Growing up, kids the world over have always had a fascination with knives. Buck knives were always a favorite, but if a kid could get their hands on a Swiss Army Knife or better yet, a multi-tool like a SOG or Leatherman, the real adventures were only a flick away. What if that same mindset could be carried over into adulthood? What if the car you drive could somehow act like a Swiss Army Knife or SOG or Leatherman? And what if that thought wasn’t as far-fetched as it might sound? One British automaker just might have the answers you’re looking for.
In order to tell the full story, a modern history lesson is in order. This lesson is not filled with twists or turns, embellishment, or any sort of skewing of facts. It will, however, be more than surprising. The truth is, a dude unhappy with the demise of the classic Land Rover Defender styling decided to take matters into his own hands and create his own version of the famed adventure mobile, and his version is pretty darn cool.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, founder of INEOS Automotive, isn’t just “some dude”. Sir Ratcliffe is actually also the founder of INEOS, as in INspec Ethylene Oxide and Specialties. That’s right, Sir Ratcliffe is the founder of the fourth largest chemical company in the world. INEOS has dealings in many different ventures, from fuel to packaging and food, to construction and pharmaceuticals, professional sports, and now, go-anywhere automotive.
INEOS Automotive Ltd was born after Sir Ratcliffe’s own Land Rover Defender was nearing the end of its automotive life, and Land Rover was steering away from the classic Defender styling in lieu of a new more modern direction. Wanting to at least continue having the classic Defender available to him, Sir Ratcliffe approached Jaguar Land Rover with the proposition of purchasing their tooling for the Defender. Jaguar Land Rover officially declined Sir Ratcliffe’s offer, but that really only stoked the fire even more for Sir Ratcliffe; if they won’t sell him the tooling, he’ll just build his own vehicle.
The INEOS Grenadier (named after Sir Ratcliffe’s favorite local pub) was dreamt up in 2016, but the first actual pre-production model wasn’t seen until 2020. Interior design and tech specs weren’t officially finalized until a year later, but the unveiling would give enthusiasts an idea of what was to come. Bringing Austrian automotive company Magna Steyr on board for assembly duties, Sir Ratcliffe was also able to get BMW into the mix with their 3.0L twin-turbo straight-six powerplant and ZF 8-speed automatic transmission. INEOS was hitting the ground running and they were hitting it hard.
Going a bit backwards to the comparison of the vehicle to a Swiss Army Knife, Grenadier really is as about utilitarian as it gets. Designer Toby Ecuyer followed Sir Ratcliffe’s instruction on designing the most rugged, most versatile, and most functional vehicle ever created; Grenadier checks all those boxes and then some. Every aspect of Grenadier has been carefully considered and crafted to offer a pleasurable driving experience while simultaneously promoting a mindset within the driver that they indeed can go pretty much anywhere they want to go.
Using a multi-link suspension setup with separate coils and dampers, Grenadier’s tough-as-nails approach to offroading is, at the same time, minimalistic in nature. Afterall, if there are less pieces to break there is less chance of breakage. That being said, it’s also designed to be easy to repair in the field, if need be. Also included in the attractively wrapped package are front and rear lockers as well as offroad modes for both dry and wet trails. Even with all of these features, a less is more attitude runs rampant throughout the Grenadier.
The interior of the vehicle follows suit, in a way. Wanting to stay away from high-tech interfaces, designer Toby Ecuyer reached back into his product design background and created an interior that would make the Captain of F/V Adventure proud. All unnecessary electronics have been left out of the design, meaning there’s nothing superfluous about Grenadier. While keeping the driver warm, dry, and comfortable, the host of switches and dials and gauges makes the driver feel like they are piloting the most incredible vehicle.
There is a fine line between having too much luxury in an offroad specific vehicle and being too minimalistic to be comfortable. Afterall, most people buy a vehicle to do the job that vehicle was intended to do, and comfort does play a fairly significant role in how those people feel about the vehicle they’ve purchased. Heated Recaro seats, leather wrapped steering wheel, window heaters, and more all coexist with analog switches for climate controls, parking assistance, differential locking, offroad modes, exterior and interior lighting, etc. And the design is such that all of the switches and dials are grouped with their like partners; comfort and driver adjustments in one panel at the center of the dash, and offroad controls in a separate overhead panel. The design is about as perfect as one can get.
Following the utilitarian theme, securement and attachment points are positioned all over the Grenadier. On the outside of Grenadier sit multiple strategically placed rails and securement points with which to add Rotopax, recovery tools, and more. Moving inside and to the back of the cabin, rails are installed in the floor of the cargo area for ease of securement.
Literally every aspect of this vehicle is geared towards making its owner a living Swiss Army Knife. And with a truck version (Grenadier Quartermaster) making its debut along with a smaller all-electric vehicle (Fusilier) on its way, INEOS is looking to be a force to be reckoned with. The unmistakable rugged and boxy Defender styling will once again rule the roadways and the trails as adventure seekers sit comfortably in Grenadier’s cabin, enjoying the views through the large windows and skylights.
As enthusiasts, many people dream of creating their own vehicle. In some way, that dream is fulfilled in recreating or modifying an already established rig, much like fabricators and builders do by turning their Jeeps or Toyotas or any number of other vehicles into a more capable rig for their specific needs. Sir Ratcliffe and his team of designers and engineers were able to take that dream and make it a reality, and the product is one of the coolest 4×4 vehicles ever built.
