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Rugged, off-road-oriented SUVs just like the Ford Bronco, Jeep Wrangler, and Land Rover Defender could quickly face competitors from a formidable contender developed by the newly minted automotive arm of British chemical large Ineos.
That contender is the Grenadier, a boxy, go-anywhere SUV modeled after the previous-generation Land Rover Defender, and in manufacturing at a plant in France for the reason that summer time. The automobile begins deliveries in Europe and different markets within the fourth quarter of the yr, and Ineos is within the course of of creating a U.S. vendor community.
From the onset of the automobile’s improvement, Ineos has insisted the U.S. market is a part of the plan, and final summer time the corporate employed Greg Clark, a former advertising and marketing govt at each Jaguar Land Rover and Mercedes-Benz, to assist launch native gross sales.
In an interview with Automotive Information (subscription required) revealed final week, Clark mentioned Ineos already has 5,000 reservations for the Grenadier from U.S. residents, and that the corporate was within the strategy of signing up dealerships to transform these reservations to gross sales. He mentioned Ineos does not wish to go along with a direct gross sales mannequin like many rival startups, however moderately the extra conventional dealership mannequin.
2022 Ineos Grenadier
Clark advised Automotive Information Ineos plans to have round 35 dealerships throughout the U.S. and Canada, and that numerous BMW dealerships and European import dealerships have expressed curiosity. Lots of the Grenadier’s mechanicals are widespread to trendy BMWs, together with the powertrain and transmission.
Clark has beforehand mentioned the Grenadier might begin U.S. gross sales earlier than 2023 is out, and that to maintain issues easy the corporate plans only one powertrain for this market, a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6. Within the Grenadier, the engine is mated to an 8-speed automated and a four-wheel-drive system with a 2-speed switch case. A diesel is obtainable in different markets.
Additional down the observe, a pickup physique fashion and probably even a hydrogen-electric powertrain could also be supplied. Ineos has additionally hinted at a smaller electrical SUV.
There is not any phrase on pricing however rumors level to a base sticker of round $75,000. Pricing in Europe begins at 68,990 euros (roughly $69,800).
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