It's About The Scout: Vibe Check
We’re coming to the end of the week. It’s time we get back in the hang of summing up what’s happened, shall we?
The big news is Volkswagen debuting its EV brand that revives an old nameplate. Oh, and one or two other things happened this week that are worthy of note. Without further ado, let’s jump right in.
1st Shift: 2027 Scout Pickup And SUV Electric 4x4s Are Revealed
International Harvester used to offer a fleet of trucks available to civilians. It was a natural rival to Jeep and Toyota’s Land Cruiser. The Scout in particular was built between 1960 and 1980 in two body styles, both of which return for this century.
Taking a less conventional route to electrification, both Scout models will offer body-on-frame construction with live rear axles to give the trucks greater off-road capability. Keeping with the theme, the center console in the front seat can be swapped out for a bench in a move that was once common in the twentieth century but mostly gone today. The old-school touches don’t end there, as the cabins promise versatility and functionality to include physical switchgear, swaying from the current trend of screen-heavy dashboards that instill every possible feature into the display. Access to certain controls lie on a bank of buttons underneath the center console screen.
Despite being EVs, there are no details yet on what kind of battery will be used to power the Scouts. However, the Traveler SUV is claimed to tow 7,000 pounds while the Terra pickup improves to 10,000. There is also a gas-fed range extender called ‘Harvester’ that ups the claimed range of 350 miles to more than 500 miles.
Finally, understanding the Scout brand better, the design itself doesn’t take a radical approach. To be honest, it might be misidentified as a Rivian when they hit the road in 2027. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it just means Scout plays it safe in its first attempt to win over buyers.
More details are sure to come out leading up to production’s start but so far, I’m liking what I see.
2nd Shift: 2026 Honda Passport Makes Early Impressions
We’re not straying too far from the off-road theme, with the 2026 Honda Passport giving journalists a preview of what it can pull off. The demonstration occurred in Moab, Utah, with multiple outlets able to get an early impression of what’s to come from Honda’s increasingly capable Trailsport models.
As you can see, the redesigned Passport dons camouflage to mask its full reveal though you can get a pretty good idea. Looking through the images, of which Motor1 provides plenty, you can see a lot of Ford Bronco Sport in the boxy design. However, we can only see the two massive displays inside to show off the new graphics for hitting the trails as well as new cameras to keep you on it.
Beyond that, it’s not expected to have a crazy powertrain. The V-6 engine should come from the bigger Pilot as well as a ten-speed auto. No mention of a hybrid here.
As for everything else, details are scarce. Still, the Trailsport paints a positive picture that you don’t need to settle for a bouncy Jeep as a sacrifice for your pining of adventure.
3rd Shift: Some Moron In Charge Of Tesla Digs Himself Deeper
Former Tesla hero and aspiring oligarch Elon Musk is facing new hurdles as theWall Street Journal has released a bombshell report that he’s been in contact with fellow oligarch Vladimir Putin since 2022.
If found to be true, it throws his credibility into question as a business leader, innovator, and onto a path of an ass-kisser whose moral compass is corrupt on behalf of his greed. Case in point, his diminished support for Ukraine and his unwillingness to activate the Starlink satellite internet service “as a favor to Chinese leader Xi Jinping.”
I have suspected he’s been a grade-A moron for quite some time, as soon as he pursued to buy Twitter, and then sued to complete the purchase, but this just about confirms it.
No Vibrater score here as politics will rarely be discussed at the dinner table.
Weekend Getaway: Try A Lincoln Nautilus
In light of those tenacious news, let’s end on a positive note. After last year’s controversy, Motor Trend has screwed its head on tight and awarded its annual trophy to an SUV that people have had a chance to drive, myself included.
The redesigned Lincoln Nautilus is catching waves on behalf of it looking less like a Lincoln and more like a spaceship. That translates to the interior as well, which sees a dashboard-length display, as well as a smaller center display that serves as the control screen.
To my surprise, it wasn’t distracting to use when I was lucky enough to try one. I think because of the way it was integrated into the dashboard rather than poking out in a flashy manner helped. At the same time, it delivered the typical Lincoln experience of riding on a cloud.
Ensuring its status as a modern car is an offering of gas and hybrid options to give younger people the power of choice, rather than cater to the older crowd. I mean, just because you Republi-can doesn’t mean you Republi-should, right?