The Jeep Wrangler is a fabulous off-roader that’s been in production for decades. Providing some stiff competition, Ford revived its legendary Bronco SUV a few years ago, as did GM with its new Hummer EV models. If you enjoy singin’ mud or getting dirty creeping along rutted trails, there have probably never been more excellent off-roaders to choose from. And even more are on the way, as Volkswagen works to reintroduce the Scout brand with the Traveler SUV and Terra pickup truck. Shedding some light on these exciting new models, Scout CEO Scott Keogh recently shared a few powertrain details.
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Juicy Drivetrain Details Shared
The company honcho was just a guest on MotorTrend’s InEVitable podcast, where he commented on the Harvester range extender that will be installed in those upcoming models. The Traveler and Terra are electric vehicles, though they will also be offered with a range extender, basically a small internal-combustion engine that charges the battery.
According to InsideEVs, Keogh said the engine in question will be a “good, high-output four-cylinder that packages well.” Additionally – and not necessarily surprisingly – this powerplant will not be fitted with a turbocharger, a power-boosting add-on that probably isn’t necessary for a range-extender.
Scout will almost certainly be reaching into the vast Volkswagen Group parts catalog to find an engine suitable for these new Scout models, but which four-banger gets tapped for use in the Traveler and Terra remains to be seen. They could use a non-turbocharged version of the lovely 2.0-liter engine that’s installed in loads of VW group vehicles, or maybe they’ll bore and/or stroke this powerplant to provide more displacement and output without a turbo.
You Could Get Up To 350 Miles Of Range
Aside from that range extender, Keogh also commented on the battery capacity these new Scout models will offer. He mentioned the pure-electric versions will have somewhere around 120 or 130 kilowatt-hours of energy-storage capability, enough for an impressive range of around 350 miles. The electric Scouts will also be quick on their feet, able to hit 60 mph in about 3.5 seconds.
Range-extended Traveler and Terra models will have around half the battery capacity, a pack that’s roughly 60 or 70 kWh in size. These vehicles will be slower than the pure-electric models, though, with Keogh saying they should be able to blitz from 0 to 60 mph in about 4.5 seconds, which is still seriously quick.
When it comes to range, that smaller battery should be good for around 150 miles of driving, which is more than respectable for a range-extended hybrid vehicle, and more than enough to meet the daily needs of most drivers. With a full tank of fuel, however, that range extender is likely to increase the drivable miles to 500 or more, an impressive amount that will make these vehicles good for long, cross-country trips.
Interestingly, the Scout product development team plans on mounting that combustion engine ahead of the Traveler and Terra rear axle, an unusual location. Keogh said this will necessitate some “creative” plumbing for the air intake and cooling system. Where does the radiator go? Will extensive cooling lines be required to keep engine temps in check? If the radiator is mounted in a remote location, will the lines be well-shielded from rough surfaces and debris? There are many unanswered questions about Scout’s powertrain plans.
Sales Breakdown Reveal That Range Extenders Are In Demand
The reborn Scout brand shows enormous promise. Its vehicles look nice, seem to offer plenty of great features, and should provide excellent off-road capability. In the podcast, Keogh said more than 50-percent of reservations have been for models fitted with the Harvester range extender. Additionally, 70 percent of those pre-sales are for the Traveler SUV, which is kind of a surprise given how popular pickup trucks are in the U.S.
Unfortunately for customers that have reserved a vehicle, production of these new Scouts is not expected to commence in the fourth quarter of 2027. That’s more than two years from now, so you’ve got to wait patiently if you’ve reserved one of these vehicles.
