Ineos Automotive unveils five 4X4 prototypes at Goodwood

INEOS Automotive has unveiled five different Grenadier prototypes at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK, showcasing the versatility of the rugged body-on-frame 4X4. On display were the Grenadier Quartermaster and Station Wagon on a portal-axle chassis, the Shortermaster pick-up truck with a short cargo area, a station wagon with a V8 engine, an eight-seat Safari conversion and INEOS' first FIA-approved rally Grenadier.

The Grenadier station wagon and Quartermaster pick-up truck, which were built by renowned German automotive conversion specialist LeTech GmbH & Co KG, feature portal axles and offset wheel hubs that increase the ground clearance from 264 mm to 514 mm and the wheelbase from 800 mm to 1,050 mm. Larger off-road tyres complete the Portal Axle Grenadier's styling. Meanwhile, the Portal Axle Grenadier has already been put to use in the real world, with a similar conversion vehicle recently delivered to the Mühlheim an der Ruhr fire brigade in Germany.

The Quartermaster pick-up truck, nicknamed the Shortermaster for its shorter cargo area than the original Quartermaster, was developed by engineers at the INEOS Automotive plant in Hambach, France. Based on the standard Grenadier station wagon, the ShorterMaster has a wheelbase of 2,922 mm, 305 mm shorter than the outgoing Quartermaster. The rear seats have been pulled forward compared to the previous Quartermaster in order to fully integrate the cargo area into the chassis and at the same time maximise the size of the boot.

The Grenadier V8 prototype was built as a one-off project to give engineer apprentices from INEOS' partner Magna the experience of working on the Grenadier. The result was the replacement of the Grenadier's BMW's inline-six 3.0L petrol turbo engine with a GM V8 6.2L petrol unit that produces a peak output of 431hp. To accommodate the engine swap, the mounts, electrical, oil and cooling, exhaust manifold, rear muffler, transmission bearings, heat shield, and centre console were also completely redesigned.

The eight-seater safari is based on a Quartermaster pick-up truck built by INEOS Kavango in Botswana. It has undergone extensive specialised conversions for conservation and safari, anti-poaching, veterinary, medical transport and film production. It comfortably accommodates passengers with three-level seats that provide excellent visibility for all passengers, bespoke front and side protection bars for enhanced off-road protection, and off-road tyres and bespoke alloy wheels to tackle the most challenging safari terrain.

Buzz Special Vehicles has developed the first FIA-compliant Grenadier to showcase the Grenadier's high-speed off-road motorsport potential. The significantly enhanced model, which is set to compete in the World Rally-Raid Championship in 2025, upgrades the existing Grenadier's six-cylinder engine to produce 354bhp (68bhp more than the production engine). The racing conversion is completed with a sports exhaust system, race suspension from R53 Engineering in Warwick, UK, upgraded brakes and bespoke alloy wheels, and an interior with an internal rollcage, racing bucket seats, carbon interior door panels and roof vents.

"The Grenadier's body-on-frame chassis has already proven its versatility, and we look forward to continuing to innovate on future products," said Lynn Calder, CEO of INEOS Automotive.

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Photo Ineos Automotive