Scout Motors Mountainside. Scout Motors Scout Motors is looking to the future with the reveal of two striking concept vehicles that will be shown at a festival this weekend in Colorado. The Mountainside concept is glamping on wheels, and the trail-ready concept (no proper name, just more of the vibe) is Scout's vision for how a serious off-roader could take shape. These concepts are based on the Scout Traveler SUV and follow the Spirit of '26 concept revealed in July as Scout's celebration of America's 250th birthday. In automotive parlance, a concept vehicle previews the future direction a carmaker may take with its products. Advertisement Advertisement These concepts have helped generate buzz for Scout Motors, an electric and hybrid vehicle maker backed by Volkswagen, and keep Scout in the minds of consumers as it prepares to launch production of the Traveler and Scout Terra pickup truck next year in South Carolina. Scout trucks were originally built from 1960 to 1980 by the now defunct International Harvester Company. The originals are often considered classics and rank with Jeeps, Ford Broncos and Chevy/GMC trucks from that time period as collectibles. Let's break down these new concepts. The Scout Motors Mountainside Concept Scout Motors Mountainside The Mountainside wears a shade of paint called "Morning Dusk," which is a deep charcoal brown that emits golden flakes when the sun hits at the right angle. Advertisement Advertisement "We turned the dial toward something warmer, quieter and a little more refined," Scout described the Mountainside on the company blog. "Less rocky trailhead at sunrise, more cozy cabin at golden hour." Get up just before 7 o'clock in September as the seasons change, sip your coffee and watch the horizon. That's the look Scout is going for here. The silhouette is sleeker than Scout's rough-and-ready models, with no roof rack or spare tire. The 22-inch black wheels have brushed detailing. It creates a more luxurious look, like a Range Rover Sport, and Scout is sure to explore more upscale trims once its core product lineup reaches customers. The understated appearance gives way to an eye-catching interior, called the Alpine District. It has semi-aniline leather seats with gray plaid cloth, walnut trim stretching across the dashboard and houndstooth accents. The picture tells the story below. The Scout Motors Mountainside interior has walnut, leather and houndstooth. "Quiet luxury, at least around here, doesn't mean being afraid to touch anything," Scout said. "Leather, wood, metal: things that can age, change and hopefully look even better after a few years of use." Scout Motors Hits the Trail with Galvanized Steel Scout Motors trail-ready concept. Meanwhile, Scout also revealed the trail-ready concept, which aptly describes its demeanor. This trail beast wears a color called galvanized steel and has off-road bumpers, a winch, a trailer hitch, a roof rack and a jerry can. It all rides on 35-inch set in 18-inch satin black beadlock wheels, which creates a cool off-road profile. Inside is called the Denim District, which has a red and denim color scheme. Advertisement Advertisement "Our approach was to add function and utility, whether that means clearing an obstacle, protecting the body, carrying more gear, pulling yourself out, or towing something behind," Scout said. My Take on the Scout Motors Concepts The Scout Motors trail-ready concept Things are fairly quiet right now for Scout Motors, so cool concepts are a good way to re-engage the conversation. While the Spirit of '26 was a straight-up throwback with a nice story around the 1976 Olympics and the Bicentennial, the Mountainside and trail-ready show a path for Scout to grow its lineup and brand image. I mentioned Land Rover, but these vehicles also have Jeep and Rivian vibes, which is a good thing. Those brands have long connected with their enthusiasts and grown their customer bases with events-based marketing. The Scout Motors concepts will put the company front and center at a music festival in Snowmass, Colorado, where many attendees will be interested in Scout's outdoorsy character and hybrid and EV options. It also happens to be one of the wealthiest areas in the country, which isn't a bad spot for Scout to get a foothold. This article was originally published on Forbes.com
Liked by Mason Wilson, Chloé Morgan
Liked by Mason Wilson, Chloé Morgan
Liked by Mason Wilson, Chloé Morgan
