Ineos Grenadier 4x4 offroader prototype revealed

KUALA LUMPUR: In 2017, one of the world's largest chemical producers, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, approached the Land Rover to purchase the rights of old Defender, but the automaker refused to sell. In turn, Ratcliffe created a new company, Ineos Automotive, and proved that a British billionaire could bring an all-new car to market. 

Today, Ineos revealed the first official look of new Grenadier - a rugged, hard-working, and utilitarian 4X4 vehicle for the world. The model gets its moniker from a London pub where Ratcliffe envisioned it for the first time.

Dirk Heilmann, INEOS Automotive's CEO, said, "We are delighted to be able to share the design of the Grenadier so early in the process. Most manufacturers would hold back, but we are a new business, building a new brand, and we want to take people with us on this exciting journey.

The design of Ineos Grenadier resembles the old Defender. It has a similar utilitarian design with a boxy shape. In the front, there is a prominent black bumper and two sets of circular headlights; the smaller ones are incorporated into the grille. The offroader also shows off a raised hood that tapers from bonnet to grille, an embossed logo on the side, a flared wheel arch, and hinges on the windshield.

Ineos' head of design, Toby Ecuyer, says that the team set out to design a modern, functional, and highly capable 4x4 vehicle with utility at its core. 

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Chairman of INEOS, said, "The Grenadier project started by identifying a gap in the market, abandoned by a number of manufacturers, for a utilitarian off-road vehicle. This gave us our engineering blueprint for a capable, durable, and reliable 4x4 built to handle the world's harshest environments. But it had to look the part as well. As you will see today, Toby and his team have done a great job in delivering a design that is both distinctive and purposeful."

At the moment, Ineos did not speak about the interior and engine specs of Grenadier. But plans to put the prototype for road-testing in all conditions, on the way to accumulate around 1.8 million test kilometres. And now, when the covers are off, we can clearly see the new Grenadier without camouflage wraps or fake panels on the road.

Also read: Land Rover Defender Hard Top commercial version revealed