Image Credit: Captain Electro.
We need to talk about the future of electric SUVs. Volkswagen is spending a colossal amount of cash - we're talking $3 billion now, up from an already eye-watering $2 billion - to revive the Scout brand in South Carolina. And what have they given us to look at while we wait for the factory doors to open in 2027? A concept car with a mood ring paint job and a backpack.
I'm not joking. This is the Scout Traveler Pacific Mist concept, and it is essentially a "what if" exercise designed to make us all coo over accessories. When a manufacturer says a car is inspired by "the mist that rises when waves crash into the Pacific Coast cliffs," I reach for a bucket. But, credit where it's due, the paint is actually quite clever. It's a multi-layer finish that looks silver when the weather is miserable and shifts to blue when the sun decides to show up. It's a wee bit magical, like a mood ring for your driveway.
Image Credit: Scout.
But the real party trick is round the back. You know how proper off-roaders usually have a big, rufty-tufty spare tire hanging off the rear door to tell the world, "I crush rocks for breakfast"? Scout has binned that. Instead, they've slapped on a "backpack." It's a carrier system with two compartments for wet or dry storage. So, rather than a spare wheel that might save your life in the desert, you have a lovely little cubby for your soggy swimming trunks. Genius. Or madness. I haven't decided yet.
The rest of the kit is properly beefy, though: massive 22-inch wheels wrapped in 35-inch BFGoodrich T/A KO3 all-terrain tires, blacked-out door handles, and a roof rack that looks sturdy enough to carry a small cow. Inside, it's all very "lifestyle," featuring brown leather and denim-inspired accents. Apparently, nothing says "luxury" like sitting inside a pair of jeans. There's also a retractable "Cabana Top" - sounds like a cocktail but is actually just a sunroof.
Image Credit: Scout.
Now, let's get to the bit that made me giggle. Scout calls this thing an EV, but under the hood, there's a plot twist. It uses the "Harvester" powertrain. This is a Range Extended Electric Vehicle (EREV), which means it has a battery - a 63 kWh unit - but also a petrol engine. This four-cylinder acts as a generator to recharge the battery.
Why is this funny? Because, despite all the shouting about an all-electric future, 85% of the 150,000 people who have slapped down a refundable deposit for a Scout have ordered this version. Only 15% want the pure electric one. It seems when push comes to shove, we all still want a bit of dinosaurs exploding in cylinders to keep us moving. The result is a range of over 500 miles - properly useful then.
Scout's CEO, Scott Keogh, admitted he was surprised, thinking the split would be 60/40. But range anxiety is a real beast, and having a gas tank as a backup is like bringing your mother along to double-check you locked the front door. It's comforting. And Ford and Jeep are scrambling to do the same now so Scout might be on to something here. Providing they can actually build this beauty without spending another billion dollars.
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