The resemblance to the old Land Rover Defender is obvious. The Ineos Grenadier was also developed primarily as a vehicle for rough work.
(Photo: dpa)
Berlin It has a bit of Jurassic Park: while the dinosaurs among the cars actually died out two years ago at the latest with the generation change of the Land Rover Defender, evolution is now starting all over again with the Ineos Grenadier.
Developed on the drawing board by a new manufacturer and available from autumn for an initial price of 59,990 euros, as an old-school off-road vehicle it doesn’t just want to go against the SUV trend. But he also braces himself against the dictates of electronics and, at least for the time being, even against the electric drive. A billionaire’s heart project From the outside, the Grenadier is reminiscent of the old Land Rover Defender with its angular Playmobil design and circular headlights.
For good reason. Because Jim Ratcliffe, the head behind the project, was so disappointed with the model change as a Land Rover fan from the very beginning that he built his own successor.
And it doesn’t stop with the one-off. The boss of the chemical giant Ineos wants to build up to 30,000 cars a year and thus serve all those customers for whom the new Defender flirts too much with today’s lifestyle and especially with modern electronics and a Mercedes G-Class is too aloof.
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Rather, as robust as a Defender Ineos has focused on the basic principles of off-road vehicle construction. No more independent wheel suspension or a self-supporting body – that’s how urban SUVs might be designed. But if you really want to drive through the wilderness, you can build your rustproof aluminum body on a ladder frame and mount rigid axles underneath.
While the technology, like the body design, is reminiscent of the Defender, the British have their very own concept for the interior of the almost five-meter-long Grenadier. They combine the now indispensable touchscreens with an army of switches in the center console and in the roof. The protective strips around it make it look like an airplane cockpit.
Powerful off-road – BMW engines
On a first trip with a prototype that is almost ready for series production, however, it hardly resembles the original anymore. Because compared to the old Defender, the Grenadier drives almost by itself. For example, it is much easier to keep on course. Its engines sound more cultivated, and off-road trips aren’t nearly as rough.
However, the original and the new interpretation have one thing in common: exceptional off-road strength. Because neither mud nor snow and neither rubble nor sand can harm the British. On the other hand, if you measure the Grenadier against the new Land Rover, it almost feels like a vintage car. Then it seems rather sluggish and forces the driver to noticeably increase their own effort. Because Ineos only installs the most necessary assistance systems and saves on different driving profiles.
When it comes to the drive, Ineos relies on solid BMW technology. The decision was made to go with two three-liter six-cylinder engines: for now, the Grenadier is available as a diesel with 183 kW/249 hp and 550 Nm or as a petrol engine with 210 W/285 hp and 450 Nm. Both engines are coupled with an eight-speed automatic and distribute their power to all four wheels as befits their status.
The reduction is just as standard as the central differential lock. An additional lock per axle is available for an extra charge. Although the engines run a little smoother than in an old Defender and also have more power, the driving performance still leaves some room for improvement. The acceleration is at best 8.6 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h in order.
But a top speed of 160 km/h is not enough to outperform the masses of SUVs. And even with consumption values of well over ten liters in some cases, it does not collect any plus points. They also know that at Ineos, where the fuel cell from the Hyundai Nexo is already being toyed with.
Sure, the Grenadier is almost like a brand-new vintage car and far behind the many SUVs in terms of comfort and efficiency. But if you really need your off-road vehicle for off-road use, the rustic workhorse is the best choice. And even on the road, Ineos has something to offer that many modern semi-off-roaders lack: a strong character.
Specifications Ineos Grenadier
- Engine and drive: in-line six-cylinder diesel
- Displacement: 2993 cc
- Max. power: 183 kW/249 hp
- Max. torque: 550 Nm
- Drive: all-wheel drive
- Transmission: eight-speed automatic
- Length: 4896mm
- Width: 1930mm
- Height: 2036mm
- Wheelbase: 2922mm
- Empty weight: 2744 kg
- Payload: 756 kg
- Trunk volume: 1152-2035 liters
- Top speed: 160 km/h
- Acceleration 0-100 km/h: 9.9 s
- Average consumption: 10.1 litres/100 km
- Range: 890 km
- CO2 emissions: 263 g/km
- Fuel: diesel
- Emission class: Eu6
- Energy efficiency class: not specified
- Base price of the Ineos Grenadier: 59,990 euros
- Base price of the Station Wagon Diesel: 68,990 euros
More: Long live the king of off-road vehicles – the Land Rover Defender 110 P400e in the Handelsblatt auto test