Ineos Grenadier

It doesn't say anything about luxury but does say that utility shouldn't be at the expense of comfort or quality which is a fair point.

Given the size, equipment, BMW 6 cyl powertrain and investment to be recouped - I can't see this being offered for less than £50k.

I think as I said months ago - I think it will either be too utilitarian for the yummies or not utilitarian enough for those who need a work tool.

I can see what look like cloth seats and door inserts in those pictures - I would have thought wipe clean vinyl was the requirement.

It does say the interior can be hosed clean. I didn’t realise the old Defender managed to find 15,000 masochists a year prepared to buy it so I guess 30k a year buyers for this, even in excess of £50k, is not beyond the realms of possibilities.

It is rumoured that there are a number of enquiries from armed forces (and not just the UK) for the Grenadier; there's definitely money to be made from specialised versions, especially when Departments of Defence are involved

Yes but this does have all the hallmarks of a vanity project.
Remember Jim Ratcliffe's the guy who has paid a fortune to have some completely shagged, initial production run Series 1 Landrover restored in 'as found' condition.

Plus it appears he has taken to wearing a scarf with an open, tweedy jacket. Never a good sign

I hope it's a success, I admire the bravery in setting out to do this and hundreds of people will be gainfully employed.

Plus anything that isn't a bloody EV, plug in lie-brid or puny engined rolling road block gets my vote.

I think their pricing pitch has quietly been shifted. In the DT online article a couple of days ago, it said the commercial version would be £45k including VAT.  So I agree with you - the one pictured is going to be at least £50k, easily more with options. 

Ideally they would be UK based, but I don't begrudge my European brothers and sisters earning a crust. More quality jobs, irrespective of the location, is generally a win for the world.

Just the vanity project/particular individual, not the whole company.

I'm not being entirely serious.

I'm not in the market for one and doubt that it'll achieve its targets anyway.
Having said that I rarely see new Defenders round here but there were millions in the Lake District so perhaps the Grenadier will appeal to some potential Defender buyers who want something different, i.e. an old Defender that has a warranty.

I presume that of the 15k a year the old Defender sold not many went to Aus/ME. Is it different enough from the old Defender to make these markets reconsider.
Do you think the BMW engine will make enough of a difference?

I remember reading years ago that the Aussie & Middle Eastern markets didn't like the LR because of unreliability and also something to do with the long rear overhang causing a pendulum effect if you were driving quickly on a loose surface resulting in a crash (going slower was clearly never an option!).

I still dont quite understand how they've managed to basically copy the Defender without LR throwing a wobbly and whilst meeting modern emissions/ crash standards which LR said were the reasons the Defender could no longer be built. Have they done some sort of deal with LR for the rights to the design?

But this is a pastiche. It’s not about building a better mousetrap, this is about reminiscing about how good mousetraps used to be and then building a replica. 

I like the idea of someone building a rugged but basic 4x4 and calling in "mousetrap"






I'm sure Agatha Christie would approve, too

Scroll to about 9m30 to see the interior: