Beware, Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger! 2023 Ineos Grenadier 4×4 double cab confirmed for launch in Australia

The Ineos Grenadier ute is a station wagon version of the British brand's upcoming all-wheel-drive station wagon.

Interested in purchasing a new vehicle that looks a lot like the cab of the Land Rover Defender 130? Well, Australian car enthusiasts already spoiled for choice will get the chance to buy a double cab version of the Ineos Grenadier due to hit our shores in 2023.

The British-made Grenadier all-wheel-drive station wagon - an homage to the Land Rover Defender too close to comfort for some - hasn't gone on sale anywhere yet because it's still in pre-production testing, but it will most likely become available to Australian customers at the latest. quarter 4 years.

However, none of these deadlines stopped Ineos Automotive officials from advertising the arrival of the ute Grenadier version.

Justin Hosevar, head of sales and marketing for Asia-Pacific (Asia-Pacific), Ineos Automotive, said that the company recognizes the importance of the passenger car market in Australia and beyond, and therefore the grenadier car will be an important part of the current strategy in the region.

While details about it remain unclear at this stage, the SUV will be powered by a BMW 3.0-liter inline-six petrol engine (210kW/450Nm) or diesel engine (185kW/550Nm), an eight-speed automatic transmission, permanent all-wheel drive, as well as front, center and rear locking differentials.

The Ute will carry over the hardcore spirit of the Grenadier 4xXNUMX wagon with its boxy traditional XNUMXWD styling, as well as a ladder frame chassis with drive axles front and rear. It will be equipped with coil springs and will be manufactured in Hambach, France.

Inside, it's expected to feature an old-school dash and overhead console, as well as a 12.3-inch touchscreen media rig, waterproof Recaro seats, cleaning surfaces, rubber mats, and floor drain plugs.

In terms of appearance, the Grenadier ute will have a longer wheelbase and, as such, will have the same dimensions as the Land Rover Defender 130 crew cab.

Ineos is aiming for the ute to be able to legally handle a one ton payload and tow 3500kg.

As for the Grenadier station wagon, it is currently undergoing field testing which includes a claimed 1.8 million kilometers in the UK, Sweden, Iceland, the US, South Africa and Australia.

The entry-level two-seat commercial version of the Grenadier will have a starting price of $84,500 plus travel expenses (an "estimated price, not final," according to Ineos Automotive representatives). 

"Some models will stand on top of that, but they won't disappear at sky-high prices," said Mr. Hocevar.

The station wagon will come with a five-year/unlimited road-support mileage warranty, and a five-year service plan will be available from scratch, but no pricing was available at the time of writing.

According to representatives of Ineos, the Grenadier ute will cost less than the station wagon.