Sir Jim Radcliffe’s modern take on the classic Defender is certainly divisive, but is it feasible?
Context: You’re Britain’s richest man, who believes the modern Defender is nothing short of a show piece, a Chelsea Tractor with no heritage to Land Rover’s of yesteryear. Disappointed by the latest offering from the JLR brand, you decide you can do it better, and are inspired to create what you think should be the latest iteration of one of the most recognisable vehicles in British and global iconography.
The INEOS Grenadier – named after Sir Jim’s favourite local – is exactly that, built to go offroad, and truly utilitarian. There is no mistaking the inspiration for the Grenadier’s slab sides and 2-box style body, it is so close that Land Rover themselves thought they could fight this – they did, in court, and lost.
The exterior is a no-frills affair, with cheap plastic cladding and inoffensive paint work. This is a vehicle that is designed be used, broken and fixed. The idea of not using expensive materials on contact points is a welcome proposal – far too many manufacturers who claim an off-road premise use lucious paint, premium materials and offer no protection. What is the point in using glamorous substances on your vehicle when they are only going to get broken?
INEOS want you to use the Grenadier in areas that other cars would struggle, either because the risk of damaging them is financially crippling (looking at you, Mercedes G-Wagen) or because they simply can’t make it (looking at you, every single SUV) and that’s what is so fantastically brilliant about it.
Sure, the £49,000 (base, 2-seater commercial) asking price instantly condemns it from being used in the mud for the reasons listed above, I hear you say. But if you look at this as a long-term investment, it makes complete sense. Ineos expects this car to last for at least 10 years, because it will likely have a hard life when used commercially. With farmers favouring pickup’s, and in particular the Ford Ranger being among the top (at least here in rural Wales), how does the INEOS stack up?
As mentioned above, as an investment. The average farmer can kill a Ranger inside 5 years and they start from £24,750. So, if you hold on to your Grenadier for the expected 10 years, you’re ultimately paying the same amount – with arguably less hassle.
The rough and ready functionality of the exterior has been carried through to the interior. With big, analogue dials, both a manual transfer selector (for the Tremec-made transfer box) and handbrake (!) plus the auxiliary switches mounted on the roof – more on those later.
The inside is a true blend of digital and analogue, with the aforementioned dials/switches juxtaposing the 12.3″ touchscreen and rather familiar gear selector. The large, spaced out buttons make it easy to use whilst wearing gloves or covered in the end-product of grass from a cow, for example.
There are some luxuries to be had though, most notably the red leather on the steering wheel, handbrake and passenger grab handle. Optioned leather seats by Recaro make the cut in the higher spec Grenadier’s, and you can even ask for carpets to be fitted over the standard rubber flooring. Speaking of which, the floor has 6 drain hole points so you can really make use of the 800mm wading depth and evacuate the water as necessary. INEOS state that the car is waterproof up to the bottom of the centre-console, with all delicate electronics (such as the ECU) being hidden under the rear seats in a waterproof compartment.
Above the seating is the rather fighter jet-esque auxiliary switch panel. Up here you have your standard front and rear locking differential buttons, off road modes, ESC, interior lighting and pre-wired internal/external auxiliary switches.
If the standard LED lights aren’t emitting enough lumens for you, adding an aftermarket light bar that is the equivalent of a collapsing star in terms of light output has never been easier! Whilst a similar set up to what you would find in a Jeep Wrangler, the Grenadier has external points all over the vehicle, that link directly to these overhead switches. Move over, Tom Cruise.
What’s truly interesting about this car though, is what’s under the bonnet. Borrowed from BMW, the Grenadier can be had with either the B57 petrol, or B58 diesel. Both 3.0, both straight 6’s. The engines have not been tuned for outright performance, the petrol provides you with 283bhp and 450NM, the diesel at 248bhp and 550NM (at 1200rpm!), respectively. Both engines are hooked up to the familiar ZF 8-speed torque converter automatic.
If the standard offerings are not to your taste, however, INEOS has a rather extensive options list that would make even Porsche quiver. Items such as the 5.5 tonne capacity winch, snorkel, heavy duty bash plates, a camping stove, ladders, 400kg capable roof racks and so much more. Custom is the name of the game for this offroading brute!
Verdict?
Is the INEOS Grenadier a feasible vehicle that is worth spending your hard-earned on? As a lifestyle choice, maybe. But as a commercial workhorse, definitely – and with plans for a truck variant coming out soon (as well as a full EV platform), this might be a company to keep an eye on.
