Rugged, off-road-oriented SUVs like the Ford Bronco, Jeep Wrangler and Land Rover Defender may soon face competition from a formidable rival developed by the giant’s newly minted automotive arm. British chemical giant Ineos.
That opponent is Grenadiera boxy, go-anywhere SUV modeled after the previous generation Land Rover Defender and Made in a factory in France since summer. Deliveries will begin in Europe and other markets in the fourth quarter of this year, and Ineos is in the process of establishing a dealer network in the US.
From the very beginning of the car’s development, Ineos insisted the US market was part of the plan, and last summer the company hired Greg Clark, a former marketing manager for both Jaguar Land Rover and Mercedes-Benz, to help kickstart local sales.
In an interview with Automotive News (registration required) announced last week, Clark said Ineos already has 5,000 reservations for Grenadier from US residents and the company is in the process of signing up agents to convert those bookings into sales. row. He said Ineos does not want to follow a direct selling model like many rival startups, but a more traditional agency model.
2022 Ineos Grenadier
Clark said Automotive News Ineos plans to have around 35 dealerships across the United States and Canada, and several BMW dealers and European import dealers have expressed interest. Many Grenadier mechanics are common with modern BMWs, including powertrains and gearboxes.
Clark previously said the Grenadier could start sales in the US before the end of 2023, and to keep things simple, the company only has one powertrain for this market, the turbocharged inline-6. 3.0 liters. In the Grenadier, the engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive with a two-speed transmission. A diesel engine is offered in other markets.
Further on the track, a pickup body style and maybe even a hydro-electric powertrain may be provided. Ineos also suggested a Smaller electric SUV.
No word on pricing but rumors indicate that a basic sticker is around $75,000. Prices in Europe start at 68,990 euros (about $69,800).
