Volkswagen could build an electric off-roader and there’s a chance it could be called the Scout.
While recently speaking with members of the media, Volkswagen Group of America chief operating officer Johan De Nysschen floated the idea of an electric rival to the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco. He also suggested that such a vehicle could rival the Rivian R1S but rather than starting at $70,000, would be be priced closer to $40,000.
While De Nysschen failed to provide any more details about the project, Motor Trend suggests that it would use a modified version of the brand’s MEB electric platform. The publication suggests this platform could be fitted with long-travel off-road suspension and a boxy SUV body and use VW’s brake-based torque vectoring system rather than locking differentials.
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Motor Trend went on to suggest the vehicle could be called the Scout. That name was made famous by the International Harverster Scout. The Volkswagen Group now controls the Scout name after its commercial truck subsidiary, Traton, merged with Navistar in July 2021. However, in a statement, De Nysschen said talk of the vehicle being dubbed the Scout is nothing but speculation.
“We will in the fullness of time switch 100% from ICE entries to EVs, and as the VW Group looks at its global product portfolio, this means that successors to popular models such as Atlas and our Amarok truck, will eventually be electrified. But to connect this pragmatically realistic perspective of the future, with the notion of launching a new product line under the Scout nameplate, is truly speculative and at this time, not reflective any plans, real or imagined.”
Regardless of what a potential electric off-roader could be called, the idea of such a vehicle is certainly very interesting.