Ineos, the company that decided to diversify from making chemicals (and owning a big chunk of the Mercedes F1 team) into making a Land Rover and Land Cruiser rival, has announced that it's trimming the prices of both its two-seat commercial models.
What are the new prices?
Both the two-seat hardtop Ineos Grenadier and the two-seat pickup Quartermaster now have starting prices of €59,995, which makes them much more competitive with the likes of the newly arrived Toyota Land Cruiser.
How does that compare to other rivals?
It also means that both the Grenadier and Quartermaster both significantly undercut the price of the Land Rover Defender Hardtop, and crucially, the Land Rover can't be had as a pickup at all.
Both the Grenadier and the Quartermaster are still more expensive than the likes of a VW Amarok or Ford Ranger pickup, but at least now by a smaller margin.
What exactly is an Ineos Grenadier
The Grenadier is a big, chunky 4x4 and most definitely not an SUV. It's based on a ladder-style box-section chassis, with body-on-frame construction. It gets permanent four-wheel drive with three locking differentials for serious off-road work, and it's powered by a choice of 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel or petrol engines, with a standard eight-speed automatic gearbox, both supplied to Ineos by BMW. The Quartermaster is the same vehicle, but turned into a pickup truck.
These are not cars for the school run (although there are passenger versions available with back seats and all) but they're hard-working vehicles for farming and forestry, able to tow up to 3.5 tonnes (with a maximum train weight of seven tonnes) and their interiors are designed to be hosed-out at the end of the long working day.
Who makes the Grenadier?
Both the Grenadier and the Quartermaster are made by Ineos, a company that started out as a maker of chemicals and cleaning products, and which is owned by British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, who also now owns a big chunk of Manchester United.
In Ireland, the Grenadier and the Quartermaster are imported and distributed by Orangeworks Automotive from a showroom based in Maynooth, Co. Kildare. According to Orangeworks, the new price: “Ensures that our most capable commercial vehicles remain highly competitive for Irish businesses, while continuing to deliver the durability, off-road capability, and practicality that define the Grenadier range.”