Volkswagen Scout 4x4 to take on Land Rover and Jeep
All-electric Scout brand’s first rugged 4x4 off-roader teased in the US, with pick-up set to followVolkswagen’s fledgling Scout Motors standalone EV brand has previewed its first model that will take on tough 4x4 off-roaders from Land Rover, Jeep and INEOS.
The rugged battery-powered SUV posted on ScoutMotors.com is a mere teaser of what’s to come, showing a squared-off design that could draw heavy influence from the International Harvester Scout – the US off-road icon that Volkswagen has bought the naming rights to.
Other than saying the production SUV will have a “strong stance and upright posture reminiscent of classic Scout models”, no other information has been released to accompany the latest teaser image.
That said, its boxy looks align with earlier design sketches of the R-SUV and pick-up.
According to overseas reports, production of the new Scout vehicles is slated to begin in 2026, with the Volkswagen Group targeting 250,000 annual sales once the new operation is established as a brand in its own right like Audi and Skoda.
The schedule coincides with the German auto giant’s move to a single unified EV architecture dubbed the Scalable Systems Platform (SSP), although a more rugged ladder-frame construction is also in contention.
If it gets the more sophisticated SSP platform, the new architecture will be capable of handling up to 850kW of power.
Volkswagen is aiming for EV leadership globally (and in Australia), while Land Rover and Jeep are moving towards EVs at a rapid pace in an effort not to get caught behind emerging and established brands alike, such as Rivian, Ford and Mercedes-Benz.
Brands such as these all have rugged electric 4x4 off-roaders in the works.
A technical alliance between Volkswagen and Ford has been mooted to help fast-track the Scout models’ development.
Prototypes are set to begin testing as soon as early next year, however the current teaser campaign suggests the design is locked in – in near-production guise, at least – and that an unveiling isn’t too far away.
In the meantime, the US-based brand says it will engage with consumers.
Scout CEO Scott Keogh said: “We started this forum to nurture an open dialogue with our community members, to hear what they expect in all-new Scout vehicles, and to build a central location where past, present, and future Scout enthusiasts can come together as one.”
Related: Confirmed: Volkswagen announces new Scout off-road brand
Related: All-electric Volkswagen Scout pick-up and SUV teased
Related: New Volkswagen Scout sub-brand to birth electric pick-up
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