ILLUSTRATION BY BEN SUMMERELL-YOUDE/FOX SYNDICATION|CAR AND DRIVER

2027 Scout SUV and Pickup

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You may recall the International Harvester Scout off-road adventure wagon that was produced in Fort Wayne, Indiana from 1961 to 1980. A precursor of more sophisticated SUVs, it was originally created as a competitor of the Jeep. These two-door trucks featured a removable hard top, and options included a half-cab pickup truck version.
 
Fast forward to a new 1,600-acre EV plant in Blythewood, South Carolina that will be the home to the Volkswagen Group's Scout Motors. At a cost of over 2 billion dollars, the factory will produce over 200,000 units per year. It's all part of Volkswagen's goal of stepping up American production of EVs for a targeted market share of 10 percent in the U.S. by 2030. Having acquired the Scout name, VW sees this as a very American brand that will be sold exclusively through Scout dealerships in this country, rather than VW dealers.
 
Return of the Scout
Scott Keogh, former President and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, and now President and CEO of Scout Motors is leading the charge along with Dr. Herbert Diess. In an interview on YouTube Dr. Diess explained that the company had the idea to utilize the rich history of America's first off-road SUV as a platform to relaunch this very American brand in a newly electrified package as a huge opportunity. To whet our appetite for the new Scout models, Dr. Diess mentioned that the new SUV and pickup truck might include such features as rear-wheel steering and solar charging panels to benefit range.

Looks like a Scout

Early concept drawings show a modern SUV with the familiar look and feel of Scout models from the past. This includes a rather boxy design aesthetic and those unique up-slanted rear back windows that were part of the Scout "look". Big windows all around provide plenty of visibility to enjoy off-road views and massive meaty off-road wheels and tires complete the picture. It is likely that the new Scout SUV will take a design cue from the new Ford Bronco possibly offering both two-door and four-door versions for both the SUV and pickup truck.
PHOTO: SCOUT MOTORS
The straight lines, flat hood and roof and flared wheel arches are part of the retro look of the new Scout SUV and pickup truck and both vehicles will be built on the same body-on-frame chassis platform, offering various trim levels for more aggressive off-roading prowess. Expect plenty of ground clearance and road grabbing capability. These vehicles are being built to look and perform for the growing adventure wagon market in America and are targeting customers who might be considering the Ford Bronco, Jeep Wrangler, Land Rover Defender, and even the Rivian models. As for the size of these adventure ready wonders, we imagine the SUV to be about the same size as the new Ford Bronco suggesting a 116-inch wheelbase and a width of around 80 inches. The pickup might be around the same size as the new Ford Maverick truck which has a wheelbase of 121-inches, but time will tell.

Off-Road Ready

While little is known about the details of the new Scout SUV and compact pickup's powertrain, expect two electric motors, one at each axle for all-wheel drive, and sufficient battery packs to take you over 300 miles on a charge. The new Scouts will be expected to hold their own off-road with beefed up suspension, high ground clearance and approach angle, and decent payload capacity. The Volkswagen Group has said that the new platform will offer "credibility beyond the existing Volkswagen Group portfolio." However, expect the Scout to incorporate some VW components such as air conditioning parts, electric motors and inverters.
 
Industry insiders predict the new Scout SUV and pickup may have 450 horsepower available in the top tier trim versions.
PHOTO: SCOUT MOTORS
When can you get one?
During the Volkswagen Group's Capital Markets Day on June 21, Volkswagen Group's CFO and COO Arno Antlitz declared that "With the iconic Scout brand, by 2026, we will now also have an offering in the most attractive profit pools - the SUV and compact pickup segment." It goes without saying that both of those vehicles are predicted to be big sellers in America.
 
Expect to see the new 2027 Scout models arriving in Scout Motors dealerships in late 2026. So far, VW is mum on the starting MSRP on the all-electric SUV and pickup trucks, but industry insiders suggest prices for base models will start at around $40,000 with higher trim levels reaching as high as $60,000.
 
We think the new Scout EVs are a gutsy move by VW that needed to regain its street cred in America. These innovative and very all-American models might just place the automaker back in the forefront of stateside electrification. We hope the new Scout SUV and pickup will offer a wide array of customizable features so that consumers can make them uniquely their own. These may be the off-road ready fun filled EVs that we've been waiting for.