INEOS Chairman Jim Ratcliffe has revealed new details about his plans for a Land Rover Defender style vehicle called Projekt Grenadier.
Billed as a go-anywhere off-roader, the model promises to have the “spirit and straightforward engineering of the old 4x4s but with a massive leap forward in reliability.”
The company hasn’t released pictures of its first model but says it will be an uncompromising vehicle that will appeal to everyone from off-road enthusiasts to city dwellers seeking adventure.
The first model is slated to be launched by 2020 and the company has plans an entire range of vehicles with multiple wheelbase options. The SUVs will be sold globally and offered with petrol, diesel, and hybrid powertrains.
The plan is certainly ambitious but a lot of details still need to be worked out – mainly where the vehicles will be built. INEOS Automotive is considering building a new plant in the United Kingdom but it could cost between £600-700 ($810-945) million. The government could offer incentives to reduce that number in return for the 7,000 jobs that are expected to be created from the project.
Another option would be contract manufacturing from companies such as Magna Steyr.
According to INEOS Automotive CEO Dirk Heilmann, “Our job is to create the world’s best and most uncompromising 4×4, and we are steadily moving forward with the project. We have recruited a first-class management team, are making good progress in our search for a manufacturing site, and we are now launching the new Projekt Grenadier interactive website.”