The last International Harvester Scout rolled off the assembly line in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1980 after nearly two decades of production. Volkswagen’s Scout Motors is now aiming to make a triumphant return on October 24, nearly 44 years to the day after the final model was built. This is an eternity in the automotive world and the company is trying to build excitement by dropping a new teaser image of their “rugged” truck and SUV. The company is keeping details a closely guarded secret, but both models appear to have similar front ends with a protruding bumper and a horizontal bar on the grille.
They’re joined by a relatively flat hood,
which echoes the one found on the Ford Bronco. Additional details are hard to
make out, but the SUV has a Range Rover-esque silhouette and an angular rear
end with a pronounced bumper. The pickup, on the other hand, has a flatter roof
and a crew cab configuration. We can also see a sizable bed and an upright rear
window.
We’ll learn full details shortly, but the
company reached out to supporters to thank them for keeping the “Scout Spirit
burning from one generation to the next.” The EV brand went on to say this
moment couldn’t have happened without them. That sentiment was echoed in a new
promotional video, called “Encore.” It pays tribute to the “passionate
community of makers, dreamers and restorers” who have carried the Scout torch
for the last 44 years. While the new models are absent in the clip, it’s full
of nostalgia and that’s something the brand certainly wants to tap into.
Production is slated to begin in 2026 and
officials have previously suggested pricing could start around US$ 50,000. If
the company is able to hit that target, the models would significantly undercut
the GMC Hummer EV lineup which is playing in a similar sandbox.
