What do classic Land Rover Defender, Toyota Land Cruiser, and Willys Jeep 4×4 SUVs and trucks have in common? They are all an inspiration to a new 4×4 company – INEOS Automotive and their upcoming Grenadier 4WD.
INEOS is a privately held multinational corporation specializing in chemicals. It claims to be one of the largest, if not the largest, chemicals companies in the world when measured by annual revenue (around $60 billion per year).
INEOS Automotive came into existence in February of 2017 with a mission to create a simple yet highly capable off-road 4×4 vehicle that can be used every day. It is meant to be a spiritual successor to the Land Rover Defender (L316) in style and function.
The parent company INEOS vowed to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in the development and production of such a vehicle.
INEOS Grenadier
Grenadier has not officially revealed their final design yet, but some information and specifications are already available.
The company is focusing their initial design on a body-on-frame 4×4 SUV. It will have a ladder frame and solid axles. The body will be very classically boxy and made out of aluminum.
The Grenadier is meant to be the “most capable off-road SUV”, as such the company says it will have three locking differentials (front, center, and rear), including a low range transfer case.
The goal is to have some of the best-in-class ground clearance, approach/breakover/departure angles.
INEOS Automotive secured a partnership with BMW as the sole provider of turbocharged straight-six gas and diesel engines.
The 3.0-liter I6 turbocharged gas engine is meant for the United States market. It may produces close to 335 hp and 330 lb-ft of torque, but INEOS has not specified the final power numbers. The company says that the engine will be mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission and be specifically tuned for off-road use.
- SUV wheelbase: estimated 112 – 118 inches*
- SUV payload: approximately 2,200 lbs
- SUV max towing: approximately 7,700 lbs
The wheelbase estimates are based on the current wheelbases of the Ford Everest and Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (4-Door) SUVs.
The company has plans to produce between 25,000 – 30,000 Grenadier vehicles per year, with production starting in 2021.
The vehicles will be produced in a “bespoke new manufacturing facility on a greenfield site in Bridgend, South Wales, UK.” It is said to create 500 new jobs there. It is a big part of a total $740+ million investment to make the Grenadier a reality.
Grenadier pricing has not yet been announced, but it will have to compete against the likes of the 2020 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon, new 2020 Land Rover Defender, upcoming 2021 Ford Bronco, and others.
TFLtruck estimates a starting price for a Grenadier 4×4 should be close to $45,000 and go up from there with options. This would make is competitive against a starting price of a 2020 Wrangler 4-Door Rubicon, which is currently $43,485.
INEOS is planning on producing a long wheelbase version of the Grenadier with a pickup truck body and bed. Speaking of which, here is a TFLtruck video review – featuring a 2020 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon.
