Hybrid bet pays off for rebooted 4x4 brand: 2026 BYD Shark 6, Rivian R1T, and Ford F150-rivalling 2027 Scout Terra with ambitious new hybrid tech builds unprecedented pre-orders ahead of release

Volkswagen Group’s rebooted Scout Motors has generated a massive amount of interest since it opened pre-orders in its North American launch market, garnering over 160,000 reservations.

This is according to a VW Group executive, who also said the brand’s greatest success was pivoting to range-extender hybrid technology. The hybrid versions of the Scout range made up 87 per cent of pre-orders.

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Volkswagen Group acquired the rights to the Scout name in 2021 and announced it would launch a new model line of rugged off-roaders, including the Terra American-style pick-up truck, and the Traveler SUV.

At 5821mm long, 2029mm wide, and 1974mm tall, the Scout Terra is firmly in the domain of American-sized pick-ups rather than dual-cab utes, looking to shake up the Detroit hegemony of the Ford F150, Ram 1500, and Chevrolet Silverado.

Scout has promised entry prices starting under the equivalent of A$85,000 at launch in the US, although the official arrival date has been pushed back until 2028 as the order banks build up.

Originally billed as an EV like the Rivian R1T, Volkswagen’s pivot to a range-extender-style hybrid system with dual electric motors on each axle and no mechanical connection between the engine and the wheels has clearly been well received based on the pre-order figures.

Details on this powertrain are yet to be revealed, although Volkswagen’s recent pivot to range-extender hardware for its Chinese line-up may give us a clue.

The brand recently launched its new flagship SUV in China, the ID.Era 9X, which also uses a range-extender hybrid powertrain. This consists of an updated version of VW Group’s long-serving EA211 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine. It produces 105kW, supporting a 51.1kWh battery pack and either a 220kW motor in the rear-wheel drive version, or dual electric motors in the all-wheel drive version with a combined output of 380kW.

Interestingly though, the Scout system looks to be even more powerful, with the brand claiming its dual electric motor set-up will have in excess of 1000Nm of torque, and its electrical architecture will be an 800-volt set-up. Combined range for the range-extender variants is plotted to be nearly 1000km.

As for Scout’s chances for an Australian launch? It’s possible, but likely not imminent. The brand’s local executives told Australian media in 2025 that the Scout brand would make a good fit for our market and its desire for hybrid 4x4s with body-on-frame construction.

However, with the amount of pre-orders for left-hand drive markets in the US and Canada, it is doubtful right-hand drive markets like Australia will be prioritised before the end of the decade.