During the glory days of the Old Republic scouts were considered brave and daring adventurers.  The Old Republic held scouts in high esteem funding their deep space exploration missions.   The peaceful Ithorians were among these brave scouts, seeking peaceful relations with new cultures.  The Ithorian Motors III Scout Ship was in it's fifteenth year of production at the time of the Battle of Naboo.  During the Rise of the Empire the Scout profession was frowned upon and Scout ship production dwindled.  

Ithorian Motors did not want to dismiss their prize ship.  A reliable craft that still fetched money on the second-hand market.  Instead the Ithorian Motors II was relabeled a Light Cruiser.  It's advanced sensor arrays used by scouts were scaled down with more luxuries added turning this ship into an affordable family model.

Special Features.

Before it's renaming as a Light Cruiser the Scout Ship was fitted with advanced sensor arrays and analysis computers.  Standard systems were incorporated into the later models.

The main feature of the ship is the living zone or garden.  Filled with plant life from the Ithorians home planet of Ithor.  The living zone is a large room with a domed transparent ceiling.  The ship owner has a choice of using the garden simply for pleasure or to grow crops during extended space journeys.