Drain plugs and wipe down upholstery can make it easy to clean the cabin.
The Land Rover Defender has been criticized by off-road enthusiasts for being too sophisticated and luxurious. This means that it is no longer practical and the asking price is prohibitive. Ineos Automotive hopes to continue the legacy of the Defender with a familiar boxy design and true 4×4 capability.
Today, just over a year later than its original launch Start The Grenadier finally shows off its rugged, functional interior. This SUV is a marked departure from the modern body-on frame design. It features chunky switchgear that provides shortcuts to almost everything without needing to scroll through multiple sub-menus on the touchscreen.
Similar to the Ford Bronco it comes pre-wired with auxiliary switches that can be used to connect winches and work lights. The owner doesn’t need to drill holes or rip the headliner to install the wiring. This is a great advantage as the cabin will never be the same. Ineos also placed the controls for the rear/front diff locks and the offroad mode in the overhead console.
It also shares a common feature with the Bronco: the ability to clean out the interior using drain plugs in rubber flooring. The seats are easy to wipe down using the stain-resistant Recaro upholstery. The Ineos will offer leather and carpet upholstery for those who want a little more luxury, while the Ineos will have a more durable interior.
Although the central air vents look like they are from a 1990s car’s engine, the Grenadier’s design is modern and well-designed. The 12.3-inch touchscreen screen has iDrive-esque rotary controls and integrates with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The gear lever for the automatic transmission is familiar as the SUV uses a BMW engine and a ZF eight speed automatic transmission, which was used in many Bavarian cars.
This off-roader is sure to have large grab handles on its dashboard and A-pillar. A passenger version is available for five people, while a commercial version with two seats is in development. Ineos designed the Grenadier with an optional Power Pack that includes a 2,000-watt AC converter to charge electric tools and equipment. These cool glass roof panels are also available in tilting and can be removed completely.
The Grenadier will be powered with straight-six BMW gasoline or diesel engines. It will also feature permanent all-wheel drive with two-speed transmission case and three differential locks (elockers for front, rear and mechanical for center). The gasoline engine, the B58, will produce 281 horsepower (332 pound-feet), while the diesel engine, B57, will be rated at 245 HP and 550 Nm (406lb-ft).
The SUV’s ladder frame will be able to ride on alloy and steel wheels 17- and 18-inch in diameter wrapped with BF Goodrich All-Terrain tires or Bridgestone All-Terrain tires. The Grenadier measures 4,927mm (193.9inches) in length, including the rear-mounted spare wheel. It is 1,930mm (76inches) wide with the mirrors, 2,033mm (80inches) high, and has a wheelbase of 2,922mm (115inches).
Ineos will accept reservations starting in October, and begin customer deliveries in July 2022. 130 prototypes are currently being tested around the globe, with the next location being Morocco’s dunes.