It has been awhile since we heard from Volkswagen on its plans to revive the Scout nameplate. The German car giant has teased this plan on and off for a few years, but not much has emerged beyond statements and rumors. However, that’s going to change sooner than many folks have realized, with Volkswagen releasing a new teaser video that celebrates the storied tradition behind the Scout name.
Teaser Video Points To Key Scout Developments
At first glance, the teaser video appears to be a greatest hits album for the Scout pickup with plenty of angles of the truck trekking through trails and out of the way wilderness. While the Ford Bronco and the Jeep Wrangler are considered the default off-road icons for many off-road buyers, it can be easy to forget that the Scout (a product of the defunct International Harvester corporation) also fought in this hotly contested segment before the Scout pickup and the SUV ceased production in 1980 due to IH’s deteriorating financial state after the infamous 1979-1980 International Harvester strike.
What caught our attention though was at the end of the video when it revealed that the Scout lineup would be formally unveiled this summer. This would seem to indicate that development has moved much quicker than some have anticipated with the first model most likely being a truck variant. Separate rumors have suggested that the Scout model would be underpinned by a platform exclusive to the Scout brand with this structure being tailor-made for off-road driving.
The platform could also allow Volkswagen to branch the Scout name into other products including an SUV which would also ironically go full circle on IH’s original plans to expand the Scout nameplate to minivans, dune buggies, and even an entry in the RV segment before the aforementioned strike derailed those plans.
We look forward to hearing more this summer, and seeing whether Volkswagen has succeeded in reviving a long-forgotten icon for a new generation of EV buyers.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.