Scout Motors Traveler and Terra Full Tour Inside and Out
About this episode
Scout Motors is reviving an American icon with the all-new Traveler SUV and Terra pickup truck. Host Tom Volk gets an exclusive walkaround of these rugged, body-on-frame prototypes with designers Peyton Sullivan and Robert Brandt. They dive deep into the unique design details, from "Earth's plaid" patterns to sustainable hempwood trim. Crucially, they break down the powertrain options—including the highly anticipated "Harvester" extended-range EV setup—and share surprising reservation data showing a massive preference for the gas-generator option. It’s a fascinating look at how Volkswagen plans to blend heritage with modern electrification.
Have a deposit down on a Scout Motors Traveler or Terra? Maybe you're curious about what Volkswagen's revival of the brand will look like. For sure they're packed with heritage. Team Scout brought its prototype vehicles to Mudfest 2026 to show the members of the Northwest Automotive Press Association what to expect when the Traveler SUV and Terra pickup start arriving in 2028. Tom Voelk offers up loads of visuals that show what the vehicle should look like, inside and out.
Scout Motors
"If you haven't heard, the Volkswagen Group is reviving the brand. We are bringing back the scout nameplate that was made famous by International Harvester..."
A classic American brand from the 1960s and 70s that made tough, boxy off-road vehicles. It has been brought back to life to make modern, all-electric trucks and SUVs.
An American automotive brand originally created by International Harvester in 1961, famous for its rugged off-road utility vehicles. Volkswagen Group acquired the rights to the name and officially revived it as an independent electric vehicle brand in 2022.
International Harvester
"We are bringing back the scout nameplate that was made famous by International Harvester between 1961 and 1980."
An old-school American company that mostly made farm tractors and heavy machinery, but also built the legendary Scout off-roader to compete with Jeep.
An American manufacturer of agricultural machinery, construction equipment, and vehicles, active from 1902 to 1985. They produced the original Scout utility vehicles from 1961 to 1980, which pioneered the modern SUV segment.
Scout Traveller
"The group is trying to preserve the original vibe, but the two models, the Terra Pickup and Traveller SUV, will be quite different..."
A new, rugged electric SUV designed to look like a classic 1970s off-roader. It is built for tough trails but has modern electric technology inside.
An upcoming body-on-frame mid-size electric SUV designed to pay homage to the classic International Harvester Scout II. It features retro-inspired styling, robust off-road capabilities, and is offered with either a pure battery-electric or an extended-range hybrid powertrain.
Scout Terra
"The group is trying to preserve the original vibe, but the two models, the Terra Pickup and Traveller SUV, will be quite different..."
A tough, vintage-styled electric pickup truck designed for off-roading and utility work. It has a cargo bed in the back and can run on pure electricity or use a small gas generator to extend its range.
An upcoming mid-size electric pickup truck built on a rugged body-on-frame platform, sharing its DNA with the Traveller SUV. It features a 5.5-foot bed, heavy-duty towing capacity, and retro styling cues reminiscent of vintage Scout pickups.
body-on-frame
"Scout Traveller SUV and Scout Terra Pickup Truck are body-on-frame vehicles. They're true off-roaders."
A way of building trucks and SUVs where the outer shell of the vehicle sits on top of a heavy-duty steel frame, like a cabin on a flatbed trailer. This makes the vehicle much tougher and better at carrying heavy loads or climbing over rocks.
A traditional vehicle construction method where a separate body is mounted onto a rigid steel frame carrying the engine and drivetrain. This design is highly durable, flexible for off-roading, and easier to repair after heavy impacts, making it the standard for trucks and serious off-road SUVs.
locking differential
"Body-on-frame, true mechanical locking differentials, available front sway bar disconnect..."
A device in the axle that locks the left and right wheels together so they turn at the exact same speed. This helps the vehicle get out of slippery situations like mud or snow because both wheels push together.
A drivetrain component that forces both wheels on an axle to spin at the exact same speed, regardless of traction. This prevents a wheel with no grip from spinning uselessly while sending all engine power to the wheel that has traction, which is essential for escaping deep mud or rock crawling.
sway bar disconnect
"Body-on-frame, true mechanical locking differentials, available front sway bar disconnect, 12 inches of ground clearance..."
A button or lever that temporarily detaches a metal bar connecting the front wheels. This lets the wheels move up and down much further, helping the truck keep its tires on the ground when climbing over big rocks.
A mechanism that unlinks the front anti-roll (sway) bar, allowing the front wheels to move up and down independently with maximum travel. This extreme suspension articulation helps keep all tires in contact with the ground when crawling over highly uneven terrain.
approach and departure angles
"...12 inches of ground clearance, really aggressive approach in departure angles, and up to three feet of water forwarding."
Measurements that show how steep of a hill or obstacle a truck can drive up or down without scraping its front or back bumpers on the ground.
Off-road design metrics indicating the steepest inclines a vehicle can climb up (approach) or descend down (departure) without its front or rear bumpers scraping the ground.
water fording
"...really aggressive approach in departure angles, and up to three feet of water forwarding."
The ability of a truck or SUV to drive safely through deep puddles, streams, or flooded roads without drowning the engine or ruining the electronics.
The capability of a vehicle to drive through deep standing water without damaging its engine, electrical systems, or cabin. Scout claims up to 36 inches (3 feet) of water-fording depth for its upcoming vehicles.
EREV
"We've got an extended range electric vehicle, which is similar to a hybrid in that it's got a battery and a gas-powered engine. But in the E-Raves, the extended range electric vehicles, those gas-powered engines only recharge the battery."
An electric car that also has a small gas engine on board. The gas engine never actually turns the wheels; it only acts as a generator to charge up the battery so you don't run out of power on long trips.
Extended-Range Electric Vehicle. A type of hybrid vehicle where the wheels are driven exclusively by electric motors, but a small onboard gasoline engine acts solely as a generator to recharge the battery when it runs low.
bench seat
"...is the fact that you can get a bench seat in either the Traveler SUV or Terra pickup truck. You also have the option of traditional captain's chairs..."
A long, couch-like front seat that goes all the way across the front of the truck, instead of having two separate seats with a plastic console in the middle. It allows three people (or a dog) to sit next to each other in the front.
A continuous, one-piece front seating row that spans the width of the vehicle cabin, allowing up to three passengers to sit side-by-side. Once standard in American trucks and sedans, they have largely been replaced by individual bucket seats and center consoles.
Traveler Suv
"..., about 75% of our reservations have been for the Traveler SUV. We are taking reservations for a place in line"
The Traveler is a new, blocky SUV made by a brand called Scout. It is designed to run on electricity, though buyers can choose a version with a small gas engine that acts as a generator to keep the battery charged on long trips.
The Scout Traveler is an upcoming rugged, body-on-frame SUV from Scout Motors, a brand reviving the heritage of the classic International Harvester Scout. Scheduled for production around 2027, it will offer both a fully electric powertrain and a gas-powered range-extender option. It is highly discussed due to its retro-inspired design and strong initial reservation numbers.
Terra Scout Terra
"... handraisers. That's your 30,000 foot view of the Scout Terra and Traveler. If you want to put a deposit down, ..."
The Terra is a new electric pickup truck with a cargo bed in the back, made by the Scout brand. It is built for off-roading and hauling, and it can run purely on battery power or use a built-in gas generator to extend its range.
The Scout Terra is an upcoming electric pickup truck built on the same rugged, body-on-frame platform as the Traveler SUV. It features a 5.5-foot cargo bed, high towing capacity, and the choice of a pure electric or range-extended powertrain. It represents Scout's entry into the highly anticipated utility-focused electric truck market.
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