The return of the pure off-roader

Ineos will bring the Grenadier 4x4 SUV to New Zealand late next year. It has also hinted at a future hydrogen version, writes Nile Bijoux.

Ineos has confirmed the New Zealand launch date and price of its Grenadier 4x4 SUV. The Grenadier seeks to bring offroading back to the SUV segment, after Ineos Group chief executive Jim Ratcliffe hatched the idea about two years ago.

‘‘There has been an explosion of SUVs into the market in recent years, of very mixed off-road capabilities – some very good ones, some less good ones and some more crossover-type vehicles – all probably united by ride height and driving position more than anything else,’’ Ineos Automotive chief executive Dirk Heilmann said last year. ‘‘But we wanted to go back to something a bit purer, with a focus on the off-road capability first and foremost.’’

That focus on form over function has led to the Land Rover Defenderlike design. Heilmann said this was basically what a properly capable 4x4 SUV will end up looking like if you pursue off-road strength over comfort or luxury.

The company’s new head of sales and marketing for the Asia-Pacific region, Justin Hocevar, said much the same. The Grenadier wants to be the best in its class, something helped by no fewer than 1.8 million testing kilometres undertaken.

It will feature two BMW-sourced engines, one a 3.0-litre petrol six and the other a 3.0-litre diesel six, both EU6 compliant. These are the engines Ineos will stick with for the meantime, although Hocevar heavily hinted at a hydrogen version coming, thanks to an existing partnership with Hyundai.

But enough of that – let’s get to the good stuff. Hocevar said in a media roundtable that the first Grenadier models will arrive in the fourth quarter of next year, with prices starting at $93,500 for the base two-seater model. He said there would be a ‘‘modest uplift’’ on the five-seater version.

A high level of specification will be standard, and diesel and petrol powertrains will cost the same.

As for after-sales, Ineos is confident enough to launch its product with a five-year, unlimitedkilometre warranty with roadside assistance. A five-year service plan will be an optional extra.

Armstrongs will be the sole distributor, and sales and service

locations are planned for Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.

And if you were still hankering for a BMW ute, Ineos may have just answered your prayers. Hocevar confirmed a dual-cab ute will come to New Zealand, presumably powered by the same BMW engines as the 4x4 SUV. The final sticker cost is yet to be confirmed.