Ineos already has two autos based mostly on its rugged ladder-frame chassis, however the firm claims there’s “big scope” for extra configurations sooner or later.
The fledging off-road specialist model already affords the Grenadier wagon in two- and five-seat configurations, in addition to the 30cm-longer Grenadier Quartermaster ute in each pickup and cab-chassis physique types.
Talking with CarExpert, Ineos Automotive head of APAC area Justin Hocevar stated the platform underpinning the Grenadier is nice to work on.
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“I feel that there’s nonetheless big scope for us to actually spherical out the total functionality of our Grenadier platform,” stated Mr Hocevar.
“It’s a fantastic platform to work on. We need to keep in our lane be a specialist 4×4 producer, and I feel there’s nonetheless big scope for us to do all method of various configurations on high of this platform.”
On the Goodwood Competition of Velocity earlier this 12 months Ineos did reveal a wide selection of idea autos based mostly on the Grenadier and Grenadier Quartermaster.
Examples included a V8-powered wagon, a so-called ‘Shortermaster’ pickup, a portal axle-equipped Quartermaster, a FIA-compliant rally raid racer, and a Grenadier Safari automobile.
It additionally revealed a hydrogen fuel-cell (FCEV) Grenadier wagon demonstrator a month earlier.
At this stage it’s nonetheless unclear whether or not any of those ideas will truly go into manufacturing.
When requested about whether or not a manufacturing V8-powered Grenadier is on the horizon, Mr Hocevar stated if it turned accessible “we’d be placing our hand up for it, however we’ve received to stroll earlier than we run”.
“I feel Goodwood [Festival of Speed] received us all excited in regards to the romantic notions of V8s, the sound, acoustic expertise and every little thing like that,” stated Mr Hocevar.
“We’d have to really go a protracted option to get a better output energy unit into the automobile that will be actually purposeful in it.”
The V8-powered Grenadier prototype has a Normal Motors LS-series V8 engine producing 317kW of energy and 625Nm of torque.
Though Mr Hocevar stated the Grenadier platform is nice to work on for physique configurations, there are specific varieties Ineos presently isn’t exploring. An instance of those embrace a seven-seat model of the Grenadier wagon.
‘[A seven-seat SUV] is one which we’ve been wrestling with for a while already. In actual fact this was an idea that was thought-about very early on in growth” stated Mr Hocevar.
“There are actually some markets world wide the place a third-row configuration could be actually widespread.
“For us proper right here, proper now, with our manufacturing capability, the worldwide markets we’re launching in, the larger prominence of the five-seat market, signifies that we’re going to remain centered on that.
“However I feel it’s a watch and act. We all know that we’ve received that longer wheelbase [with the Grenadier Quartermaster].
One other Grenadier physique configuration Ineos isn’t presently contemplating is a single-cab model of the Quartermaster.
“For this market, it’s a continuing, ‘Hey, this is a crucial phase’ and we’d prefer to play in it,” stated Mr Hocevar.
Proper now, it’s not on this system. It’s a by no means say by no means, as I’ve talked about earlier than, we’re a specialist 4×4 firm, and we want to have the ability to provide a really various and specialised portfolio of autos.
“However proper right here, proper now, we’re somewhat over a 12 months into launching the wagon. We’re now launching the dual-cab. That could be a a lot larger phase than the single-cab market.
“The only-cab market, it’s an essential one, and we all know that there are patrons on the market for that kind of auto, however globally talking, it’s extremely aggressive. It’s very price-driven.
‘The chance just isn’t fairly as massive for us, however we’ll actually be retaining a eager eye on it, and if that chance exists, as I stated, by no means say by no means.”
MORE: Every thing Ineos Grenadier
