Ineos Grenadier: Born from a love of the classic LR Defender

Off-roading is a car culture that is deeply embedded within South African blood. Whether you have spent a week in the bush being ushered around on a custom safari Hilux, 4x4ing in your friend’s built-up Ford ranger or marvelled at the phenomenal capabilities of the machines at the recent Dakar.

I’m sure that the tempting thought of picking up a 90’s bakkie and hitting the dirt trail whilst travelling around our beautiful country has popped into your mind at some point. However, with an ever-growing motor industry focusing almost entirely on competing within the seemingly endless market of luxury SUVs, we are starting to see a massive gap in the market that was once filled by strong utilitarian vehicles.

With that said, there is a new brand that is promisingly making a name for itself within the 4x4 industry. A company that understands Africa is a continent that is driven by the tough off-roaders and the go-anywhere cars.

Introducing Ineos and their first automotive product, the Grenadier. Driven to build a robust and reliable 4x4, Ineos understands the growing lack of tough and tumble SUVs and plans on filling that increasing demand for simple, yet capable, 4x4s. Built within a former Mercedes-Benz SUV factory in Hambach, France, this British car is a promising 4x4 that has a lot of support from other massive luxury vehicle brands. With a BMW-sourced straight-six petrol or diesel engine, the car can be serviced by a selection of BMW workshops across sub-Saharan Africa including many locations around SA itself.

According to Ineos chair, Jim Ratcliffe, the drastic design change of the Land Rover Defender was disappointing. He then decided it was time to develop his own stripped-back utilitarian off-roader – a car that could keep up with his immense drive for adventure. A car that didn’t lack luxury but focused on raw off-roading capability.

He then made sure his company promoted aftermarket modification allowing his customers to customize their car from the factory to their heart's content, thanks to the versatile design of the Grenadier. What resulted was something best described as icy cool but also tough – an off-roader that will certainly catch the eye of Land Rover Defender enthusiasts.

The interior is uniquely stylish while it’s also functional. Buttons, switches, and dials litter the centre console and roof, with a mechanical feel and easy reach. Ineos ensured that the driver would be able to operate every centimetre of the vehicle while not needing to remove bulky winter gloves whilst exploring the snowy European regions.

At first glance, the lack of carpets is concerning but once you learn that the interior is hose-down-friendly, or in other words, completely waterproof it is quite ingenious. It even comes with removable plugs in the foot-wells to remove excess water. Pesky mud and dust will no longer become a chore to clean up. This unique interior feature doesn’t mean it’s as rudimentary as it comes, though. The infotainment system for one is quite feature-rich and about as functional as some systems in more luxury-oriented SUVs.

Notice it resembles the shape and style of the older Land Rover Defender? Well, Jim was a massive fan of the classic LR look and style. However, he wanted a comfortable tech-based car, which despite looking quite old-school, promotes adventurous driving without worrying about scratching the paint.

This car was designed for just that with its off-the-floor 4x4 capability. And for those familiar with the mysterious language of off-roading, the Grenadier has a ladder chassis design allowing for a seriously tough platform. The front end has a 35.1-degree approach angle, with the rear capable of clearing 36.1 degrees. It can wade through 258 mm, has three diffs and an 8-speed gearbox.

I believe that Ineos has a true 4x4 contender with is Grenadier with a machine that’s primed to fill that gap where once-strong utilitarian off-roaders ruled. And while it has big boots to fill, I was impressed with its immense capability and surprisingly pretty lines.

We look forward to seeing their final product around June.

Words: Jordan Schmidt

Images: Ineos