Ineos Grenadier: The Origins
When Land Rover ended production of the original Defender in 2016, more than two million of these rugged utility vehicles had been sold. Many remain on the roads today. With the advent of resto-mod trends that restore classic SUVs, one must ponder: Does the world need another go-anywhere, do-anything utility vehicle? According to Jim Ratcliffe, an English former chemical engineer who founded the U.K.-based petrochemical giant Ineos, the answer is yes.
Ratcliffe, familiar with the allure of the original Land Rover Defender from his travels in places like Africa and Iceland, was disappointed by the end of this iconic off-roader’s production. He even offered to buy the tooling from Jaguar Land Rover to continue its legacy. After being turned down, Ratcliffe assembled a team of designers and engineers to create a tribute to the Defender, leading to the conceptualization of the all-new Ineos Grenadier. The model name is inspired by The Grenadier, a posh London pub where Ratcliffe first envisioned this vehicle, which aims to reach customers in 2021.
Ineos Grenadier: Form over Function
The Ineos Grenadier is designed as a straightforward utility vehicle, equipped with a rugged steel ladder frame and beam axle suspension, reminiscent of the original Defender. The boxy profile, twin circular headlights, and front grille with vertical bars signal its Defender heritage so clearly that Jaguar Land Rover’s legal team attempted to block its production. Fortunately, a court in England dismissed these concerns, allowing the Grenadier’s exterior design to be locked in and finally unveiled after months of speculation.
Despite the visual similarities, designer Toby Ecuyer emphasizes that the Grenadier’s chassis and body parts hold little interchangeability with the Land Rover classic. Ecuyer has incorporated practical features such as integrated roof bars that eliminate the need for external racks, making it easy to transport loads securely. The asymmetrical rear doors allow for efficient access to the cargo space while accommodating larger items, such as pallets.
“The Grenadier is built on purpose,” states Ecuyer. “Function over form. If it hasn’t got a function, it shouldn’t be part of the form.” With a background in luxury yacht design, Ecuyer took inspiration from the functional beauty of various off-road vehicles during the design process.
Ineos Grenadier: Rugged Body with BMW Power
This new utility vehicle is engineered to be as tough as it appears. The front fenders can withstand weight, while a utility rail surrounds the cabin for attaching accessories or securing gear. Wiring for auxiliary lights is pre-installed, providing convenient access points on the roof. Although the interior design is in progress, much of the switchgear will be sourced from BMW’s parts bin, tailored for the Grenadier’s specifications.
Moreover, Ineos promotes an “open source” design philosophy for the Grenadier. While the company will offer proprietary accessories, it plans to share specifications with third-party designers to create customized add-ons.
Power comes from BMW’s 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine, paired with a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. Currently, no manual option is anticipated, as Ineos believes most customers will prefer the automatic. A mechanical center differential is standard, with locking functionality as an option. The axles, designed for robustness, are sourced from a European tractor supplier. While the Grenadier features a premium powertrain, its price is expected to remain competitive. Contrary to Land Rover’s new Defender, which begins around $50,000, the Grenadier aims for a target price closer to the Jeep Wrangler’s approximate $30,000 base when it hits the market in 2021, with production planned near Ford’s soon-to-close Bridgend engine plant in Wales.
Ineos Grenadier: Production and Future Plans
Ineos aims to sell the Grenadier globally, targeting a production volume of 25,000 units annually, which means consumers in the United States should have the opportunity to purchase one. Ineos is exploring sales and maintenance strategies that may align with Tesla’s direct-to-consumer model in various U.S. states. The company is focusing on diverse potential buyers, including off-road enthusiasts, fleet operators, and agriculture sectors. While the initial launch will feature a four-door SUV, there are plans for additional variants, such as a four-door pickup truck, responding to the growing upscale four-door truck market in Europe.
While it’s intended as a utilitarian SUV, representatives from Ineos expect the Grenadier to function well as an everyday vehicle, providing sufficient comfort for urban use. Magna Steyr is partnering with Ineos to assist in vehicle development. Over the next year, the Ineos team will accumulate approximately 1.1 million testing miles on the Grenadier, ensuring compliance with safety standards as mandated for all new vehicles, a requirement pivotal in the original Defender’s demise.
Therefore, one must ask: Does the world need another capable off-road vehicle? Ineos believes it does and is investing nearly $1 billion to bring the Grenadier to market. Enthusiasts eagerly anticipate seeing the final production version of this vehicle.
