INEOS Grenadier ute for Oz

The hard-core dual-cab 4x4 ute version of the all-new INEOS Grenadier will directly target the trusty Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series in Australia.

Speaking to carsales at the interior reveal of the BMW-powered British off-roader in the UK overnight, INEOS product chief Donna Falconer provided several new details about the upcoming Grenadier pick-up.

Key among them is that the four-door Grenadier crew-cab will share the wagon’s chassis, including coil springs all round, but will ride on a longer wheelbase.

“In terms of the pick-up, it’s no secret we are doing a double-cab pick-up and the key thing is, whether it’s the Grenadier station wagon or the pick-up, ultimately they’re off-road vehicles,” said Falconer.

“They’re designed to be hard-core, off-road, go-anywhere utility vehicles.

“In terms of the chassis, the engineering, the set-up, the axles, the suspension, it’s the same for both vehicles, but we will have a longer wheelbase on the pick-up.”

“That’s absolutely what we’re targeting. We’re doing a lot of testing at the moment. There’s no getting away from the fact that given the structure and rigidity and durability that’s in the vehicle, clearly it’s a heavy vehicle, but were doing everything we can to hit that [one-tonne payload] target,” she said.

“We haven’t concluded testing yet and there’s a bit more work to do before we’re ready to announce it, but we’re definitely aiming for it. Watch this space.”

INEOS is also targeting a 3500kg tow capacity for the Grenadier pick-up, matching the best mid-size utes and the Grenadier wagon, which will eclipse most off-road SUVs and match the full-size Toyota LandCruiser for towing capability.

“Definitely, yes,” said Falconer in response to questions around 3.5-tonne towing.

Falconer said INEOS was also looking to future-proof the Grenadier via alternative zero-emissions powertrains including hydrogen fuel-cell technology.

“That’s another big topic [FCEV] at the moment,” she revealed. “We’re doing a lot of work on that right now. We signed a memorandum of understanding with Hyundai. I think fuel-cell would be great if we could find a way to make it work.

“Who knows, but right now it’s not in the plan,” said Falconer. “We’re looking at the lifecycle strategy, at what could come beyond the initial Grenadier wagon and the pick-up.”

When asked whether INEOS would produce an even harder-core rival for the Ford Raptor desert-crusher, Falconer teased: “I’d love to tell you more, but right now my lips are sealed on that one. We’ll see. I’ll make some notes!”

Like the Grenadier wagon, the ute will be aimed at traditional Land Rover Defender pick-up buyers including farmers and recreational customers in a unique sales strategy for Australia, but also the mining industry as a direct rival for the Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series.

Falconer said INEOS intends to price the Grenadier ute below the wagon, which will start from about around £45,000 ($A82,000) in the UK. Toyota’s double-cab 70 Series range starts at $71,500.

“We’ll try and get [the pick-up priced] under the station wagon, but it’ll be competitively priced given the attributes of the vehicle,” she said.

“There’s a lot of expensive engineering that’s gone into this vehicle – everything from the engines to the axles, the transmission, the vehicle structure itself. We’re very conscious of price, but we’re also very conscious that what we’ve created is something that’s actually great value.

“It’s going to last 30 years, it’s rugged, you can take it anywhere, do anything with it, and it’s easily repairable. So I think it’s going to be a little more expensive than you might find some of the entry-level pick-ups, but it’s going to last.

“That’s really important – the engineering excellence, the durability. You’re going to live with this thing for many years, so there’s a value-for-money aspect from that perspective.”

No release date has been set for the INEOS Grenadier pick-up, but Falconer said it wouldn’t be too far behind the wagon, which will become available in Australia from July 2022.

“Hopefully, pending all the final testing, it’ll be fairly hot off the heels off the back of the station wagon. But we can’t give away final dates yet. You won’t have to wait too long,” she said.