Scout Motors creates connections with its new electric Terra truck and Traveler SUV

Scout Motors take in rough 300 masses to the James Jerome Hill of Franklin , Tennessee , to reveal theScout Traveler SUV and Terra truckelectric concept vehicles . The automaker brought in journalists such as myself , active life style bloggers , YouTubers , self-propelled industry analysts , and enthusiasts and devotee of the original International Harvester Scout .

Scout Motors prognosticate the fresh , rugged fomite theConnection Machine . The reveal event aimed to set up a solid connection between the conception EVs and the attendees . The automaker also used the occasion to announce the prompt power to set aside a Scout vehicle with a $ 100 amply refundable depositary .

The Scout legend

International Harvester was an agricultural and commercial-grade vehicle manufacturer . In 1961 , IH acquaint the Scout as a small , multipurpose service program vehicle . The original Scout preceded the popularity of sport utility vehicles ( SUV ) by over 30 years . Still , it caught on with Fannie Merritt Farmer , hunters , and other outside sportspeople who used it for off - route adventures when there were few choice other than early Jeeps .

The earliest Scouts were two - bike - crusade getaway trucks , but interest in four - steering wheel - private road vehicles with tops or roofs that run to the back of the truck bottom grew quickly . Most of the Scouts manufactured during the 19 - year production run were SUVs . The 1970s gas pedal crisis and economic conditions resulted in the Scout ’s demise , and production ceased in 1980 .

The Scout community

Since International Harvesters intercept manufacturing the Scout , it has maintained a cultlike following , with active proprietor and enthusiast groups , societal culture medium groups , and special interestingness forums worldwide .

Scout Motors has committed on its blog to engaging with existing proprietor and fan communities to keep the flavor of the original Scout awake , value the vehicle ’s inheritance , and listen to suggestions to amend the advanced Scout motortruck and SUVs .

Scout Motors invited legion original Scout possessor and enthusiast to the event in Franklin . Some add vehicles to exhibit to attendee .

A restored 1961 International Harvester Scout, the first year of production.

1961 International Harvester ScoutBruce Brown / Digital Trends

The Scout Motors reveal

Scout Motors constructed stadium seating for the 300 guest and a large compass look stage on a mountaintop in Franklin . After report the International Harvester Scout as the “ original SUV , ” President and CEO Scott Keogh spoke about the combat-ready Scout community and thanked several elected functionary in attending from South Carolina , where the Scout Motors manufacturing plant is being built in Blythewood .

I was standing on the top row in the midriff of the arena when the vehicle move into , and the crew ’s commendation was tangible .

“ Two age in the making , the mean solar day has finally come to partake in the next generation of Scout vehicles with the universe , ” say Keogh . “ The original heart and soul estimation — rugged , various vehicles capable of off - road adventure and family duty — is more relevant than ever . We could n’t be prouder to revitalize this iconic American brand , make thousands of American jobs , and put American ingeniousness back to work . ”

A restored 1980 International Scout, the last year of production.

1980 International Harvester ScoutBruce Brown / Digital Trends

Then , as the crowd reckon to the right of the point , Keogh revealed the Scout Traveler SUV andScout Terra truckas they drive onto the stage .

I was standing on the top rowing of ass in the middle of the arena when the vehicle enter , and the crowd ’s approval was palpable . The audience clapped loudly , which you ’d anticipate if just from courtesy , but the grinning , laugh , and exuberance were much great than common . Sure , this hearing was skewed for a positive reaction , but I thought both vehicles were gorgeous , and most others seemed to have the same reaction .

Scout Motors Chief Design Officer Chris Benjamin took the stage next to highlight many theme and concepts that inspired the Scout Traveler and Scout Terra during the design leg . Versatility and adaptability are primal conception construct .

Front view of the Scout Traveler electric SUV

Bruce Brown / Digital Trends

“ A Scout vehicle should always be a helpful companion , ” Benjamin state . “ It should always activate the customer to do the thing they desire to do and make their experience easier , well , faster . ”

Several important feature shared by both vehicles were received with positive burst from the hearing as Benjamin recounted them .

The Scout Traveler in pictures

I was surprise by the Scout Traveler ’s size . It ’s probably big than the photographs would lead you to trust because there ’s no visible reference vehicle for comparison . The Scout Traveler is 207.9 inch in overall length , 91.6 inch panoptic , and 76.3 inches eminent , which is only two inch short in duration and two inches thinner than a 2025 Ford Expedition at 210 inches long , 93.1 inches wide-cut , and 76.4 in gamy . The Scout Traveler isa much orotund SUVthan a 2025 Ford Explorer in every proportion .

Scout Motors expects the Scout Terra to get at $ 60,000 and be $ 50,000 after Energy Department incentives .

The Scout Terra in pictures

The Scout Terra pickup truck is close in sizing to a 2025 Ford F-150 Supercrew with a 5.5 - metrical foot layer . The Terra ’s 229.2 inch overall length is three in less than the Ford ’s , and its 91.6 - inch width is only four column inch narrow .

Scout Motors expects the Scout Terra to start at $ 60,000 and cost $ 51,500 with vitality incentives .

Scout community acceptance

After the mountaintop Scout Motors reveal , the crowd shuttled to a societal hour adopt by a dinner for the 300 attendees . I sat with a group of Scout forum members who owned original Scouts . We discourse our reactions to the Scout Terra , the Scout Traveler , and Scout Motors .

The partizan I dine with had already madereservations on the Scout Motors website … in the few hours since the reveal event .

One meeting place group member told me he had talked with a few Scout owners who did n’t want anything to change and were not in favor of any modernized version , but those the great unwashed were n’t in attending .

Scout Traveler electric SUV frunk.

Bruce Brown / Digital Trends

I was also unsurprised that the enthusiasts I dined with had already madereservations on the Scout Motors websitewith a $ 100 fully refundable deposit in the few minute since the reveal event . I laughed when one of the forum members allege that when they called home , their partner suggest putting in repository for two new Scouts , the pickup and the SUV .

Scout Traveler electric SUV dashboard.