Ineos Grenadier
Specs, engines and history
Published Sources (1) Report an error
By Felix Hartmann, Automotive Technology & EV Contributor
- Built
- 2022–present
- Top power
- 210 kW (286 PS)
Which Grenadier to choose
Our verdict · Felix Hartmann
- For towing and long distances: the B57 diesel, with 550 Nm.
- For smoother running and better acceleration: the B58 petrol, with 210 kW.
- For work use: the Utility Wagon, or the Quartermaster with its 760 kg payload.
- For family off-road travel: the five-seat Station Wagon in Trialmaster or Fieldmaster form.
More large off-roaders are compared in our car comparisons.
Ineos Automotive is the car-making arm of Ineos, the chemicals group chaired by Sir Jim Ratcliffe. It was set up in 2016 and is based in London. Ratcliffe has chaired it since February 2017, and Lynn Calder has been chief executive since December 2022. The company has one product family so far, the Grenadier off-roader and its Quartermaster pickup. A smaller electric model, the Fusilier, was shown as a prototype in February 2024, but its series production was cancelled in July 2024.
The Ineos Grenadier is a body-on-frame four-wheel-drive vehicle built in Hambach, France, since 2022. It was created as a modern successor to the classic Land Rover Defender, which ended production in January 2016. It uses BMW six-cylinder engines with 210 kW (286 PS) petrol or 183 kW (249 PS) diesel power, a ZF eight-speed automatic, beam axles and a two-speed transfer case. Ratcliffe's favourite London pub gave the car its name.
Specs by version
| Version | Engine | Power | Torque | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel · 1 version | |||||
| 3.0 diesel (B57) | 6 cyl · Diesel B57 | 183 kW 249 PS245 hp | 550 Nm406 lb-ft | 8-sp Automatic | Four-wheel drive (4×4) |
| Petrol · 1 version | |||||
| 3.0 petrol (B58) | 6 cyl · Petrol B58 | 210 kW 286 PS282 hp | 450 Nm332 lb-ft | 8-sp Automatic | Four-wheel drive (4×4) |
Verified Manufacturer and type-approval data from our catalog · Sources and methodology
In short
- Built at the former Smart plant in Hambach, France; first deliveries in December 2022.
- BMW 3.0-litre straight-sixes: B58 petrol with 210 kW (286 PS) and 450 Nm, B57 diesel with 183 kW (249 PS) and 550 Nm.
- Steel ladder frame, Carraro beam axles, permanent four-wheel drive and a 2.5:1 low range; 3,500 kg towing capacity.
- German off-road magazine Matsch & Piste reported euro prices of €59,990 for the Utility Wagon and €68,990 for the Station Wagon in April 2022.
Ineos Grenadier at a glance
| Specification | Station Wagon | Quartermaster |
|---|---|---|
| Production | since 2022, Hambach, France | since 2023, Hambach |
| Body | five-door SUV | four-door double-cab pickup |
| Length | 4,856 mm | 5,400 mm |
| Width / height | 1,930 / 2,036 mm | 1,943 / 2,019 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,922 mm | 3,227 mm |
| Kerb weight | 2,644–2,811 kg (range for both bodies) | — |
| Engines | BMW B58 3.0 petrol, B57 3.0 diesel | same |
| Gearbox | ZF eight-speed automatic | same |
| Drive | permanent four-wheel drive, two-speed transfer case | same |
| Towing capacity | 3,500 kg | 3,500 kg |
| Payload | — | 760 kg |
Project Grenadier: from a pub to a factory
When the classic Defender ended at Solihull in January 2016, Ratcliffe wanted a replacement for his own car. Jaguar Land Rover declined to sell the tooling, so Ineos decided to build its own vehicle. The idea was discussed at The Grenadier, a pub in Belgravia, London, and the project took its name. The story of the original is told in our guide to the classic Land Rover Defender.
Ineos then brought in established suppliers:
- BMW for the engines, under a partnership announced in March 2019.
- Magna Steyr as engineering partner, announced in December 2019.
- ZF for the eight-speed automatic gearbox.
- Carraro for the heavy-duty beam axles, with five-link coil suspension from Eibach.
- Tremec for the two-speed transfer case.
Production was first planned in Bridgend, Wales, with a sub-assembly plant in Estarreja, Portugal. In December 2020 Ineos bought the Smartville factory in Hambach, in the French Moselle region, from Mercedes-Benz instead. Pre-series production began in early 2022. English Wikipedia gives both July and October 2022 for the start of series production, and the first customer deliveries followed in December 2022.
Engines and drivetrain
Both engines are 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-sixes from BMW. The table lists the outputs given by English Wikipedia.
| Engine | Code | Power | Torque | Gearbox |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 petrol | BMW B58 | 210 kW (286 PS) at 4,750 rpm | 450 Nm | ZF 8HP51 eight-speed automatic |
| 3.0 diesel | BMW B57 | 183 kW (249 PS) at 3,250–4,200 rpm | 550 Nm | ZF 8HP76 eight-speed automatic |
The diesel trades 27 kW of power for 100 Nm more torque, which suits towing and slow off-road work. Power-to-weight is modest: at 2,644 kg the petrol Grenadier has about 79 kW per tonne. Drive goes to all four wheels at all times. The transfer case has a low-range ratio of 2.5:1, and there is no electric or hybrid version so far. BMW's background is covered in our history of BMW.
Chassis and off-road hardware
The Grenadier is built on a box-section steel ladder frame. It has solid beam axles front and rear, made by Carraro, with coil springs. Front axle articulation is 9° and rear 12°. The kerb weight is 2,644 to 2,811 kg, and the towing capacity is 3,500 kg for both the SUV and the pickup.
Two rivals in the same class have their own guides on the site: the current Land Rover Defender L663 and the Toyota Land Cruiser 300.
Quartermaster pickup
Ineos presented the Quartermaster at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July 2023. It is a four-door double-cab pickup with a 3,227 mm wheelbase, 305 mm longer than the Station Wagon, and an overall length of 5,400 mm. The load bay is 1,564 mm long and 1,619 mm wide, and the payload is 760 kg. It is sold in the United States as well, despite the 25 % tariff on light trucks built outside North America.
Versions, prices and sales
The Grenadier was launched as a five-seat Station Wagon, with Trialmaster and Fieldmaster editions, and as a Utility Wagon for commercial use. Matsch & Piste listed these euro prices on 29 April 2022:
| Version (April 2022) | Price |
|---|---|
| Utility Wagon | €59,990 |
| Station Wagon Trialmaster | €68,990 |
| Station Wagon Fieldmaster | €68,990 |
The Trialmaster has 17-inch wheels, and a Rough package adds BFGoodrich KO2 tyres. In 2022 the Station Wagons cost €9,000 more than the Utility.
| Year | Production / sales |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 4,553 |
| 2024 | 8,000 |
Germany registered 1,450 Grenadiers from the market launch in 2023 to December 2024, according to German Wikipedia's table. Euro NCAP has not published a rating for the Grenadier.
Electric and hydrogen plans
Ineos has looked at two alternative drivetrains. In 2020–2021 it announced a partnership with Hyundai on hydrogen fuel-cell technology; English Wikipedia dates the announcement to November 2020 on one page and October 2021 on another. English Wikipedia also reports an electric Grenadier due in 2026, developed with Magna and built in Graz, Austria. The smaller Fusilier, planned as an electric or hybrid model, did not reach production.
Photo gallery
Ineos Grenadier in our rankings
- No. 31 of 143 · Most powerful diesel cars (183 kW · top 23%)
- No. 23 of 81 · Most torque: diesel cars (550 Nm · top 29%)
- No. 45 of 118 · Most torque: SUVs and crossovers (550 Nm · top 39%)
- No. 139 of 368 · Most torque: cars (550 Nm · top 39%)
- No. 103 of 197 · Most powerful SUVs and crossovers (210 kW · top 53%)
- No. 456 of 859 · Most powerful cars (210 kW · top 54%)
More powerful than 77% of ranked diesel cars in the 1CARS catalog (No. 31 of 143).
Ineos Grenadier photos 6
FAQ
Who makes the Ineos Grenadier?
Ineos Automotive, part of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos group, builds it in Hambach, France.
What engine is in the Ineos Grenadier?
A BMW 3.0-litre straight-six: the B58 petrol with 210 kW (286 PS) or the B57 diesel with 183 kW (249 PS).
Is the Grenadier based on the Land Rover Defender?
No. It was designed as a successor in spirit after Jaguar Land Rover declined to sell the old Defender's tooling, but it is a new vehicle with its own frame and BMW engines.
How much can the Ineos Grenadier tow?
3,500 kg, for both the Station Wagon and the Quartermaster pickup.
Why is it called Grenadier?
It is named after The Grenadier, Sir Jim Ratcliffe's favourite pub in Belgravia, London, where the idea was discussed.
Data sources
Data checked by an editor against the sources below.
