Ideas for Scout Engineers

[midwestscout]

Hi Scout engineers,

Below are some ideas for standard or optional features:

-add rear bumper corner built-in steps to allow access to stepping up into the truck bed, similar to the Chevrolet Silverado/Colorado.
-include a digital key option to use a smartphone as a passive key for entering/locking the vehicle.
-pre-heat/pre-cool cabin remotely via smartphone app
-include 360 degree camera options on both Traveler and Terra models.
-include Apple CarPlay/Android Auto as available options.
-heated/cooled/massaging seats
-excellent sound system with subwoofer
-flex-fuel capable for harvester electric/gas powertrain models
-include a drain plug in the front trunk for ice/beverages for camping/tailgating
-ensure the load capacity on both tailgate and suv tailgates can handle 2 adults sitting on them, say at least 500lbs.
-include an option for a plain-colored interior headliner fabric, I'm not a fan of the pattern shown on the reveal vehicle.
-allow an option for full-leather seats instead of the leather/fabric combination.
-include an option for at least hands-free driving if not both hands and eyes free driving.
-rain-sensing windshield wipers
-auto high/low headlight beams
-include 7 and 4 pin towing connections
-power sunshade on the glass roof option
-solid roof option for those that don't want either the retractable or glass roofs.
-allow Netflix, Amazon Prime, and others for playing tv shows and movies when parked.
-use Google maps
-have an option to use something like OnX for off-road trail maps
-matte black exterior color option
-matte black front and rear skid plate finish options
-relocate the household power outlets on the suv from the same area where the charge port is located to just inside the rear cargo area so that they are out of the weather in case it's raining.


Thank you for listening!

 

[konnorrclark]

Hi Scout engineers,

Below are some ideas for standard or optional features:

-add rear bumper corner built-in steps to allow access to stepping up into the truck bed, similar to the Chevrolet Silverado/Colorado.
-include a digital key option to use a smartphone as a passive key for entering/locking the vehicle.
-pre-heat/pre-cool cabin remotely via smartphone app
-include 360 degree camera options on both Traveler and Terra models.
-include Apple CarPlay/Android Auto as available options.
-heated/cooled/massaging seats
-excellent sound system with subwoofer
-flex-fuel capable for harvester electric/gas powertrain models
-include a drain plug in the front trunk for ice/beverages for camping/tailgating
-ensure the load capacity on both tailgate and suv tailgates can handle 2 adults sitting on them, say at least 500lbs.
-include an option for a plain-colored interior headliner fabric, I'm not a fan of the pattern shown on the reveal vehicle.
-allow an option for full-leather seats instead of the leather/fabric combination.
-include an option for at least hands-free driving if not both hands and eyes free driving.
-rain-sensing windshield wipers
-auto high/low headlight beams
-include 7 and 4 pin towing connections
-power sunshade on the glass roof option
-solid roof option for those that don't want either the retractable or glass roofs.
-allow Netflix, Amazon Prime, and others for playing tv shows and movies when parked.
-use Google maps
-have an option to use something like OnX for off-road trail maps
-matte black exterior color option
-matte black front and rear skid plate finish options
-relocate the household power outlets on the suv from the same area where the charge port is located to just inside the rear cargo area so that they are out of the weather in case it's raining.


Thank you for listening!

I really like a lot of these as options but I also feel like man will come standard. I just hope they are added in a way that doesn't raise the price or detract from offroad options. To me I would like this to be an off-road focused first vehicle like a Jeep or the old International Scouts and then add some bells and whistles. I hope they are individual options and not packages like I would love heated and cooled seats but have no desire for massaging seats. Not to say that applies to everyone but I would love it if everyone can build their own Scout. Great ideas for options!

 

[cyure]

I really like a lot of these as options but I also feel like man will come standard. I just hope they are added in a way that doesn't raise the price or detract from offroad options. To me I would like this to be an off-road focused first vehicle like a Jeep or the old International Scouts and then add some bells and whistles. I hope they are individual options and not packages like I would love heated and cooled seats but have no desire for massaging seats. Not to say that applies to everyone but I would love it if everyone can build their own Scout. Great ideas for options!

There’s nothing more annoying when building a car in the manufacturer website and you go to add a feature and a pop up appears that says in order to have this feature we have to remove this package you selected earlier or add a different package package full of stuff I don’t want to pay for. Ideally it would be awesome if we had a list of features to pick from and they weren’t dependent on each other.

 

[TaconicBear]

There’s nothing more annoying when building a car in the manufacturer website and you go to add a feature and a pop up appears that says in order to have this feature we have to remove this package you selected earlier or add a different package package full of stuff I don’t want to pay for. Ideally it would be awesome if we had a list of features to pick from and they weren’t dependent on each other.

Absolutely!!!! With today's technology, both on the ordering and specifying software side and on the automated parts delivery to the assembly line side, I hope the day of "packaging" has finally seen it's demise. Perhaps it will need to persist for those in the mass-market class of buyers, but for the Legacy Scouters, industrial and trades users, and true off-roaders the specification practice needs a window back to the 1960s where the purchaser 'sits with' a knowledgeable salesperson and specs the Scout to the tasks for which it is being purchased.

 

[cyure]

Absolutely!!!! With today's technology, both on the ordering and specifying software side and on the automated parts delivery to the assembly line side, I hope the day of "packaging" has finally seen it's demise. Perhaps it will need to persist for those in the mass-market class of buyers, but for the Legacy Scouters, industrial and trades users, and true off-roaders the specification practice needs a window back to the 1960s where the purchaser 'sits with' a knowledgeable salesperson and specs the Scout to the tasks for which it is being purchased.

That would be awesome when we are building our Scouts if we had "Scout Trailmasters" that could do a Zoom call with us to help go over our selections and answer any questions. That's a really good idea too!

 

[Dana]

I'll take a pass at the list presented above. Not to be argumentative, but to let the engineering team know that there are differences on some of these items;

-add rear bumper corner built-in steps to allow access to stepping up into the truck bed, similar to the Chevrolet Silverado/Colorado.
-include a digital key option to use a smartphone as a passive key for entering/locking the vehicle.
-pre-heat/pre-cool cabin remotely via smartphone app
-include 360 degree camera options on both Traveler and Terra models. This should also integrate with a security system, similar to Gear Guard on a Rivian, or Sentry Mode on a Tesla
-include Apple CarPlay/Android Auto as available options. There is no excuse to not feature Android Auto / CarPlay in a new vehicle.
-heated/cooled/massaging seats. I have these in one of the vehicles that I own. I also had heated seats in my '73 Saab 99. I have never used them.
-excellent sound system with subwoofer. As an option, OK. But please, this should not be a requirement. One man's "excellent" is another man's garbage. Also, a vehicle is not a sound studio. Save your money and invest in a home studio.
-flex-fuel capable for harvester electric/gas powertrain models
-include a drain plug in the front trunk for ice/beverages for camping/tailgating
-ensure the load capacity on both tailgate and suv tailgates can handle 2 adults sitting on them, say at least 500lbs.
-include an option for a plain-colored interior headliner fabric, I'm not a fan of the pattern shown on the reveal vehicle.
-allow an option for full-leather seats instead of the leather/fabric combination.
-include an option for at least hands-free driving if not both hands and eyes free driving. NO! Do not waste time on this! If you don't want to drive, hire a cab, or get a chauffer. Tesla has been promising FSD for over a decade, and what they have does not work.
-rain-sensing windshield wipers
-auto high/low headlight beams. As an option, OK, but I prefer to operate the vehicle and all of it's systems/displays myself.
-include 7 and 4 pin towing connections
-power sunshade on the glass roof option
-solid roof option for those that don't want either the retractable or glass roofs.
-allow Netflix, Amazon Prime, and others for playing tv shows and movies when parked.
-use Google maps
-have an option to use something like OnX for off-road trail maps
-matte black exterior color option
-matte black front and rear skid plate finish options
-relocate the household power outlets on the suv from the same area where the charge port is located to just inside the rear cargo area so that they are out of the weather in case it's raining.

And I'll add something that would give me a compelling reason to buy a Scout; Heads Up Display! It would be great to see your speed, and basic indicators (turn signals, warning lights, and - if possible - navigation instructions, projected on the inside of the windshield.

I know a lot of people like heads up displays but I find them distracting and annoying…but as long as I can turn it off I’m okay with you getting yours, lol. The low/high beam thing is interesting. I do love my current car but what annoys the crap out of me is that I have no way of manually keeping on high beams. It’s TOO auto. And when it sees reflective mile markers or a barn light in the distance it turns back to low. And then I have to hold the high beam button down with my thumb for thirty miles to better see wildlife. Or I can let the car turn high beams on and off with every mile marker like a damn disco ball rolling down the road.

 

[Dana]

Absolutely!!!! With today's technology, both on the ordering and specifying software side and on the automated parts delivery to the assembly line side, I hope the day of "packaging" has finally seen its demise. Perhaps it will need to persist for those in the mass-market class of buyers, but for the Legacy Scouters, industrial and trades users, and true off-roaders the specification practice needs a window back to the 1960s where the purchaser 'sits with' a knowledgeable salesperson and specs the Scout to the tasks for which it is being purchased.

It complicates Bills of Material to a crazy degree though. And manufacturing gets more complex when one machine has AC, embossed seat, satellite radio and the next has heated seats, no radio, etc, etc. You can end up with thousands of configurations. And predicting how many radio vs no radio options to buy parts for…times how ever many different options you have… while I would hope for some specification for large items I’m hoping the process adheres to the KISS principle to keep cost of manufacturing down. I’m kind of imagining there’s a Scout and when ordering you pick roof style, Harvester or no, wheel/tire size, and color. If there are three possible roofs, two possible charging styles, two possible tire sets, and six colors there are 72 configurations per vehicle type. Add two front seat types and you’re up to 144 configurations. But if everything else is the same and user can configure the settings of their Scout (I want auto wipers on and someone else wants manual). Once off the main line then it goes to the custom shop for its winch, air compressor, and other accessories to be installed, or, more likely maybe, installed at delivery center.

 

[Dana]

I’m curious about this because I’ve never seen this in use: you pump the brake to start the car? That seems wild! I mean, I guess closing the door to stop makes sense because it’s the last thing you do, and I suppose that’s nice because you don’t accidentally leave the engine running or drain the starter battery, but also seems unintuitive to everything a driver expects to do when done driving. What is the logic for this?


Oooh, agree with this. Have a Takeya water bottle and hate that it doesn’t fit in my cup holders.


Strongly agree.


Strongly disagree: car seats could be the things you suggest *and* fancy. If you are a person of middle age or will at some point be a person of middle age, you’re going to lose cartilage and/or possibly bone mass unless you are in some kind of amazing shape with stellar genes. That is the point at which you come to value things like massaging seats once your cartilage starts to go away and your bones are like “calcium, what’s that, your bones are now made of flour and Elmer’s glue.” Massage chair would be neat.

There isn’t a starter battery…there is a 12v for some accessory tasks but no starter battery. My car will guess whether I want to go forward to reverse. I just tap accelerator or, if car has guessed wrong, I swipe the left side of my screen (up or down depending on whether I want forward or reverse) and I see a little arrow go in desired direction. There’s nothing to start. Just press accelerator and go. There’s nothing to stop. Once you arrive you can either select park or if you open door car will auto select it.

 

[TaconicBear]

I know a lot of people like heads up displays but I find them distracting and annoying…but as long as I can turn it off I’m okay with you getting yours, lol. The low/high beam thing is interesting. I do love my current car but what annoys the crap out of me is that I have no way of manually keeping on high beams. It’s TOO auto. And when it sees reflective mile markers or a barn light in the distance it turns back to low. And then I have to hold the high beam button down with my thumb for thirty miles to better see wildlife. Or I can let the car turn high beams on and off with every mile marker like a damn disco ball rolling down the road.

If mine mirrored your experience with your current vehicle(s) I'd be either hacking it or trading it in. Fortunately, while my Toyotas can occasionally be tricked by the things you mention it is truly rare and almost always easily understandable. One annoyance is that they turn off the high beams when below about 15mph and when going around a tight corner. Fortunately I can flip the light stalk forward to force the highs on. Toyota's headlights have a very sharp upper edge which is nice to oncoming drivers, but is buried in the road just a few yards ahead on a steep uphill climb. I need the ability to force high beams on to see what wildlife are standing on my driveway. (Or more currently, to maintain momentum as I pick out a path between the snowdrifts, bare spots, and glare ice patches when I come home after dark.)

And on the other hand, I'll repeat a desire posted a year ago or more. Vehicles often make a very useful blind when observing wildlife. The plethora of LEDs inside every recent vehicle I've seen is annoying and detrimental to that use. On a night like last (-7ºF, -22ºC) I want a total blackout switch so I can have the truck running with the heat on but no glowing dash or inconvenient pilot/courtesy LEDs revealing my presence and movements to the critters I'm watching.

 

[J Alynn]

If mine mirrored your experience with your current vehicle(s) I'd be either hacking it or trading it in. Fortunately, while my Toyotas can occasionally be tricked by the things you mention it is truly rare and almost always easily understandable. One annoyance is that they turn off the high beams when below about 15mph and when going around a tight corner. Fortunately I can flip the light stalk forward to force the highs on. Toyota's headlights have a very sharp upper edge which is nice to oncoming drivers, but is buried in the road just a few yards ahead on a steep uphill climb. I need the ability to force high beams on to see what wildlife are standing on my driveway. (Or more currently, to maintain momentum as I pick out a path between the snowdrifts, bare spots, and glare ice patches when I come home after dark.)

And on the other hand, I'll repeat a desire posted a year ago or more. Vehicles often make a very useful blind when observing wildlife. The plethora of LEDs inside every recent vehicle I've seen is annoying and detrimental to that use. On a night like last (-7ºF, -22ºC) I want a total blackout switch so I can have the truck running with the heat on but no glowing dash or inconvenient pilot/courtesy LEDs revealing my presence and movements to the critters I'm watching.

That’s what the detox mode offers, based on the footage from the CES show

 

[Dana]

If mine mirrored your experience with your current vehicle(s) I'd be either hacking it or trading it in. Fortunately, while my Toyotas can occasionally be tricked by the things you mention it is truly rare and almost always easily understandable. One annoyance is that they turn off the high beams when below about 15mph and when going around a tight corner. Fortunately I can flip the light stalk forward to force the highs on. Toyota's headlights have a very sharp upper edge which is nice to oncoming drivers, but is buried in the road just a few yards ahead on a steep uphill climb. I need the ability to force high beams on to see what wildlife are standing on my driveway. (Or more currently, to maintain momentum as I pick out a path between the snowdrifts, bare spots, and glare ice patches when I come home after dark.)

And on the other hand, I'll repeat a desire posted a year ago or more. Vehicles often make a very useful blind when observing wildlife. The plethora of LEDs inside every recent vehicle I've seen is annoying and detrimental to that use. On a night like last (-7ºF, -22ºC) I want a total blackout switch so I can have the truck running with the heat on but no glowing dash or inconvenient pilot/courtesy LEDs revealing my presence and movements to the critters I'm watching.

We are in the same climate! North Dakota here…warmed up to 9F from our recent run of -20F, lol. I can adjust Lucy’s headlight placement…it’s a setting in the car- intended when a headlight is replaced I think but in your case you could adjust for your hill climb. The disco ball is my #1 complaint. Every other car OEM has had this figured out for decades…just not necessary to reinvent every single wheel.

 

[cyure]

It would be great if we could have back seats that recline some like the new 4Runners.

 

[J Alynn]

It would be great if we could have back seats that recline some like the new 4Runners.

There was definitely some early on discussions about this as well so hoping they heard our requests

 

[TaconicBear]

We are in the same climate! North Dakota here…warmed up to 9F from our recent run of -20F, lol. I can adjust Lucy’s headlight placement…it’s a setting in the car- intended when a headlight is replaced I think but in your case you could adjust for your hill climb. The disco ball is my #1 complaint. Every other car OEM has had this figured out for decades…just not necessary to reinvent every single wheel.

That headlight adjustment wheel on the dash does not allow the aim of the lights to be raised, only lowered. Its purpose is to compensate when a heavy load in the back of a pickup causes an imbalance which results in the headlights going higher and blinding on-coming drivers. Theoretically you can lower the aim of the lights back to approximate when the truck is "empty = level".

 

[dreamweaver]

There was definitely some early on discussions about this as well so hoping they heard our requests

I was thinking, what if we could slide the rear seats forward to fill the gap between the front and back seats? Then, we could recline the rear seats back flat. Of course, this might make it a bit tricky to lay the front bench flat if that becomes an option. What do you think?

 

[J Alynn]

I was thinking, what if we could slide the rear seats forward to fill the gap between the front and back seats? Then, we could recline the rear seats back flat. Of course, this might make it a bit tricky to lay the front bench flat if that becomes an option. What do you think?

I think based on seating heights versus floor height this would be nearly impossible to accomplish as far as height. I think something like Honda’s magic seat that folded completely flat is more ideal but maybe possible. I think the heights of the setbacks and gaps for leg room aren’t generally the same measurements due to ergonomics so I think a fully flat folding seat scenario from steering wheel to hatch would be touch to pull off. Would be awesome though if measurements work out

 

[TaconicBear]

I was thinking, what if we could slide the rear seats forward to fill the gap between the front and back seats? Then, we could recline the rear seats back flat. Of course, this might make it a bit tricky to lay the front bench flat if that becomes an option. What do you think?

Back in the 50s one model of the Nash (Rambler?) had the ability to fold all the seats back to become a giant mattress. The idea was that you could take it camping and sleep in it. I owned one briefly. They were lumpy and bumpy to the point most campers would have chosen the ground outside for real sleeping. My hunch is that their only real use was at certain drive-in theatres. A fanciful idea that likely died shortly after the first one left a dealer's showroom.
My pickup has a slight adjustment to the backs of the rear seats. It is hardly worth mentioning. And at what cost?
Early on we were led to believe that SM was developing the EV Scout as a relatively simpler, less expensive, yet fully functional SUV. My 60+ year old Scouts still get me where I need to go, and as we all know they are minimalistic in the extreme. Every one of these ideas just adds complexity and cost that I believe will detract from that promise.

 

[J Alynn]

Back in the 50s one model of the Nash (Rambler?) had the ability to fold all the seats back to become a giant mattress. The idea was that you could take it camping and sleep in it. I owned one briefly. They were lumpy and bumpy to the point most campers would have chosen the ground outside for real sleeping. My hunch is that their only real use was at certain drive-in theatres. A fanciful idea that likely died shortly after the first one left a dealer's showroom.
My pickup has a slight adjustment to the backs of the rear seats. It is hardly worth mentioning. And at what cost?
Early on we were led to believe that SM was developing the EV Scout as a relatively simpler, less expensive, yet fully functional SUV. My 60+ year old Scouts still get me where I need to go, and as we all know they are minimalistic in the extreme. Every one of these ideas just adds complexity and cost that I believe will detract from that promise.

They have said the Scouts are to be a multi-tool so if it’s simple enough to accomplish it may work for the larger groups wanting to camp. Inflating a small air mattress over top would solve the comfort concern but having a relatively flat deck from front to back would be huge for many buyers. Hard to say if possible but flat folding seats aren’t that complicated-just depends on proportions cooperating

 

[cyure]

They have said the Scouts are to be a multi-tool so if it’s simple enough to accomplish it may work for the larger groups wanting to camp. Inflating a small air mattress over top would solve the comfort concern but having a relatively flat deck from front to back would be huge for many buyers. Hard to say if possible but flat folding seats aren’t that complicated-just depends on proportions cooperating

As long as the back seats are more
Comfortable than the back seats of a Wrangler. My poor kids have been sitting back there and not complaining for years.

 

[Latrant]

Back in the 50s one model of the Nash (Rambler?) had the ability to fold all the seats back to become a giant mattress. The idea was that you could take it camping and sleep in it. I owned one briefly. They were lumpy and bumpy to the point most campers would have chosen the ground outside for real sleeping. My hunch is that their only real use was at certain drive-in theatres. A fanciful idea that likely died shortly after the first one left a dealer's showroom.
My pickup has a slight adjustment to the backs of the rear seats. It is hardly worth mentioning. And at what cost?
Early on we were led to believe that SM was developing the EV Scout as a relatively simpler, less expensive, yet fully functional SUV. My 60+ year old Scouts still get me where I need to go, and as we all know they are minimalistic in the extreme. Every one of these ideas just adds complexity and cost that I believe will detract from that promise.

There is a wide range of enthusiasts. Some do not want a minimalist design and I think SM has already demonstrated that's not where the traveler or terra are headed. I think to compete, they can't, for the majority of offerings. Having said that, the niche market that do want inexpensive, minimalist yet functional no one else has taken advantage of and SM has an opportunity to capture that in the US and elsewhere.