I agree that electric drive would be superior to gas for off-road use in some ways. Electric offers full torque from zero RPM, and usually a massive amount of it, too. Should make inching up a rock very easy, with no need to goose the gas to get into the power band. Add in all the usual electronic smarts, and maybe it will be too easy. Electric cars are also very efficient at low speeds, unlike gas cars. But of course range anxiety almost kills the deal anyway.

This does look an awful lot like a reskinned, badge-engineered Rivian, and that would be my guess too. But 2027? That's a long way off, making this a functional (?) show car rather than a prototype of the real deal. And I have doubts about a lot of the claims. First of all, there's simply no way this will be a $50k car. It's far more likely to be in the 80-100k+ range. And moving to solid rear axle? That's a big maybe, too. I do like the 35" tires, though it's far from clear those will survive to the production model. Haha, the all-wrong-as-usual big alloys likely will, of course. And I wonder if the front "skid plate" won't wind up being plastic, too.

Anyway, I have no nostalgia for "Scout," but then again the Defender's name (which I do have nostalgia for) is almost the only connection to its past, too. Bottom line: It's interesting, but check back in 2027 ... if Rivian survives that long.

 

they are supposedly designed internally and not with Rivian, led by the same team that made the VW Touareg.

I wouldn't be surprised though if software bits and pieces will be from the Rivian deal.

The longer JLR sits on whatever they are doing on the BEV side makes me worried. They should start talking more about it IMO. And not just the upcoming $$$ FFRR; with little teases here and there.

 

If 60k is in my budget again in a couple of years one of these will definitely make my top five possibilities. Smart move on their part to go with the hybrid right from the start instead of the full EV crap. If JLR had been more hybrid-focused like Toyota has been (I mean hell you can even get a hybrid Sienna) they wouldn't have to be killing off Jags and commit to full electric with the line. What's even more maddening is when JLR essentially said they pretty much aren't interested in the customer who isn't willing to pay 150k for a Jag anymore. Does not bode well for them IMO and the scout will not bode well for the Defender at the price point. Speculation on my part but I see the Defender's lustre waning a bit by the time this launches in several years... it was certainly worthy of the attention it received in 2020 though.

 

I put down the refundable $100 deposit. If they never produce a car, or if I don’t like what they make, chances are VW will still be around to give me my money back. By 2027 (2028 if production slips?) I’ll be ready to replace my 2023 110.

It’s not a rebadged Rivian. It’s a body on frame design. Speculation among the YouTube commentators is that Rivian contributed the software, which makes sense.

It’s substantially bigger than the 110. Not as tall, but longer and wider. I don’t need bigger; that was a little surprising.

If they can deliver the range extender version with 150 miles of battery range and 500 using the gas generator, that fits my use case. Pure electric for my commute and errands; enough range for legit off-road adventures. And maybe lighter than a pure EV, trading a lot of battery for a small gas engine. We’ll see.

I hope they pull it off.

 

I agree, JLR is wrong with their Jaguar strategy. It is already costing them a lot of lost sales. I wonder how long will Jaguar last. Going hybrid with plug in tech is the way to go for now as long as battery tech is still what it is. Just my 2 cents worth...

 

 

Impressive specs on the new Scout. This will definitely be a game changer and I am sure LR is watching this developing new entrant.

 

i’ve seen many rivians off road actually, and the argument of ‘look how many {brand here} owners use their vehicles off-road’ isn’t that strong especially in the context of Defender ownership.

 

what's the towing range?

 

I don't believe that Scout will have a big impact on JLR.
Outside the U.S., Scout was never a big name and JLR sells close to 80 percent of its vehicles outside the U.S..