Ineos Grenadier: Modern answer to Land Rover Defender on sale next year

Ineos Automotive – the newly-formed automotive making subsidiary of chemical-producing large Ineos – has unveiled its Grenadier off-roader and confirmed technical particulars and Australian timing.

The Ineos Grenadier will are available each lengthy and quick wheelbase choices, with wagon and utility physique types. A double-cab ute physique can even be constructed, with all variants to be made obtainable for the Australian market. Wagon-bodied Grenadiers will go on sale first, with ute our bodies to comply with.

No date has been set for an Australian launch, although at this stage it may very well be late 2021 or early 2022.

Ineos Automotive industrial director Mark Tennant instructed CarAdvice: “We’re going to (launch in) Europe first within the back-end of 2021 after which (come) to Australia fairly rapidly after that.”

The Grenadier will likely be in-built Wales on a bespoke ladder body chassis and suspension designed by Austrian agency Magna Steyr (the identical firm that manufactures the Mercedes-Benz G-Class).

The Grenadier’s suspension utilises progessive coil springs and a panhard rod with Carrara-sourced stay axles entrance and rear. The metal body building makes use of aluminium doorways, bonnet and fenders – very similar to the unique Land Rover Defender.

A ‘utility rail’ for mounting equipment runs alongside the aspect of the automobile, with the intention to be as common as attainable (together with for present, aftermarket tools).

“We’re going to have a whole lot of equipment however we’ve additionally acquired fairly an open-source view of the world by way of present kits that people who find themselves new to Grenadier might have of their storage already,” Mr Tennant instructed CarAdvice.

Flat-topped guards above the entrance wheels have been used to create a “workbench” floor, with nylon rails fitted to the roof that may act as roof racks (nevertheless a devoted roof rack system can nonetheless be fitted). A cut up rear door permits entry to the rear of the automobile in tight areas.

The Grenadier will likely be powered by BMW-sourced ‘B57’ diesel and ‘B58’ petrol engines – each configured as turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder models.

Whereas precise efficiency figures stay secret, point out of the engines’ software within the BMW X5 SUV suggests the Grenadier might see the 250kW/450-500Nm ‘B58B30M1’ engine for petrol variations, and the 195kW/620Nm B57D30O0 single turbo or 294kW/760Nm B57D30S0 quad turbo variant for diesel functions – as all function within the X5.

Nonetheless, the engines are unlikely to retain the identical outputs they do in BMW functions, with tuning to be specified to be used within the Grenadier:

“We’re within the strategy of refining … most torque output on the lowest attainable RPM and sustaining that versus out-and-out energy,” Mr Tennant instructed CarAdvice. “(It’s) too early to be particular on figures, however will probably be our tune.”

A ZF-sourced automated transmission will likely be supplied for each engines. The variety of drive gears and the configuration of the transmission has not been disclosed, nevertheless it’s probably a torque-converter setup will likely be used given the Grenadier’s off-roading aspirations.

A everlasting all-wheel-drive system with a mechanical centre differential (with mechanical locking) can also be outfitted. Ineos claims the Grenadier could have a 3500kg towing capability.

Australian pricing stays unconfirmed. Mr Tennant acknowledged the Grenadier can’t compete on value with Thailand-built utes – such because the Australian-delivered Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger, Mazda BT-50 and Isuzu D-MAX – and hinted it might price related cash to top-end utes such because the Ford Ranger Raptor, which prices about $80,000 drive-away.

Ineos claims the Grenadier will include “all security options you possibly can think about” – and says the automobile will meet Australian, European and US requirements – nevertheless the corporate didn’t affirm which security methods could be included.

Whereas pictures and particulars of the Grenadier’s inside haven’t been revealed, Ineos says the Grenadier will likely be comfy and never make homeowners “undergo for the privilege of getting a utilitarian automobile”.

Ineos says it’s on-track with an preliminary €1 billion (AU$1.63 billion) funds for the Grenadier venture, nevertheless the corporate notes this quantity contains growth of the off-roader in addition to constructing the framework for Ineos Automotive as a producer and distributor of automobiles.

The model’s distribution and servicing mannequin for Australia and New Zealand is predicted to be finalised and introduced within the coming weeks.

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