This or the new Defender or a G Wagon, which tickles you more?
Like the original Mini and Beetle, the classic Defender from Land Rover remains an iconic vehicle and design that should never be put to rest.
Volkswagen Group made the mistake (we think) of retiring the iconic Beetle name and design a few years ago and just this month Chinese car manufacturer Great Wall resurrected the iconic Beetle design with their ORA Punk Cat electric car that looks too much like a classic Beetle.
The BMW Group after taking over the ailing Mini brand and design has done wonders in reviving this name plate and design with a variety of models and variants and the Mini is no longer small and cute, however it is selling well and that’s the important fact.
Now comes the iconic Defender. Land Rover’s current owners, the Tata Group decided to retire the design (not the name) and the all new 2021 Defender is not longer noticeable from afar. It remains a ‘go anywhere’ vehicle, but it looks too much like a Discovery Sports on steroids. So, a little know British company, Ineos bought the design and today we are looking at the revival of the iconic Defender, the Grenadier.
It is time for some Malaysian auto group to quickly contact their UK office and get the franchises as this is going to sell better than the latest Defender. Take my money (if we had any) as we want one in our garage.
Ineos designers and engineers have sourced two BMW engines to power the Grenadier 4×4. Both are 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo units. There is of course a diesel engine with 246bhp and 550Nm of torque, and a petrol engine that delivers 281bhp and with 450Nm. The permanent four-wheel drive with shift-able low range and a central locking diff is Ineos’ own design, but power is transferred via an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox.
Here we see Ineos Automotive sharing the cabin design and initial specifications for the Grenadier 4×4 which will be a utility vehicle that will have a rugged approach that mixes practicality and durability with the latest technology and plenty of comfort for urban use as well.
The cabin of the Grenadier has been designed from a clean sheet of paper with a focus on being easy to operate in the most extreme conditions and also as a lifestyle 4×4 SUV.
The infotainment system starts with a 12.3-inch touchscreen which is controlled via a rotary dial on the transmission tunnel and it uses a BMW sourced operating system but with bespoke graphics.
Included of course will be Apple CarPlay or Android Auto connectivity with an off-road pathfinder function for this 4×4’s intended use and capability.
The cabin materials are hard-wearing with a touch of luxury as an option. Splash-proof fabric upholstery is standard for the Recaro sourced seats.
The Grenadier selling price will start from around £45,000 (incl. VAT) (this will be in the region of RM230,000 before Malaysian delivery charges and taxes) for the two-seat entry-level commercial model with deliveries from October next year.
By the way, the latest Land Rover Defender was launched in Singapore just 11 months ago and its arrival in Malaysia is just around the corner. Expect a price of RM400,000 plus before options.
