Ineos shows new concepts at Goodwood

INEOS AUTOMOTIVE has demonstrated what it says is “the award-winning versatility and adaptability” of its Grenadier at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed with a troop of prototype models.

Portal-axled Grenadier Quartermaster and Station Wagon models, modified by German off-road specialists LeTech, offer increased ground clearance and wading depth, the duo joined by a short-bed Quartermaster pick-up, a V8-powered Station Wagon, an eight-seat Safari conversion from Botswana-based Kavango, and an FIA-compliant rally-ready Grenadier by Buzz Special Vehicles.

The prototypes, which Ineos Automotive says are “potential future variants”, are designed to showcase the Grenadier’s potential across a variety of applications.

The LeTech vehicles are of particular interest to off-road enthusiasts with a 250mm increase in chassis clearance (to 514mm) offset wheel hubs, larger off-road tyres, and a bolstered wading depth of 1050mm (up from 800mm).

It was joined by the ‘Shortermaster’ short-bed Quartmaster pick-up, a special model created by Ineos Automotive engineers at the company’s Hambach production facility in France.

Starting life as a Grenadier Station Wagon, the wheelbase of the model measures 2922mm, a full 305mm shorter than the Quartermaster ‘ute’.

The rear seats of the concept have been pushed forward to maximise the capacity of the load bay, which is fully integrated into the chassis.

The V8-powered Grenadier prototype was created as a one-off project by Magna engineering apprentices and features an LS3-series Chevrolet V8 displacing 6.2 litres and developing 317kW and 625Nm.

Ineos said the engine swap required the reconfiguring of the engine mounts, electronic architecture, water and oil cooling systems, exhaust system, transmission bearings, heat shields, and even the centre console.

Demonstrating the fit-for-purpose attitude of the Grenadier, the eight-seat Kavango safari vehicle is designed primarily as a game-viewer for use in African wildlife parks but may also see duty in a range of applications including conservation and anti-poaching operations, veterinary and primary healthcare, and even film production.

The vehicle features three tired rows of seats, enhanced off-road protection, bespoke alloy wheels and off-road tyres to “tackle the most demanding safari terrain”.

Finally – and perhaps the most appropriate vehicle for a Goodwood Festival of Speed debut – is the FIA-compliant, rally-ready Grenadier prepared by off-road rally specialists Buzz Special Vehicles.

Ready to compete in the 2025 World Rally-Raid Championship, the Buzz-prepared Grenadier features an uprated version of the BMW-sourced 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder petrol engine found under the bonnet of the Grenadier, now developing 260kW (+50kW) and 550Nm (+100Nm).

The bolstered powerplant is complemented by a sports exhaust system, race suspension, race brakes and unique alloy wheels, while the stripped-out cabin offers a full roll cage, racing bucket seats, carbon-fibre door cards, and a rally-style roof vent.

“The Grenadier’s body-on-frame chassis has already proven itself to be incredibly versatile, so as we look to future product and limited editions, we want to keep innovating,” said Ineos Automotive chief executive officer Lynn Calder.

“As our brand campaign states, the Grenadier is ‘Built for More’, and over the next few years we will be showing just what that means.”