MAX RANGE

[Bob Z]

Please provide a MAX RANGE (400 mile+) option with your launch edition.

 

[J Alynn]

Please provide a MAX RANGE (400 mile+) option with your launch edition.

I like the idea but that now adds $15K to the price which then puts the launch edition out of reach of the majority who want a basic, lower cost vehicle. That idea creates a real quandary. I’ll be curious what others think as I don’t think it’s a bad idea but I know I don’t need more than a low 300 range and would hate to have to pay all that additional money on top a a launch edition vehicle that will likely already carry a heavier price tag

 

[Bob Z]

I like the idea but that now adds $15K to the price which then puts the launch edition out of reach of the majority who want a basic, lower cost vehicle. That idea creates a real quandary. I’ll be curious what others think as I don’t think it’s a bad idea but I know I don’t need more than a low 300 range and would hate to have to pay all that additional money on top a a launch edition vehicle that will likely already carry a heavier price tag

Simple… offer three options in the launch…standard (200 mile), long (300 mile) & max (400 mile).

 

[J Alynn]

Simple… offer three options in the launch…standard (200 mile), long (300 mile) & max (400 mile).

Would agree but @Jamie@ScoutMotors has implied the launch model will be a “starter” model to kick off production in a simplified manner. If they can do it that would be great. It really is a matter of what battery tech they end up going with. Also hope the base range is more than 200 ?-but I get what you’re saying

 

[JohnnyScout]

I vote for minimum 300 mile range in the entry level. 450 upgraded with extra battery filling engine bay and 600 with a smallish genset under the hood. Fellow German company Magna Steyr is working on this for other companies

 

[Albal]

It’d be nice if the “launch edition” was actually the ability to cherry pick your options to create a one-of-a-kind configuration. I realize that goes against the common wisdom of minimizing variables at startup, but it would provide an excellent perk for those of us who have been the earliest supporters and “advisors”. For example, I’d like a utility interior combined with all the road trip and good ride options they might have (big battery, active suspension, acoustic glass).

 

[JohnnyScout]

A lot depends on of course pricing but also styling/design. It needs to look the part of an offroader if it is going to be one. If it looks too pretty it will look breakable

 

[J Alynn]

It’d be nice if the “launch edition” was actually the ability to cherry pick your options to create a one-of-a-kind configuration. I realize that goes against the common wisdom of minimizing variables at startup, but it would provide an excellent perk for those of us who have been the earliest supporters and “advisors”. For example, I’d like a utility interior combined with all the road trip and good ride options they might have (big battery, active suspension, acoustic glass).

I completely agree. I was just referencing a comment @Jamie@ScoutMotors had made about simplifying first run. I’d love to have some flexibility as well ?

 

[Mousehunter]

200 miles is a risky low range. I am sure your bean counters will look at the vehicles sold with this advertised range in the US. 300 miles at least gives you the expectation of a realistic 200 mile range. 450 might give you 350 - which is honestly a good point with today's batteries.

 

[Bodie]

For everyone clamoring for ridiculous 400-450 mile ranges, how much do you expect to pay? More miles = lots more $$$. Looking at a couple of similar, currently available vehicles, here's what you get:
F-150 Lightning
240 mi - contractor version - $63K to start
320 mi - 3 trims with starting prices from $68k-$85k

Rivian R1S (starting prices)
270 mi - $75k
315 mi - $78k
352 mi - $84k
400 mi - $94k

I do agree that 200 is not enough if electric only. I think 300 mi is sufficient and will still cost plenty. If a generator is an option (pretty please with sugar on top), 200-250 is plenty.

 

[J Alynn]

For everyone clamoring for ridiculous 400-450 mile ranges, how much do you expect to pay? More miles = lots more $$$. Looking at a couple of similar, currently available vehicles, here's what you get:
F-150 Lightning
240 mi - contractor version - $63K to start
320 mi - 3 trims with starting prices from $68k-$85k

Rivian R1S (starting prices)
270 mi - $75k
315 mi - $78k
352 mi - $84k
400 mi - $94k

I do agree that 200 is not enough if electric only. I think 300 mi is sufficient and will still cost plenty. If a generator is an option (pretty please with sugar on top), 200-250 is plenty.

I agree but having base battery setup have a 3 in the front of range would help ease a lot of minds. Like selling homes or products ending in .99. Even if range is 310 sounds/feels better than 290. Will be curious to see where Sm thinks basic range should be

 

[mattbrew]

I agree but having base battery setup have a 3 in the front of range would help ease a lot of minds. Like selling homes or products ending in .99. Even if range is 310 sounds/feels better than 290. Will be curious to see where Sm thinks basic range should be

For me, it will come down to price and range. If the Tesla model Y long range were a truck I would buy it.

 

[J. Sweat]

For me, it will come down to price and range. If the Tesla model Y long range were a truck I would buy it.

So you’re saying the cybertruck is too expensive? I think a lot of folks will be disappointed when they see the sticker on the new Scout.

 

[R1TVT]

More range does = more $$$ but also more weight, which can have impacts off-road too... I would expect to see lower weights and more range with new battery tech and we may see some of that in 2026.

350 miles would be pretty amazing in my opinion (based on 30K miles with up to 300 miles of range in my R1T).. The ONLY time I have ever wished for more range was when in unfamiliar territory on LONG road trips with sparse super charger networks... Other than that the extra miles don;t really matter that much because you usually also want to be efficient on charging stops (charging from 20% SOC to 80% SOC on the road)...

 

[mattbrew]

So you’re saying the cybertruck is too expensive? I think a lot of folks will be disappointed when they see the sticker on the new Scout.

Yes. When the Cybertruck was supposed to be $40,000 and 250 miles of range it certainly would have caused the competition major problems. But Tesla had millions of preorders so they made a business decision to raise the price $20k and not even offer the base model. It will take Tesla years to fill preorders so you can’t blame them but at the same time many people can’t or won’t spend that much. ( regardless of weather you like the Cybertruck or not).

 

[JohnnyScout]

Instead of buying Scout batteries from parent VW at $8700 for 62 kW, they could. Buy. 70. KW MachE batteries from Ford for $6800 according to one site listing listing battery. Costs

 

[JohnnyScout]

Yes. When the Cybertruck was supposed to be $40,000 and 250 miles of range it certainly would have caused the competition major problems. But Tesla had millions of preorders so they made a business decision to raise the price $20k and not even offer the base model. It will take Tesla years to fill preorders so you can’t blame them but at the same time many people can’t or won’t spend that much. ( regardless of weather you like the Cybertruck or not).

Well the 2026 Rivian R2 suv is supposed to start at $45k and 300 mile range. And with at least one prototype viewable they might get my $100 reservation. Although at 45k it is probably 2wd.

Scout Motors : we need to see a preproduction vehicle in the flesh and pricing to match Rivian.

 

[Mousehunter]

While probably NOT an economic or even a technologically possible solution - a modular battery could be interesting. Imagine if a person could get in the door with a 200 mile range battery. They realize they #$%^^#ed up, they could add another 100 mile module or 2.

Or on a different note, imagine they get the chemistry offered today, but in 2-3 years the tech changes, perhaps they could ditch the initial module entirely (for a fantasy, they could use them for a home backup battery, and get solid state when it comes out. If the modules could be used as a home backup battery, they would have a decent secondary market (the 200 range module could have a secondary market when you realized you really should have gotten the 300 range module). Ok, VW is not a Solar company - but that would allow an easy resell when the batteries need to be changed and would probably be easier than having a modular battery. As it is, it is easier to re-engine a car than change the batteries of an EV (or at least cheaper).

Not doing it however is probably in the best interest of the car company - replacing the car is more profitable to them than upgrading the battery. That said, I am sure replacing the car is probably not in the best interest of the car owner - it just puts more downward pressure on the resale market.

Still, I am probably that one idiot - I did replace a fairly new Jeep with another (same style, same color) primarily to get a different engine (that and proximity entry - why in the blue #$%#$ did a Rubicon come without that feature, and why did the sales staff hide the fact intentionally. Within 3hrs of purchase we realized we had messed up - and at the time it was not a retrofit option). It took a week or 2 to find out that the retrofit was not possible at the time - so 2 weeks into ownership, I already knew it would be a temporary vehicle - I just wanted to wait till I could test drive the upcoming diesel. Thanks to Jeep hating diesels, that took almost 3 years.

While I hate pay to play options - where the car comes with the hardware, but you need to pay to unlock it. It is nice to try out hardware and upgrade when you make mistakes on your purchase. I would have paid $500 in a heartbeat to get my doors to unlock. In all honestly, I would have moaned and groaned - but I would have paid $2k.

 

[Derek]

For everyone clamoring for ridiculous 400-450 mile ranges, how much do you expect to pay? More miles = lots more $$$. Looking at a couple of similar, currently available vehicles, here's what you get:
F-150 Lightning
240 mi - contractor version - $63K to start
320 mi - 3 trims with starting prices from $68k-$85k

Rivian R1S (starting prices)
270 mi - $75k
315 mi - $78k
352 mi - $84k
400 mi - $94k

I do agree that 200 is not enough if electric only. I think 300 mi is sufficient and will still cost plenty. If a generator is an option (pretty please with sugar on top), 200-250 is plenty.

Agreed, I like the EV only play, but if it had something like the BMW REX as an option (this is a 600CC generator with a small tank that can supplement the range with a tiny gas tank), it would really help alleviate a lot of concerns.

 

[Cranky Canuck]

Anything over 500 km range is gravy. Not interested in any backup power source or other nonsense. My battery wishlist is to have around 500 km of range, LFP battery chemistry, 800V architecture, and 250+ kW fast-charge speeds. A vehicle to X capability would also be appreciated.

I know these specs are totally doable for SM so it's just a matter of how affordably it can be done. LFP batteries are cheaper than NCM so that should help a lot. Plus LFP are more robust and take abuse much better which is what I would expect from a rugged vehicle like a Scout.

As far as I'm concerned the vehicle IS a generator so I have no interest in any fossil-based supplementary power source. Quite the opposite in fact. I expect to use the truck as a replacement for a gas generator out in the bush and there's no need for so-called "range extenders". They're more trouble than they're worth.

I'm looking forward to hearing what the specs will be!