Tommy takes a deep dive with Greg Clark, Executive Vice President for Ineos North America.
The Ineos Grenadier may look like a classic Land Rover Defender, but it’s not.
Think of it as a clean-sheet, serious 4×4 design that puts rugged capability above aesthetics and creature comforts. This is not a frame-up restoration, bespoke/boutique Land Rover like E.C.D. (East Coast Defender). The Grenadier was built for oil fields, emergency services, off-road adventure and day-to-day use.
Back in 2017, the idea began among a few friends, in a pub.
Financially backed by a petrochemical company, Ineos purchased Mercedes’ Hambach manufacturing facility at the border of Germany and France. Currently, that plant builds Smart cars, and will build the Grenadier. On top of that, Ineos builds components that Mercedes-Benz uses. So, they are not unfamiliar with production. They partner with automotive/industrial giants like Magna Steyr, Eibach, Recarro and more.
The Ineos Grenadier has a lot of BMW DNA
Sourced directly from BMW, the turbocharged 3.0-liter I6 has its own unique tune. So does the ZF-built eight-speed automatic transmission. While Ineos could not provide power numbers yet, the VP did mention that the engine makes less horsepower, but more torque than the equivalent BMW X5. That should, at least in theory, contribute to the Ineos’ markedly better off-road ability.
Set up for off-roading out of the box, the Ineos Grenadier has at least 35 degrees of approach angle, more than 10-inches of ground clearance and off-road capable tires. It also comes standard with a center locker, along with optional electric lockers available for front and rear. Equipped with solid axles, and coil springs, the VP stressed it was built for maximum articulation off-road.
Apple Carplay, Android Auto come with a beefy infotainment center, which was proprietary to the Grenadier. The functional interior looks luxurious. It will tow about 7,700 pounds.
Pricing and deliveries
Reports state that Ineos is aiming at a £48,000 (about $65,000 USD) base price, with a two-passenger, stripped out version. The U.S. market will only get the passenger version, and prices are expected to be over $70,000. Some outlets state that a well featured model will run closer to $85,000. These prices have not been validated by Ineos yet.
As for European, Australian and African customers, they should (if all goes well) get their first Grenadiers in August or September of 2022. Ineos is going through the lengthy process of federalizing the Grenadier for the U.S. market, and the company projects it will be available here in summer 2023.
There is a LOT more information that Tommy got from the conversation in this video — check it out below:
