Scout Motors Unveils 2027 Terra Pickup and Traveler SUV

International Harvester found a niche in the automotive market and created the SUV as we know it when it introduced the 1961 Scout 80. Production of the Scout lineup ended almost 44 years to the day that Scout Motors pulled the covers off the first two vehicles that will reintroduce the Scout brand beginning in 2027. Former Scout designers, current Scout owners, and media attended the launch event where the Scout Terra pickup and Scout Traveler SUV were unveiled to an enthusiastic reception.

Let’s get the big stuff out of the way first. Keeping with Scout’s reputation for off-road capability, the Terra and Traveler will use body-on-frame construction with a solid rear axle and mechanical locking differentials front and rear. Additional off-road performance will come from available 35-inch tires and a front sway bar disconnect, giving both models more than 12 inches of ground clearance and the suspension flexibility to put the rubber to the trail. Power numbers weren’t mentioned, although Scout did claim a 0-60mph time of 3.5 seconds. Towing will be in the neighborhood of 10,000 pounds for Terra, 7,000 pounds for Traveler. The payload will be about a ton each. EV models will aim to deliver 350 miles of range, but there will also be an optional extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) system, called Harvester, that will pair a smaller battery pack with a gas-powered generator to extend the range to 500 miles. Aside from the initial reveal of the designs, which seemed to win over the crowd immediately, the EREV announcement elicited the most excitement and buzz. We don’t have details on the generator, but it won’t be mounted under the hood, so the sizeable frunk is not in jeopardy.

Inside, Scout delivers a modern interior that was inspired by the Scout II. Parallel horizontal elements frame the gauges and center screen with a brow up top and a lower bar that doubles as a passenger grab handle below. Scout was adamant that the vehicles have buttons for all HVAC functions and there are also volume knobs for the stereo. The driver gets a volume knob on the steering wheel and the passenger gets one on the top right of the center screen.

Both models will be assembled at the Scout Motors facility that’s under construction in Blythewood, South Carolina, and half of the parts (by cost) required to build the Terran and Traveler will come within 200 miles of the facility. An additional 30 percent of its parts will come from within North America.

“Two years in the making, the day has finally come to share the next generation of Scout vehicles with the world,” said Scott Keogh, President and CEO, Scout Motors. “The original core idea — rugged, versatile vehicles capable of off-road adventure and family duty — is more relevant than ever. We couldn’t be prouder to revitalize this iconic American brand, create thousands of American jobs, and put American ingenuity back to work.”

Both vehicles reflect the design language present in many of the original Scouts without being unnecessarily derivative. Designers referred to the “mask” at the front as the headlights frame blacked-out elements that echo the 1980 Scout grille. Of course, the profile of the Traveler is a nod to the Scout II and the instantly recognizable shape of the rear side window. There’s a lot to love in the design of both vehicles, and it seemed to win over current Scout owners and former International Harvester employees who were on hand. Dick Hatch retired from IH in 2007, having spent 40 years as a designer with the company. He created some of the Scout 800’s graphics packages and also penned the grille design of the final Scout models built in 1980. When asked how he felt about the modern interpretation of Scout, he noted that there was, “not a line I would change.”

The names of these new models should sound familiar, as they come from 1976-1980 Scouts that used a longer wheelbase than the contemporary Scout II. The new models, while nearly identical from the B-pillar forward, have unique hoods, bumpers, and ride on different wheelbases. Take a look at the dimensions below.

Both models are targeting a 2027 on-sale date and similar price tags, with entry prices under $60,000. Scout Motors won’t be done with these two models, as the company hopes to eventually offer a two-door pickup and a three-row version of the Traveler. Scout Motors is already taking reservations, and we overheard several current Scout owners who have already dropped a deposit to secure their place in line.