Sir James Arthur Ratcliffe is a British billionaire who is involved in a myriad of different industries and businesses, including various automotive businesses. Among other things, he is also a supporter of the Mercedes AMG F1 team. Ratcliffe is now venturing into the automotive industry, as the latest version of Land Rover's Defender model doesn't suit him and he doesn't like it at all. Because he was so disappointed with the new generation, he decided to make his own new Defender, one that retains the recognizable spirit and boldness of the original British SUV.
At first Ratcliffe tried buy a tool and a license for the old Defender, but to no avail. This is also why Ratcliffe decided to create his very own spartan SUV from the ground up. Kakopak drew inspiration from the legacy of the Defender and took it as a base, which he decently builds on. Dubbed the Grenadier 4X4, it fully mimics the Defender's traditional aesthetic, although it's clear that the concept is extremely modernized.
The chassis, which now keeps him company, is also very different "permanent" four-wheel drive with differential lock. It's under the hood BMW's 3.0 six-cylinder engine, mated to an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission complemented by a separate low-rpm transfer case. Ineos, the company behind the project (of which Ratcliffe is chairman and CEO), is building a Grenadier production facility in Wales and plans to start production in late 2021. Prices are expected to be around 50,000 euros, which would bring it price level with the latest Defender.
Looking at ambitions, motorization, etc., perhaps many people would even easily decide to Grenadier 4X4! And you?
Gallery: INEOS Grenadier 4X4
More information:
ineosgrenadier.com
