Have you seen that off-road SUV that you could have sworn was a classic Land Rover Defender with modern touches? No, Land Lover isn’t revitalizing the legendary design, but it is being reincarnated (somewhat) in the form of adventure-focused INEOS Grenadier, an off-road 4x4 that promises to prioritize rough and rugged capability before frills and comfort.
They’re doing a hell of a job delivering on their goal, and pre-orders are reaching U.S. buyers now. We suspect it won’t be long until we see an INEOS Grenadier for sale on Fourbie Exchange.
Founded in 2016 by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, INEOS Automotive is a subsidiary of larger manufacturing conglomerate, INEOS. It’s aiming to be the world’s only automotive manufacturer to focus exclusively on off-road performance vehicles.
When he’s not consumed by running a global manufacturing conglomerate, Sir Jim Ratcliffe holds personal and business interests in pursuits like professional sailing, professional cycling, F1, and, at the time of this writing, is nearing completion for a stake in Premier League team Manchester United.
But he’s not limited to watching: he’s a true adventurer through and through with personal feats including:
- Completing the Marathon Des Sables across the Sahara Desert
- Expeditions to the North and South Poles
- A three-month motorbike trek in South Africa
We also know that, like many of us, he’s prone to talking big at the pub after a beer with friends. Only when he does that, it’s less about missed opportunities in high school, and more about the blueprints for a new adventure-focused rig: the INEOS Grenadier.
What is the INEOS Grenadier?
Disappointed by Land Rover’s decision to terminate production of the long-running Defender in January 2016, Ratcliffe and his team dug into the proposition of leveraging INEOS manufacturing capabilities to build true off-road adventure 4x4 through a new subsidiary, INEOS Automotive.
Said Ratcliffe, “We want to build the world’s purest 4X4 and are aiming it at explorers, farmers and off-road enthusiasts across the globe.”
That due-diligence included approaching Land Rover to purchase the defunct Defender’s tooling (Land Rover declined, likely knowing plans to re-release the Defender in 2020) and forging a partnership with BMW and Magna Steyr.
Fast forward to today, and INEOS Automotive has a reach into some 40 global markets. In the U.S. alone, there are 19 dealers coast-to-coast delivering approximately 7,000 pre-orders, which opened in 2021.
Where is the INEOS Grenadier Made?
Production began in late 2022 at the INEOS automotive plant in Hambach, France formerly designed and occupied by Mercedes-Benz. INEOS purchased the plant in December 2020, a smart investment considering the infrastructure and the workforce already equipped to handle automotive production.
Interestingly, the factory was also producing EVs (which INEOS will continue to produce on Mercedes-Benz’s behalf), giving them the knowledge and equipment to possibly offer an EV Grenadier. More on that in a moment.
INEOS Automotive Models
The INEOS Grenadier shares a striking resemblance to the classic Land Rover Defender and Mercedes G-Class thanks to its boxy aesthetic and rugged off-road credentials.
The Grenadier delivers on its promise of being the de facto, no-nonsense fourbie “built on purpose.” The reasons to buy an INEOS as your next adventure rig include offering a BMW B58 gas-powered turbo straight-6 engine (other markets can select a 3.0L turbo diesel, instead) mated to 8-speed automatic transmission, plus solid beam axles, ladder-frame chassis, full-time 4-wheel drive, 5-link suspension, and 7,716 lb. towing capacity.
But it’s not just an off-roader. “The INEOS Grenadier looks and feels like the authentic off-roader and overlanding rig it is. Rugged yet surprisingly refined on road, it’s a single-minded 4x4 built for and by adventurers who go their own way.” said Chris Paukert in his test drive for Edmonds.
While not all configurations are available yet in the U.S., INEOS offers several models to select from, including a 2-seat commercial-oriented wagon, a 5-seat utility wagon, a more upscale 5-seat wagon, and the Quartermaster off-road truck. It’s unclear whether production of the Quartermaster for the U.S. market will take place in the France plant or elsewhere to avoid a 25% import tax on light trucks.
In the U.S. the option available for ordering now is the upscale 5-seater station wagon, which can be ordered in the Grenadier, Trailmaster, or Fieldmaster trims, The latter two editions were named after iconic jackets made by Belstaff, a clothing company also owned by INEOS.
An Electric INEOS Grenadier Isn’t Far Off
Being a global leader in fuel has its advantages. In INEOS’s case, it’s one of the world’s leading suppliers of hydrogen, and has already partnered with Hyundai to understand feasibility and development requirements of building a Grenadier powered by hydrogen.
Additionally, with a global push to move away from traditional gas and diesel engines, INEOS has confirmed that an electric SUV version of the Grenadier will arrive by 2026.
How Much Does an INEOS Grenadier Cost?
Here in the U.S., the starting MSRP for the INEOS Grenadier is $71,500, with price jump to $79,190 for either the Trailmaster or Fieldmaster editions.
Some of the pricier options include the Rough Pack (adds BFG KO2 tires and front and rear locking differentials) contrasting painted roof, ladder frame coating, rock sliders, and integrated winch.
Build Your INEOS.
Discover the INEOS models and configuration options best suited for your off-road and overland adventures.