Will the Scout be cool again?

[SarahD]

Volkswagen plans to sell an EV based on the old International Harvester Scout, a small, underpowered forerunner of today's SUVs. I had an IH pickup truck and it was junk. The Scout was so uncool it was cool, like one of those snaggle tooth dogs that's so ugly it's cute. Going to be difficult recreating that feeling.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/17/cars/vw-scout-american-electric-suvs/index.html

[MichMan]

1. It isn't based on the old International Scout

It's a completely new EV with a Scout name and some old Scout design styling elements

[SarahD]

2. I saw some pictures.

Just some concept stuff, I think. So it's like the Veyron says Bugatti on the front but is not a Bugatti in any way. I wonder why they bothered with the Scout name. I guess they have marketing people to think about that stuff.

[Mopar151]

5. Volkswagen bought International Harvester's parent, Navistar, a couple years ago.

VW is basing their "Scout" brand on the culture and reputation of the original. My uncle was an IH dealer, who sold a lot of Scouts and pickups, and a few Travelalls. His mainstay was/is (my cousin bought the business) "town trucks", the snowplow & dump trucks that are ubiquitous hereabouts.
People, for the most part, did'nt drive Scouts because they were "cool", stylish, or smooth riding! Snow plowing, rural mail routes, forestry, and farm work was their jam.
The Scout, and Ford's "Bronco", were more than a restyled Jeep. Their axles and transmissions came from 1/2 ton trucks, and the frames were stouter. Posi-track and "Detroit locker" differentials were readily available, and beloved by many. ("Look for that All Wheel Drive badge...&quot The "Scout" frame was mandrel bent rectangular tube, and the rails found their way under a lot of dirt track racers.

?si=6mEqunxY0kJz39Sg

[Auggie]

3. Why don't they just offer a no frills well-built low cost compact?

Something that might sell, you know, millions ...

[SarahD]

4. I guess people don't want them.

They need zero to sixty in four or less, sixteen speaker sound system, automatic wipers. That would be windshield wipers and butt wipers. A friend has a black Super Beetle from the early 1970s. It just sits in her yard, decaying. I keep telling her she should sell it to someone who will restore it, before it's too late.

[Auggie]

6. Still wish I had my bug

I wouldn't want to drive it across the country but it was great for local trips. Even freeway driving from San Francisco to San Jose.

AM radio only. No power steering, power brakes, power windows, automatic transmission or air conditioning.

[MichMan]

7. It fails to meet any safety or emissions standards introduced in the last 40 years

[Auggie]

8. No, no, no, no ...

a NEW version with the required safety and emissions standards, but without the frills of the last Beetle.

[Mopar151]

9. Would that it was so simple....

By the time you make it crash test at a modern standard, you'll have added several hundred pounds, and have triple the number of parts,p!us 2 computers.
The aircooled, 40 hp masterpiece of engineering cannot meet emissions standards, and, compared to VW's current engines, is bog slow with poor mileage.
My family has owned VW'S since 1956, Mom and sister have Jettas. My friends have raced them, Dad built a homemade buggy from our '60 Bug.

[Kennah]

11. I'm going to echo what I think Auggie is saying

Use the style and simplicity of the old VW bug to build a new VW bug.

PHEV and EV variants [my preferences], manual transmission, manual windows, manual locks, AC as an option, modern safety and engineering.

[Mopar151]

12. Wishing does'nt make it so.

It's not the "frills" that cost big money! If you want that "5 star safety rating", gotta have multiple airbags, and a lot of planned "crush" in the structure. The old "Bug" is pretty good on structure, especially compared to it's peers (If you rolled one into snow, it might not break a window, and the doors could still work!), but it's not up to modern standards for frontal impact (especially the interior). If you're going to make it electric, where does the battery mount? What will the battery weigh?
I spent enough of my (NH) childhood shivering in the "Heat" of aircooled VW's to know that that they don't defrost worth a shit, and idling the engine won't warm up the interior significantly.
The "modern engineering" of the powertrain, to make a significantly heavier "bug" able to keep up with freeway trafffic, will not be cheap, simple, or aircooled. A "40 horse" "bug" (60-66) tops out at 65 mph. My friends liken the current "micro trucks" to an old "beetle", in terms of acceleration and ability to stay with traffic. Their buddy who sells "micros", states: "I will not sell you one for a first car! In fact, I hate to sell them to anyone under 25, or for primary transportation, due to their limited performance".
Sorry to bust a bubble.....

[Kennah]

13. Aim for competing with the Toyota Corolla Hybrid

Front engine, front drive, something around 1.8L to 2.0L

[Mopar151]

10. Rugged off-road Scout

https://youtube.com/shorts/MX02Zpuvpic?si=hvOiBBvackeb53qj