Ineos Automotive is about to start UK deliveries of the Grenadier this August, but the automaker is already working on expanding its lineup. The new member of the Ineos family will be a smaller fully electric off-roader that will be joined by a longer Grenadier pickup. Thus, the Ineos range will mimic the Land Rover Defender’s 90, 110, and 130 bodystyle variants.
Rugged EV Based On A New Platform
As noted by Jim Ratcliffe, Ineos chairman, it wasn’t possible to shorten the Grenadier’s platform due to engineering hurdles. Thus, the decision was taken to offer the smaller model exclusively in EV form. Ineos suggests that the EV will be based on an all-new platform and will retain its “workhorse DNA and off-road capabilities” hinting at a body-on-frame architecture.
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We suspect that the exterior design of the EV will integrate similar styling cues with the boxy Grenadier, which is heavily inspired by the previous generation Land Rover Defender. After all, Ineos Automotive’s goal with the Grenadier was to make a spiritual successor of the original Defender after it was discontinued in 2016.
As reported by Automotive News Europe, Ineos’ first EV will be produced at the former Daimler factory in Hambach, France, next to the Grenadier. The UK-based company didn’t reveal the targeted launch date, nor the name of the electric off-roader. Rivals will include the upcoming fully electric variant of the Jeep Wrangler, a possible Ford Bronco EV, and the VW Group’s Scout revival.
Ineos Grenadier Pickup Coming
As for the third model in the lineup, it will be a pickup version of the Grenadier, similar to the original Defender 130 pickup, sporting a longer wheelbase of 3,226 mm (127 inches) as previewed by the concept. Mind you, Land Rover took a different road with the new Defender 130 which was recently revealed as a longer variant of the Defender 110 offering a roomier cabin with eight seats.
The Ineos Grenadier is available in the UK with petrol and diesel turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engines sourced from BMW, with only the petrol variant being offered in the US market. Last year, Ineos announced a €2 billion investment for a zero-emission Grenadier using hydrogen fuel-cell technology, with testing scheduled to start towards the end of 2022.