inch spare with minimal impact to aerodynamics. The Scout Terra offers an underbody spare tire carrier for sizes up to 33 inches and an optional in-bed tire carrier for 35-inch all-terrain tires.
The interiors of the Scout Traveler and Scout Terra follow the same design philosophy: simple and bold, tactile, and fit for purpose, while keeping the customer and how they will use the vehicle at the forefront of the design process.
The instrument panel is defined by a bold upper brow and deep undercut, reminiscent of the original Scout II, with a lower bar that defines the horizontality of the interior layout and frames the screens in between. The center display is complemented by a bank of toggle switches and knobs for easy use of the climate controls.
The Traveler SUV maximizes storage on the inside with a multifunctional console, while the Terra truck solidifies the Connection Machine™ with the available front row bench seat. Customers can choose what is right for them; the multifunctional console and bench seat will be available to order in both the Traveler and Terra models.
The vehicle interiors feature clean, modern lines; durable, sustainable materials; and real knobs and tactile controls combined with Scout Community UX™, a digital user interface that is flexible, configurable, and easy-to-use by both drivers and passengers.
Scout Community UX™
The Scout UX is developed to bring people together while in the vehicle. With a combination of thoughtfully developed hardware and knobs, complemented by an easy-to-use digital interface, Scout Community UX is designed to be a versatile multitool and helpful companion.
Scout Community UX intentionally does not bury features in menus or screens but rather provides a combination of tactile buttons and knobs with a right-sized, highly responsive digital interface. Together, they ensure intuitive, low-effort interaction and a cohesive user experience.
Extended Range Electric Vehicle
From the start, Scout Motors was established as a company that listens to and is guided by consumers. As the shift to electric vehicles accelerates and the mass market more seriously considers electric vehicle adoption, some U.S. drivers have expressed concerns about the ability to recharge while on the road.
Scout Motors listened. The Scout Traveler and Scout Terra will offer an optional extended range electric vehicle (EREV) energy system, called Harvester™. A proprietary Scout EREV energy system will unlock freedom on the road while still delivering off-road capability. With a small internal combustion engine added to the energy system, the gas-powered engine will recharge the vehicle’s high voltage battery, extending the range to more than an estimated 500 miles2 while maintaining the electric drive system’s instant response and off-road performance.
With the option to refuel anywhere you can find a pump or a plug, all while maintaining the packaging and performance benefits of an electric vehicle, the Harvester energy system will deliver the benefits customers want in a lifestyle that works for them.
One-to-One Customer Relationship
As an independent American company and startup, Scout Motors is building everything from the ground up—its teams, its factory, its vehicles, and now its own customer experience that is powered by an exclusive Scout Motors retail network.
Scout Motors will establish a one-to-one relationship with its customers, rooted in trust and transparency, by selling and servicing Scout vehicles directly from Scout Motors. From reservations and vehicle sales to delivery and service, Scout Motors supports the consumer directly. One company, one app, one login, one experience.
From the start, customers will know what they are paying and can expect full price transparency. Vehicle purchase transactions will be completed in minutes. The company will create a simple, seamless experience for Scout customers across all touchpoints.
Scout Motors will build dedicated retail spaces to engage with customers in person. Scout Workshops and other retail spaces will provide a test drive, a handshake, and hands-on service when needed.
Scout vehicles are designed for competitive cost of ownership through robust repairability and flexible serviceability. From engineering and manufacturing to the Scout Motors national collision partner network, Scout vehicles will be ready for the real world. Approximately 80 percent of repair types can be completed outside of a Scout Workshop, whether in a driveway or while adventuring.