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> news> Car Manufacturers> Have you ever heard of the Ineos Grenadier?
It’s 2017 and Ineos CEO Sir Jim Ratcliff, a four-× to-four enthusiast, laments the loss of the Defender, an SUV replaced by a more modern and much less fundamental vehicle. decision that if Land Rover no longer builds Defender, it will. And since he presents the controls in Ineos, he knows it’s possible.
And with that, Ineos Automotive was born, a department of the third largest chemical corporation in the world.
Assembling a new vehicle from scratch through a neophyte company led some to wonder how smart the vehicle would be. After all, Land Rover, Jeep, Ford, Mercedes-Benz and Toyota have decades of experience.
“While we have no more than 73 minutes of delight as an automotive entity, you work with partners and they pay attention to you because they have that delight,” said Gregg Clark, executive vice president of Ineos Automotive, whose partners come with BMW Group and Magna Steyr.
The vehicle they are building, the Ineos Grenadier, is driving an unattended market, Clark said. “In terms of capacity and reliability, it has a vehicle designed for a lifespan of 30 years and more than 10 years,” he said.
Clark arrives in Ineos after seasons in Jaguar Land Rover, Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Benz and Acura.
While the Grenadier’s exterior with frame on chassis has a 90% finish, stylists are weeks away from revealing the interior design.
The frame itself is an aggregate of metal and aluminum and is so you can sit, stand or paint on the bumper, wings and hood. The roof has a static load capacity of approximately 750 pounds, enough to hold a tent, you and a friend. .
The Grenadier’s side rails feature L-rails for installing drums, shovels, life ramps, luggage and other parts in the vehicle’s appearance. The bars on the most sensitive part of the rear side windows facilitate access to the ceiling or can be The tailgate with 70/30 split barn door can be equipped with a ladder for easy access to the ceiling. The windshield is fixed, but the sunroof is removable.
The tread has front and rear protective plates, rock slides, as cover for oil casing, transmission, 3 differentials and fuel tank with steel up to 4 thousand.
As expected, Ineos is running with third-party accessory brands on SEMA, of which it is a member, to supply replacement accessories at the launch of the SUV. In addition, the Grenadier will be pre-set with auxiliary switches so that electricity accessories, such as a front or rear winch, can be activated from the inside.
The power will come from a turbocharged 6-cylinder in-line BMW engine and an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission with calibrated manual gear shifting capability in particular for the vehicle. A manual transmission will not be offered. A diesel engine will be sold in peak markets, but not in the US. But it’s not the first time Or Canada due to the difficulty in assembly emissions requirements, Mexico remains a possibility.
The Grenadier will come with a 2-speed motion box, 3 lockable differentials and a towing capacity of 7700 pounds. There are solid beam shafts for maximum articulation and a galvanized metal ladder frame. dust tyres or Bridgestone road tires for all weather types. Driver assistance functions come with automatic emergency braking.
Clark says the vehicle will weigh less than 8,500 pounds, which will keep it in the soft vehicle category.
Although Ineos does not first offer a fuel powertrain of choice, the company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Hyundai for a partnership in the progression of hydrogen fuel cells, while talking to BMW on the same subject.
“It’s a much more viable option for us than the electric battery,” Clark said. “Think of the nature and purpose of this vehicle to literally pull it off the grid. You don’t need to worry about being connected to a cargo and anxiety network similar to mega-autonomy, which is a primary attention when putting the vehicle on the off-road test. “
Of course, since Ineos is one of the largest chemical corporations in the world, he believes they would expand the Grenadier to paints with artificial fuels, not hydrogen fuel cells, but for now, that doesn’t seem to be planned.
Despite the semiconductor crisis, Clark said there is no replacement for Ineos’ original program. Look for sales that will start in Europe in the summer of 2022, the United States will continue a few months later. But there are many things that want it to happen, from creating a workplace in the United States to building a team, to building a commercial network.
Ineos Automotive is lately deciding the location of its North American headquarters, with leading suitors such as Houston (where the parent company is headquartered), Georgia and the Carolinas; the latter would place them near a port on the east coast, the company is also contemplating the shipment of cars to a west coast port, and also allowing cars to be installed once on land.
And unlike other neophyte automakers, Ineos creates a network of dealers that promotes the cars themselves.
“Finding the right partners is certainly a necessity for us,” said Clark, who is for retail partners with “smart retail partners who can provide us with the right regional footprint, with the right functioning, operational functions and intelligent professionalism that are sure to perceive us, our brands, and this specific market. »
For Clark, this means the company will land and grow. “America is the peak market spot in terms of volume and scale,” he said. “We probably have a 70% market place policy at launch. My goal is to have between 30 and 50 sites in the US. But it’s not the first time And Canada, with some in Mexico.
The car will be built in a former Mercedes-Benz in Hambach, Germany, a factory that has gained a really significant investment from Daimler for more than five years. In fact, Ineos will continue to manufacture the Smart EQ under contract as a component of its sales contract.
One-third of Ineos’ planned global production of 30,000 units will be shipped to North America. Although the company does not plan to import CKD lately, it would do so if it made the decision to import the next Ineos van to avoid bird tax. “It’s punitive from the point of view of competitive positioning,” Clark said.
But don’t expect Ineos to sell an astonishing number of Grenadier variants. “I think other brands have created too much complexity, too much product proliferation,” Clark said. “I would prefer this car to be fully equipped, in a position of use, and offers two or 3 possible options in terms of product pillars, with the ability to customize in addition. “
Prices will be above the Wrangler and Bronco, but under the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, the number has not been revealed.
In the end, the Ineos Grenadier is a high-end niche vehicle, sold to rich four-year× four enthusiasts in limited quantities. “It probably wouldn’t be for everyone and it’s okay,” Clark said.