The Ineos Grenadier: Everything You Need to Know

It’s not an old Defender. But it’s the closest thing you’ll be able to buy to one aesthetically.

Published September 22, 2023

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There are several new cars arriving to America in 2023. One of the most intriguing — for several reasons — is the Ineos Grenadier. Ineos isn’t a traditional car manufacturer, it’s a multinational chemicals firm. The Grenadier is the name of a pub where the idea was conceived. And the vehicle itself isn’t a sleek, modern electric car touting its infotainment tech; it’s a boxy, gas-powered off-roader harkening back (quite strongly) to the classic Land Rover Defender.

Here’s what you need to know about the Ineos Grenadier.

When can you buy an Ineos Grenadier?

ineos grenadier coming off the production line

Now. Ineos announced that the first North American-bound production Grenadier has been completed on the production line. American deliveries will start in November 2023 with Canadian ones following in January 2024.

While the Grenadier is very British, Ineos noted that the United States is the company’s largest market. Americans have placed more than 7,000 orders for Grenadiers.

What is the Ineos Grenadier?

It’s a five-seater SUV. In America, it will be powered by a BMW-sourced turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine putting out 282 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque; Europeans also get a diesel option. It uses an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission and a permanent four-wheel-drive system with a two-speed transfer case.

So the Grenadier looks a lot like an old Land Rover Defender?

Yes. British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe reportedly tried to buy the old Defender tooling and designs from Land Rover to keep it in production. Land Rover declined to sell it. So Ineos is building a vehicle that’s (heavily) inspired by the OG Defender and aims to be the better, modernized version of it Land Rover declined to build.

There are three Ineos Grenadier trims

The Grenadier currently comes in three trims. There’s a base Grenadier trim. And there are two special edition trims, the Trialmaster and the Fieldmaster. The Trialmaster is an extreme off-roading edition outfitted with features like front and rear locking differentials, BF Goodrich All-Terrain TA K02 tires and a raised air intake. The Fieldmaster is more of a luxury and tech trim with heated seats.

You may have noticed that Trialmaster and Fieldmaster are Belstaff jackets. That’s not coincidental. Jim Ratcliffe owns Belstaff. And the corresponding jacket is included when you order a special edition trim.

Wait, isn’t there a pickup version?

ineos grenadier quartermaster driving on a dirt road

Yes. Ineos unveiled the Quartermaster dual-cab pickup at the Goodwood Festival in July. It will have similar specs and features — BMW inline-six power, old-school solid axles and locking differentials — to the Grenadier. It arrives in 2024.

Ineos has confirmed America will get the Quartermaster. But they have not announced whether it will be built in America. If Ineos decides to import the Quartermaster from France, it will be subject to the 25% chicken tax.

Wait didn’t I read something about hydrogen and electric Grenadiers?

Yes and Yes. Ineos is launching the Grenadier with conventional combustion and diesel powertrains. Britain is outlawing combustion and diesel powertrains beginning in 2030. So the Grenadier and future Ineos vehicles need to find another source of propulsion.

Ineos is a major supplier of hydrogen. The brand signed a memorandum of understanding with Hyundai back in 2020 to explore development opportunities with hydrogen. But the brand has put hydrogen Grenadier development on the backburner due to a lack of infrastructure.

Ineos has confirmed it is working on an electric SUV that will be less off-road capable than the Grenadier but still capable. It’s supposed to arrive by 2026 and it will use a third-party skateboard EV platform.

How much does the Ineos Grenadier cost?

Ineos has announced pricing for the Grenadier in America. The base model starts at $71,500. The Trialmaster and Fieldmaster editions both start at $79,190.

The Ineos Grenadier has a “toot horn”

107th tour de france 2020 training team ineos grenadiers

One of Jim Ratcliffe’s many interests is cycling. The Grenadier comes with a toot horn, which allows the driver to press a button on the wheel to gently alert cyclists to the vehicle’s presence without startling them with the full-bore horn.