Sir Jim Ratcliffe has long been a devoted Land Rover Defender enthusiast. So, when Jaguar Land Rover quietly ended production of the original ladder-frame Defender in January 2016, Ratcliffe refused to let that storied heritage vanish. Under his direction, Ineos Automotive assembled a small, focused team to build what would become the Grenadier: a rugged, purpose-built 4×4 that wears the Defender’s classic, boxy body style but is engineered and outfitted for today.
When Ineos opened Grenadier orders in May 2022, Jaguar Land Rover immediately challenged the newcomer in UK courts, claiming the Grenadier borrowed too heavily from Defender styling. After reviewing the evidence, judges ruled that simple, boxy shapes—like a flat-sided, slab-front profile—aren’t distinct enough to be trademarked, clearing the way for Ineos to move forward with production and mass-produce the Grenadier.
Led by design chief Toby Ecuyer, the Grenadier sits on a stout steel ladder frame, rides on live beam axles front and rear, and uses progressive-rate coil springs to maintain traction over rough terrain. Permanent four-wheel drive and a two-speed transfer case ensure low-range gearing when crawling power is needed. Inside, the cabin is refreshingly no-nonsense: rotary knobs, straightforward grab handles, and plenty of cubby spaces—all wrapped in durable, easy-to-clean materials.
Under the hood, you’ll find BMW’s 3.0L B58 turbo inline-six—renowned for its smooth torque delivery and long-term reliability—tuned to roughly 280 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque. That same engine powers the Toyota Supra, a testament to its versatility. It’s paired with a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission, calibrated for both off-road resilience and comfortable daily driving.
In the U.S., the Grenadier Station Wagon starts at around $73,100. The more rugged Trialmaster and the slightly more comfort-focused Fieldmaster versions begin just under $80,000. By comparison, today’s modern Defender SUVs—now built on unibody platforms—start in the mid-$50,000s for smaller models and can exceed $150,000 for high-end configurations. By marrying the Defender’s timeless looks with modern engineering, Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Grenadier fills the void left by the discontinued icon, offering true 4×4 purists a vehicle that’s equally at home on muddy trails, rocky climbs, or a weekend highway cruise.
