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The wave of recent auto manufacturers coming into the Australian market doesn’t seem like slowing down any time quickly.
Volkswagen is within the means of bringing again the Scout model, which can supply a variety of electrified off-road utes and SUVs impressed by fashions produced by Worldwide Harvester between 1961 and 1980.
Talking to Australian journalists on the Munich motor present this week, Scout’s international CEO Scott Keogh confirmed the Australian market is a part of the Volkswagen Group-owned automaker’s future.
Mr Keogh stated he was properly conscious of the gross sales potential the Australian market presents for Scout, however native patrons may very well be ready for a while given the model will first be launched within the US and Canada in 2027.
“We need to nail America and Canada. These will probably be our first markets after which after that we’ll look to different markets and positively Australia’s on the checklist,” he advised Australian media together with information.com.au.
“Clearly, we’re not naive. We see the market in Australia, we see you want these kind of pickup vehicles – let’s say [the] ‘get open air, can-do’ type of autos, body-on-frame, rugged – and we’re actually conscious of the chance.”
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Thus far, Scout has proven off the battery-electric Terra dual-cab pickup and the Traveler SUV – each of which utilise an 800-volt electrical structure and twin electrical motors, providing as much as 563km of vary and a claimed 0-100km/h time of lower than 4 seconds.
Prolonged-ranger electrical automobile (EREV) variants with a petrol-powered range-extender engine are additionally deliberate, offering an extra 240km of driving vary.
Scout fashions will probably be primarily based on a ladder body and fitted with a strong rear axle, mechanical entrance and rear differential locks, and a entrance sway bar which might disconnect for larger wheel articulation. They may supply a water-wading depth of greater than 900mm.
Regardless of the Volkswagen Group’s substantial funding in US electrical pickup and SUV specialist Rivian, the German big has confirmed that Scout autos will probably be considerably completely different – regardless of shut visible similarities.
Nevertheless, Volkswagen and Rivian are collaborating on software program collectively, which is anticipated to be shared throughout each Scout and Rivian autos sooner or later.
Volkswagen got here into possession of the Scout title in 2021 when its Traton truck division purchased Navistar, the dad or mum firm of Worldwide Harvester, which is the corporate that constructed the unique two-door Scout utes and SUVs.
These had been offered alongside the dual-cab Travelette pickup and five-door Travelall SUV, serving as Worldwide Harvester’s rival to the Ford Bronco. They had been additionally exported to Australia in right-hand drive.
By 1980, nevertheless, Worldwide Harvester was shedding cash and, after killing the remainder of its pickup and SUV vary, it pulled the plug on the Scout.
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