Revolutionizing the Future: Body-on-Frame Scout EV Unveiled – A Game-Changer for Electric Off-Roading

The New Scout: Will It Live Up to Expectations?

As a long-time 4×4 enthusiast, I’m excited to see the new Scout EV finally take the stage. As a journalist, I’ll be there to call it like I see it when the first official concepts are revealed this week. With Scout Motors’ slow reveal, it’s no surprise that people are skeptical. It’s no easy feat to bring a utilitarian off-road beast from the past into the 21st century as an electric vehicle. But, according to Scott Keogh, CEO of Scout Motors, it won’t be a letdown for the faithful.

In a recent blog post, Keogh waxed poetic about the history of the Scout nameplate and acknowledged the "tension" between classic examples and what a Scout can be in the 21st century. But this quote of Keogh’s really stood out:

"We are not going to deliver a badge-engineered, jellybean-shaped soft-roader. There are already plenty of those available for people who don’t want or need the serious capability that only a vehicle purposefully designed from the ground up as an off-roader can deliver—that only a Scout can deliver."

It’s clear Keogh has listened to the concerns of the Scout community, having spent a lot of time with them over the past 18 months, including attending the massive International Harvester owners’ meeting in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where the last Scout rolled off the assembly line in 1980.

Scout enthusiasts, however, are pining for a more traditional vehicle that’s not electric only. Keogh is reassuring them that the SUV and pickup truck will be more serious than they fear.

Keogh also mentioned that they want to keep "some of the simplicity" of the original Scout, confirming it will be body-on-frame, not unibody. A good start, but not quite out of the woods yet.

What’s Next?

We’ll find out more on Thursday, October 24 at 6:30 p.m. ET, when Scout Motors reveals the final product. Based on Keogh’s comments, it seems they’re targeting a broader audience, including those who’ve never owned a truck before, while also trying to persuade traditionalists who are skeptical about electric vehicles.

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