Longer chassis, functional interior and authentic off-road capabilities: the proof of the INEOS Grenadier, the off-road vehicle that challenges modern automotive trends
There are no longer the machines of the past, it is often said. Robust, effective ones. Not cool. The solid ones. But is it really like that? Not exactly. In fact, we tried the Ineos Grenadier, a 4×4 from the past. Wanted by its creator, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, to replace the Defender, after Land Rover had decided to withdraw it from the market. It was 2016.
Starting from that year, Ratcliffe (who among other things is one of the richest men in the United Kingdom) gets busy building a new off-road vehicle. Chooses the best materials. The result? A 4×4 with a clear, simple and immediate design. The Ineos Grenadier is a classic. He doesn’t have time. Because his lines don’t have it. There are no frills, just substance. And a lot of it. The body is squared off to maximize loading efficiency. Everything is studied down to the smallest detail to obtain the best result: the wheels are positioned at the ends of the frame to reduce bodywork overhangs and optimize off-road capabilities. And one of the Grenadier’s strong points is precisely the chassis: with box-section spars. Simple, robust and stable, it was designed to withstand the most extreme conditions,
kilometer after kilometre. Its steel section with a thickness of up to 3.5 mm guarantees excellent rigidity.
And the interior? Same philosophy: functional, intuitive and comfortable. Unlike most today, they prefer analog over digital, with well-spaced buttons, clear operating instructions and large switches in the central control system and controls
in the pavilion inspired by airplane cockpits. And do you know why? Because they can – or rather: they must, given that its natural habitat is dirt roads – be used with gloves. And this is much easier with analog. But does this car have a flaw? Yes, the steering. The turning diameter (from curb to curb) is in fact 13.5 metres.
We tried the Grenadier in every context. Urban, extra-urban and even dirt roads. And it goes everywhere. In every context. And with the same style as always, despite his young age.
