Ineos Grenadier
The Ineos Grenadier is an off-road utility vehicle designed by Ineos Automotive Ltd., founded by Jim Ratcliffe, chairman of multinational chemicals company, Ineos.
In 2017, Ratcliffe saw an opportunity to develop a new rugged utilitarian 4x4 vehicle as a "spiritual successor" to the Land Rover Defender (discontinued in 2016 and relaunched in 2020 as the 2020 Land Rover Defender) and initiated a project to design such vehicle under the codename Projekt Grenadier.[1]
In September 2019, it was announced that vehicle, now officially named Ineos Grenadier, would be manufactured in two new factories in Estarreja, Portugal (chassis and body) and Bridgend, South Wales (final assembly), with powertrains supplied by BMW. Launch is planned for 2021.
Craig Williams of Gulper 1 fame was poached from Ford Bridgend Engine Plant to become the Plant Manager of Ineos Bridgend.[2]
The Grenadier is aimed at "explorers, farmers, and off-road enthusiasts across the globe". The vehicle is named after the historic Grenadier pub in London.[3]
References
- Vijayenthiran, Viknesh (19 September 2017). "Unofficial Land Rover Defender successor gets a name". Motor Authority. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
- Overland, Colin (18 September 2019). "Ineos Grenadier: Brit-built 'spiritual heir' to old Defender arrives 2021, Craig Williams of Gulper 1 fame was poached from Ford Bridgend Engine Plant to become the Plant Manager of Ineos Bridgend". Car Magazine. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
- https://gearjunkie.com/ineos-grenadier-4x4-concept