[BlackPearl]

The production of the Land Rover Defender was ended on 29th of January 2016. Land Rover has launched a limited edition 400 Bbhp V8 Defender to mark its 70th anniversary, but that is not what this thread is about. Is there a hope of a full fledged resurrection of the timeless beauty? Please have a look at the the following websites -

https://www.ineos.com/businesses/ine...jektgrenadier/

https://projektgrenadier.com/





@Moderators, please delete this thread if such a thread already exists.

[GTO]

MBTech (in which Daimler has a stake) will be helping them develop it.

Henry Kohlstruck, Managing Director of MBtech, said: "All of us at MBtech are looking forward to getting involved in this once-in-a-generation opportunity to develop a truly uncompromising off-road vehicle. The next six months are where the real work will begin as we take all the design variables into account. Our key competencies lie in developing SUVs and 4x4s, and we are very excited to be given such freedom and responsibility to help complete a fantastic automotive project."

Source

[BlackPearl]

BMW to provide engines for Jim Ratcliffe's Land Rover Defender rival

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business...efender-rival/




Pasting the article here -

Billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe has picked German giant BMW to provide the engines for his much-anticipated "Grenadier" off-road car, dubbed a "spiritual successor" to the Land Rover Defender.

BMW will provide petrol and diesel engines for the new vehicles, which Ineos bills as “offering no-frills utilitarianism”.

Dirk Heilmann, chief executive of Ineos Automotive, said the agreement was a "significant milestone" for Projekt Grenadier, as BMW "builds the best engines in the world".

Ineos chemicals founder Sir Jim, Britain’s richest man, has committed £600m to produce the new car, which was announced in 2017 and takes its name from the London pub where the idea was hatched. At the time he said the car would pick up the 4x4 baton from the Defender, which went out of production in 2016.

However Ineos has more recently downplayed the Defender comparison, saying the the Grenadier is "inspired by the off-road originals, such as the Willys Jeep, Series 1 Land-Rover and J40 Toyota Land Cruiser". Jaguar Land Rover is also preparing to launch a new version of the classic design.

Ineos said the BMW partnership would mean that the new vehicle meets the latest emissions standards. Details of the car remain scant, with the company issuing only a "teaser" image and saying will be "built on all-new architecture".

Mark Tennant, commercial director of Ineos automotive, was tight-lipped about how the Grenadier will look, but did point to the popularity of "double cab" pick-up trucks in Europe.

"It's all about design for specific purpose, we want to put the U back into SUV," he said referring to the sports utility vehicles.

Mr Tennant said Ineos is targeting an annual output of 25,000 vehicles once full production is achieved, though this will take several years and the first cars are not expected to be built until 2021.

Last year Ineos announced that German company MBtech, a former subsidiary of Mercedes Benz, had been awarded the engineering contract for the Grenadier, with more than 200 staff working on it. Austria’s Magna Steyr is understood to have been contracted to work on the chassis, suspension and powertrain development. Other parts of Ineos Automotive, such as finance, supply chain and back-office work, are based in London.

Funding for the car is coming from the fortune Sir Jim made from his Ineos chemicals business, where his 60pc stake in the company has propelled him to the top spot in Britain’s rich list, with a net worth of £21bn.

However the billionaire is relocating from the UK for Monaco in a move that will save hundreds of millions in tax.

There has been intense speculation about where the Grenadier will be built, with Sir Jim having said that when production begins up to 1,000 jobs will be created, and 10,000 more supported in the supply chain.

Mr Tennant said that a decision on the location of the plant will come "within weeks", with the choice being narrowed down to two sites, one in the UK and one in Western Europe.

A row blew up last year over possible locations for the Projekt Grenadier plant, with the Government reportedly wooing Ineos with “unrivalled corporate tax support” in an attempt to persuade the company to base itself in Wales.

Mr Heilmann hit out at what he called “silly politics” that could affect Ineos’s decision on where to build the plant after ministers were accused of leaking private correspondence.

Ineos is also reviewing sites further afield in Europe.

[BlackPearl]

Hopefully this is good news for the hardcore Defender fans who were disappointed with the new Defender.

Source: https://www.carsuk.net/ineos-grenadi...-in-wales/amp/

Ineos Grenadier – the ‘Real’ new Land Rover Defender – WILL be built in Wales

The new 4×4 from Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos Automotive will have the Ineos Grenadier badge when it launches in 2020, and it will be built in Wales.

Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos has been busy developing a replacement for the Land Rover Defender for three years now, although it won’t be a Land Rover and nor will it be a new Defender.

But there’s no doubt the Ineos Grenadier – as we now know it will be called for production – will be a spiritual successor to the original Land Rover Defender, and not another luxury Land Rover offering, and will be designed for people who need it to work, complete with ladder chassis and different body styles to suit the work required.

The brief for the Ineos probably means it won’t look hugely different to the old Defender, but we don’t yet know what it will look like, although we do know it will be built in Wales. Well, most of it.

Following our report last month that Wales was the front-runner to build the Grenadier, Ineos has now confirmed that’s right and production will be at a new factory in Bridgend, South Wales, in 2021.

But not everything will be ‘Welsh’, as the 3.0 litre six-pot petrol and diesel engines will come from BMW – as will the auto ‘box and Infotainment – and sub-assembly will be done by Ineos in Portugal for the body and chassis.

Dirk Heilmann, Ineos Automotive CEO, said:

"Confirming production in the UK, as well as our investment in Portugal, is a major milestone for the project. We are progressing well with the design and engineering work, as well as our marketing and distribution plans. In the months ahead, we look forward to sharing more information about the Grenadier, and engaging with local suppliers, the community and region, in advance of the start of production in 2021."

Prices of the Ineos Grenadier are expected to be more than the old Defender, but a chunk less than Land Rover’s new Defender.

[karan561]

The Ineos Grenadier has been spotted testing in camouflage;







Image Source

[BlackPearl]

No more camouflages, the beauty is out. Hope to see it in flesh here in UK once it is launched.

Source: https://www.ineos.com/



A few more pictures from -

https://ineosgrenadier.com/media/ine...f-its-upcoming

[diwakarmuthu]

This looks cool. The boxy looks are legendary along with its rugged build. The door hinges are visible, those steel wheels look damn good.

This being a startup of sorts, probably Force Motors can think about a strategic partnership to build these in India. Would be a good alternative to the existing Gurkha models!!

[QuilonSpitfire]

Its heart melting to see someone making a proper SUV these days. As an ardent defender fanboy this brings tears into my eyes. this is what LR should have done with the new defender. Finally a car that says "lets go somewhere far far away"!

[car love]

Originally Posted by QuilonSpitfire

Its heart melting to see someone making a proper SUV these days. As an ardent defender fanboy this brings tears into my eyes. this is what LR should have done with the new defender. Finally a car that says "lets go somewhere far far away"!

Exactly. The new Defender is a rich kids toy. Real men will go for the Ineos one for sure.

[sunishsamuel]

A modern defender was always a dream. Looks like these guys will get it done. Eagerly waiting. I am pretty sure this will have a decent market in Australia too.

[Eshan Joshi]

They have revealed the interior. Looks pretty good.








For More:
https://www.motor1.com/news/518576/i...terior-photos/

[Kosfactor]

This thing`s earlier videos about the chassis and the body etc looked promising, that is until they have thrown in a BMW engine and ZF automatic, this is not a Sports car by any means. They should have used a more utilitarian engine and transmission instead.

[ss212]

Originally Posted by Kosfactor

This thing`s earlier videos about the chassis and the body etc looked promising, that is until they have thrown in a BMW engine and ZF automatic, this is not a Sports car by any means. They should have used a more utilitarian engine and transmission instead.

Exactly my thoughts. Everything was good till I heard BMW engine.

Very basic and utilitarian. I love the switchgear. Everything looks great. Just not sure about the engine.

[avira_tk]

Originally Posted by Kosfactor

This thing`s earlier videos about the chassis and the body etc looked promising, that is until they have thrown in a BMW engine and ZF automatic, this is not a Sports car by any means. They should have used a more utilitarian engine and transmission instead.

How is this a bad thing? The engines meet emission norms, which is the reason why they were chosen, the ZF is a proven reliable gearbox, basically the most reliable combination at this price point, estimated to be upwards of 55k Euros. This is hardly a sports car drivetrain, doesn't the G wagon share the engine/gearbox from the E class range, is that a negative?

Ineos is providing the capability, the only thing that meets the basic drivetrain requirement is the lc70, available in certain markets, it won't be allowed in the EU, where Ineos has its focus initially.

[Vikram Arya]

Something that we may never get in India; nevertheless it's heartening to see this thing finally taking shape... Here is the reveal of the interiors of the advanced pre-production prototype.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wrPT9buKkc