Topic: 2024 INEOS Grenadier

[OliverD]

I know it's been discussed here before but I haven't paid much attention to the Grenadier because I assumed it was vapourware.

But it's real. These went on sale in the U.S. last year and there are now two Canadian dealers, in Vancouver and Mississauga. This is a $90k+ body on frame SUV with solid axles front and rear and a BMW 3.0 turbo six mated to a ZF eight speed automatic. Sir Jim Ratcliffe initially wanted to buy the tooling for the Defender when it went out of production in 2015 but Land Rover turned him down. So he had to come up with his own design and bought the former Smart Car factory from Mercedes in Hambach, France.

Apparently this thing is quite large – about a foot longer than a new Defender 110. It's available in three trim levels and can be had with locking diffs front and rear. Recaro seats are standard but for $90k you don't get a ton of creature comforts. There are all sorts of accessories available though.

Good review from Harry Metcalfe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Cr05r2CYsk

He says he prefers the Defender and that INEOS has missed the mark in making such a back-to-basics off-roader when the competition is making refined but still capable off-roaders.

It's quite impressive to start a car company from scratch in this day and age, especially one only building ICE vehicles.













One rather odd option is you can choose the colour of the frame. Has that ever been done before?

[Hannibalsmith]

Saw it at the autoshow...pretty nice toy

[ktm525]

I like it. Complaints about slow steering & handling). What did they expect with live axles?

[bridgecity]

That cockpit is sweet, along with the rest of it.  Reminds me of an aircraft.

[PJungnitsch]

Yeah, aircraft/big truck/heavy tractor

Something that looks like it's designed to come apart easily in the field if needed to replace/fix anything. A good look for sure

[Gurgie]

The guys at TFL bought one & have some good videos of it.

Magna is heavily involved with them as well.

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[JohnnyMac]

Back to basics off roader with not much for creature comforts and they stick a BMW modern engine in it.  Of all the engine makers out there, why not choose one that is a bit more simple and reliable, like the Toyota 4.7 V8.  Just seemed like an odd choice for such an application.

So who exactly are buying these and why would one choose this over the competition (Land Rover, Bronco, Wranger, etc)?

[2JDM]

Back to basics off roader with not much for creature comforts and they stick a BMW modern engine in it.  Of all the engine makers out there, why not choose one that is a bit more simple and reliable, like the Toyota 4.7 V8.  Just seemed like an odd choice for such an application.

So who exactly are buying these and why would one choose this over the competition (Land Rover, Bronco, Wranger, etc)?

Rich folk, who likely have a fleet of vehicles, will buy this to be different. 

I think it looks great but odd engine choice for sure.

[ktm525]

Back to basics off roader with not much for creature comforts and they stick a BMW modern engine in it.  Of all the engine makers out there, why not choose one that is a bit more simple and reliable, like the Toyota 4.7 V8.  Just seemed like an odd choice for such an application.

So who exactly are buying these and why would one choose this over the competition (Land Rover, Bronco, Wranger, etc)?

Rich folk, who likely have a fleet of vehicles, will buy this to be different. 

I think it looks great but odd engine choice for sure.

Does the 4.7 meet emissions?

[OliverD]

Back to basics off roader with not much for creature comforts and they stick a BMW modern engine in it.  Of all the engine makers out there, why not choose one that is a bit more simple and reliable, like the Toyota 4.7 V8.  Just seemed like an odd choice for such an application.

So who exactly are buying these and why would one choose this over the competition (Land Rover, Bronco, Wranger, etc)?

You want them to put an engine in it that's been out of production for over 10 years?

[Gurgie]

Back to basics off roader with not much for creature comforts and they stick a BMW modern engine in it.  Of all the engine makers out there, why not choose one that is a bit more simple and reliable, like the Toyota 4.7 V8.  Just seemed like an odd choice for such an application.

So who exactly are buying these and why would one choose this over the competition (Land Rover, Bronco, Wranger, etc)?

You want them to put an engine in it that's been out of production for over 10 years?

The funniest part is the BMW shifter, looks so outta place.

Don't forget this is the same engine used in multiple BMW products as well as the Supra, and apparently, the Toyota engineers put it through the same reliability testing that they put Toyota engines thru & it passed. It's been quite a reliable engine & has pretty good torque down low. And then the ZF gearbox has proven itself over the years in a variety of products.

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[JohnnyMac]

Back to basics off roader with not much for creature comforts and they stick a BMW modern engine in it.  Of all the engine makers out there, why not choose one that is a bit more simple and reliable, like the Toyota 4.7 V8.  Just seemed like an odd choice for such an application.

So who exactly are buying these and why would one choose this over the competition (Land Rover, Bronco, Wranger, etc)?

You want them to put an engine in it that's been out of production for over 10 years?

Crap, I actually meant the 4.6L that was out of the Lexus GX that was in production up until last year.

[JohnnyMac]

Back to basics off roader with not much for creature comforts and they stick a BMW modern engine in it.  Of all the engine makers out there, why not choose one that is a bit more simple and reliable, like the Toyota 4.7 V8.  Just seemed like an odd choice for such an application.

So who exactly are buying these and why would one choose this over the competition (Land Rover, Bronco, Wranger, etc)?

You want them to put an engine in it that's been out of production for over 10 years?

The funniest part is the BMW shifter, looks so outta place.

Don't forget this is the same engine used in multiple BMW products as well as the Supra, and apparently, the Toyota engineers put it through the same reliability testing that they put Toyota engines thru & it passed. It's been quite a reliable engine & has pretty good torque down low. And then the ZF gearbox has proven itself over the years in a variety of products.

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I would assume that if you are taking this thing into some deep off road place that reliability is the biggest thing.  While I get what you are saying, and I have no issue with the transmission hence why I didn't mention it, but I would have a lot more faith in a Lexus GX 4.6L V8 over the turbo charged bmw engine.  Less to go wrong.

[tortoise]

I can't imagine any of these will rack up big miles, so assuming they even go offroad I don't see the engine reliability being an issue.

I agree with your point in principle, but in reality I don't think it's a problem.

[OliverD]

For assembly purposes it probably also makes more sense to source an engine built in Europe.

[Gurgie]

For assembly purposes it probably also makes more sense to source an engine built in Europe.

The engine is fairly small as well, which allows them to have it tucked up high above the frame to keep it & the transmission away from anything while off road.

Here's a video of it off road & then towards the end they put it up on the hoist & you can see how beefy it's built. The freaking thing weighs 5,800lbs!

https://youtu.be/SMin2U8iRrY?si=oke0wNMgArk0YiTb

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[Hannibalsmith]

I would much rather have this than all those imported land rovers, which are also ~$100,000, but over 20 years old.

[Woodrow]

This thing is amazing and looks really good. Truly the inexpensive (in relative terms) G-Wagon. We should be thankful someone wanted to produce their vision.

The problem is that this is so hardcore and large - so unless you're truly off-roading all the time or have something like a farm property or large property in the mountains you're probably better off with the day to day usability of a GX550, Jeep Grand Cherokee, etc., etc,.

[ktm525]

Dealer location will play a factor. If the nearest dealer is 8 hours away it becomes a problem.

[OliverD]

Dealer location will play a factor. If the nearest dealer is 8 hours away it becomes a problem.

Nearest dealer to me is 13 hours away.