Following a report last week, BMW and INEOS have confirmed Projekt Grenadier will use BMW-sourced engines.
BMW is describing the agreement as a “major order” that will see the automaker deliver petrol and diesel powertrains to INEOS. The company didn’t go into specifics, but said they foresee deliveries in the “high-range five-digit” range.
For their part, INEOS said the partnership is a “major step forward” for Projekt Grenadier as they noted BMW’s TwinPower Turbo engines are “famed for their world-class blend of durability, performance and efficiency.”
While neither company mentioned which specific engines would be used in Projekt Grenadier, INEOS did reveal a little more about the model. They said it will embrace “no-frills utilitarianism, complete purity of purpose, unquestionable authenticity and ultimate engineering integrity.” The company was coy on details, but said the model will ride on an all-new architecture and be inspired by off-road icons such as the original Willys Jeep, Land Rover Series 1 and Toyota Land Cruiser J40.
The vehicle will be offered in a number of markets and INEOS specifically mentioned Europe and the United States as well as Africa and “Australasia.” Projekt Grenadier is slated to be launched in 2020 – although reports have suggested the date has slipped to 2021 – and the company said development work is ramping up. Engineering is primarily being done in Germany with partners such as MBtech.
Little else is known about Projekt Grenadier, but the vehicle was originally announced in 2017 as INEOS felt the temporary discontinuation of the Land Rover Defender left a “gap in the market for an uncompromising off-roader.” The company has remained tight-lipped about the model, but last week Auto News Europe reported the automaker is eyeing to build 25,000 – 30,000 units annually and the model will be priced similarly to “high-spec double-cab pickups.”
INEOS hasn’t announced a production location, they are expected to build Projekt Grenadier in-house at a facility in Europe. The model is slated to have a steel ladder frame, aluminum bodywork and a towing capacity of 7,716 lbs (3,500 kg).
