Ineos isn’t hiding the Grenadier, refusing to wrap its prototypes in camouflage or hiding testing away in secret locations, and now it’s let CALIBRE get up close and personal with a near-production ready model and its interior to see what all the fuss is about.
Ineos Grenadier: What Is It?
The brainchild of billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, like most good ideas, the new vehicle was conceived in the Grenadier pub in Belgravia, London. Seen by many as a direct replacement for the much loved Land Rover Defender, the Ineos eschews the trend for homogenised me-too SUVs and embraces a no-nonsense, everything for a reason, approach to rugged off-road motoring.
Ineos Grenadier: Exterior
What the Grenadier looks like is no secret. Ineos has been trundling around Austria, Sweden and the UK without any disguise in place, and has been more than happy to share an image or two of its first model.
However, while the sharp-edged look harks back to the classic Defender, it’s rather more distinctive in the metal. There’s a much more rounded look to the design, with a curved bonnet sitting atop an engine bay that’s been chamfered off along each edge.
Large windows create a sense of lightness (although I have issues with the fact that few of the window lines align with each other) although there’s no escaping its designed-in ruggedness. The front bumper sticks out but is ready to accommodate a winch or other accessories, while utility rails along both flanks allow for more bits to be bolted on.
Roof rails are sunk into the edges of the roof, allowing for loads to be quickly and easily strapped down, and removing the need for a roof rack.
At the back, vertically split rear doors allow for easy access for small items, while opening up wide to access the whole load bay.
Ineos Grenadier: Interior
For the first time, the interior of the Ineos Grenadier has been revealed – and it’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.
“When we started thinking about the Grenadier’s interior, we looked carefully at modern aircraft, boats and even tractors for inspiration, where switches are sited for optimal function, regular controls are close to hand, auxiliary ones are further away,” explained head of design, Toby Ecuyer. “You can see the same approach in the Grenadier: the interior layout is functional and logical, designed with ease of use in mind. It has everything you need and nothing you don’t.”
There’s a lot to take in when you first clap eyes on the cabin. The centre stack is wide and imposing, looking more like the cockpit of Tom Cruise’s fighter in Top Gun than a modern car. Look more closely and it’s less frightening, with clear, unambiguous controls for everything you need, with big, chunky buttons and rotary controllers that can all be operated while wearing thick gloves. The hazard warning light switch is stylishly protected from accidental activation by metal bars, reinforcing the military aircraft feel.
Above that sits a wide 12.3-inch touchscreen system. It’s borrowed from BMW but will have Ineos’ own interface. There’s no navigation system built-in (although both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will be in place, allowing you to use your smartphone apps for navigation) but there will be an off-road mapping program. This pathfinder navigation system allows drivers to programme, follow and record their route via waypoints when roads and tracks are left behind.
Keep lifting your eyes, and you’ll be looking at arguably the highlight of the Grenadier interior: a roof-mounted console with switches for differential locks, driving modes, exterior lights and a bank of auxiliary power switches.
The centre diff can be locked using the usual shift selector (located next to the incongruous gear shit lever borrowed from BMW), but the front and rear diffs are electronically operated and can be switched on or off using the roof-mounted buttons. Likewise, off-road and wading modes are available there, as well as controls for the stability systems and hill descent control.
Eight power switches are pre-wired to make adding accessories easy. Each switch operates independently, allowing you to have quick, simple and safe control of light bars, winches or anything else you can bolt onto your Grenadier.
The driver looks ahead at a small digital instrument panel (missing on this pre-production model) through a distinctive two-spoke steering wheel. A regular automotive-grade leather wheel is available, but Ineos has decked out this display model with a distinctive thickly-covered wheel. The brown leather is intended to wear and weather, producing a patina that will remind the driver of the adventures that have taken place. I’m not certain that the brown works against the swathes of grey in the cabin, but the final colour schemes haven’t been decided on yet.
A neat touch is the small red ‘toot’ button on the right of the wheel. Press this, and the horn will give a quick and unalarming double-toot, which will be handy when trying to politely alert cyclists or pedestrians of your presence.
Materials throughout are best described as hard-wearing, although some of the harder pieces may well change by the time full-scale production starts. Impressively, the floor can be hosed out once you’ve removed the rubber cover and drain plugs – make sure your hose stays low down, though, as while much of the cabin is splash-proof, it won’t withstand a direct hit from a pressure washer.
The upholstery, wrapped around comfortable water and stain-resistant Recaro seats, is wipe clean, though, so any stray splashes shouldn’t present a problem. Should you not feel the need for mud plugging, you’ll be able to specify carpets and leather upholstery.
Space is plentiful throughout, although it should be in a vehicle that measures almost five metres in length. Despite its size, the designers have pushed the dashboard forward, and the door panels pushed out to create an even more airy sensation. Optional removable glass roof panels will increase that feeling of openness. The elbow and headroom in the front are excellent, although the BMW engine and gearbox eat into the footwell significantly, leaving the pedals rather offset to the right.
The rear seats are equally spacious, with the front seats featuring cutaways to extend knee room. The seats all fold down, as you’d expect, revealing the spacious rear cargo area.
Also accessible through the split rear doors, the load area is large enough to take any family’s detritus without issue.
Ineos Grenadier: Initial Verdict
There’s been a degree of scepticism regarding the Grenadier, with views ranging from it being a pointless folly of a billionaire to others pointing out the forthcoming electrification regulations that could lead to the vehicle having a short lifespan.
However, there are plenty of potential buyers excited about the prospect of a true off-roader that’s capable of delivering on its capabilities in all environments. More are looking at it as a luxury vehicle, with after-market modifications from the likes of Urban Automotive
or Chelsea Truck Co likely to find their way to market.
After getting hands-on experience with the Grenadier, and speaking to the team behind the project, I’m impressed with what we see. Much will depend on pricing, and it looks like somewhere between £45,000 and £50,000 will be the starting point, but the basics of the product appear to be right where you’d hope.
It’s different, has a degree of luxury, and looks like it’ll be able to conquer any terrain. The interior will boost the appeal of the Grenadier, thanks to its dramatic and distinctive style, but with a very real no-nonsense approach.
As Dirk Heilmann, Ineos Automotive’s CEO, said: “It just works.”
