The new Grenadier SUV was conceived over a pint in a London pub by INEOS Chairman Sir James Arthur Ratcliffe. Now, as the British brand brings its off-roader stateside, it has selected 112-year-old Sewell Automotive Companies as one of 19 U.S. charter dealers.
The Sewell INEOS Grenadier dealership opens this week off the Dallas North Tollway in Plano.
The new Sewell INEOS Grenadier dealership opens this week off the Dallas North Tollway in Plano. [Rendering via Sewell]
The Grenadier SUV could be a modern successor to the classic Land Rover Defender, which stopped production in 2016. Ratcliff’s vision for “a stripped-back, no-nonsense, utilitarian 4X4 vehicle’ was inspired by his love for off-roading.
The billionaire and “lifelong Land Rover fan,” reportedly tried to buy the old Defender tooling and designs to keep it in production after 67 years, but Jaguar Land Rover “politely declined,” per The Robb Report.
A new take
INEOS Automotive, a subsidiary of the billionaire’s global petrochemical company INEOS, launched to fill the gap.
The Grenadier—named after the pub where Ratcliffe’s idea for the vehicle was born—fuses its British design with German engineering. In 2020, INEOS bought a manufacturing facility in France that once made smart cars, purchased from Mercedes-Benz, to ensure its standards.
Award-winning design and innovation
The INEOS Grenadier already appears to be making its mark in the automotive world. The 4×4 won the 2022 “Newcomer Award” from OFF ROAD magazine and “Best Design and Innovation” at the 2021 Scottish Car of the Year Awards.
The INEOS Grenadier’s newly unveiled interior has a practical and rugged design, as reported by The Robb Report. It features rubber flooring, drain plugs for easy cleaning, water-resistant Recaro seats, and a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. The vehicle employs an old-school ignition key and oversized knobs for “glove-friendly use.”
A unique feature is its twin horns, including a “toot horn” that alerts cyclists more gently, reflecting Ratcliffe’s cycling enthusiasm.
The five-seater SUV has plenty of muscle for “go-anywhere capability”: The INEOS Grenadier has a BMW engine delivering 282 BHP and high torque, paired with a ZF automatic transmission for optimal power and off-road performance. A “durable” ladder-frame chassis is enhanced by e-coat treatment and cavity wax, according to INEOS. The SUV also features a triple differential lock system for improved off-road handling and Eibach coil springs for superior terrain traversal.
Test drivers will experience the Grenadier’s “impressive capability,” Sewell said. “Prior to launch, it was tested for over one million miles across challenging terrain.”
While the current Grenadier has a combustion engine, INEOS is developing electric and hydrogen fuel-cell variants. The battery-electric Grenadier is expected in 2026 with at least 249 miles of range, according to Inside EVs.
First glimpse of the North American Grenadier
INEOS Automotive delivered its first Grenadiers in Europe this spring, and the first North American Grenadier is hot off the production line. Gear Patrol reports that American deliveries are scheduled for November 2023 and Canadian deliveries will follow in January 2024.
Pricing starts at $71,500 for the base model. The Trialmaster (extreme off-road trim) and Fieldmaster (more luxe with a tech trim) special editions start at $79,190. The three trims will be followed by the Quartermaster 4-door pickup truck version.
Toby Ecuyer, INEOS head of design, has said the engineering-led vehicle is “a canvas for people to go and build upon … it’s up to you to go and make it your own.” Customers can configure features, options, accessories, and body colors.
With over 7,000 orders nationwide so far, the U.S. stands as INEOS’ biggest market.
New Grenadier dealership “as artfully crafted as the vehicle”
The new Sewell INEOS Grenadier location is neighbor to Sewell BMW MINI of Plano, among its 12 Sewell dealerships in Dallas-Fort Worth.[Rendering via Sewell]
A state-of-the-art INEOS Grenadier dealership is being opened this week in Plano by Sewell.
“When INEOS Automotive selected Sewell as a charter dealer to bring the Grenadier to the U.S., we began preparations to build a facility as artfully crafted as the vehicle it will showcase,” Jacquelin Sewell, president of Sewell, said.
Sewell INEOS Grenadier at 5709 Spring Creek Parkway in Plano is opening for sales this week with business hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays. The dealership will be closed on Sundays. Test drives for the new Grenadier will be available in the coming weeks.
Carl Sewell says the new vehicle “will create a following of customers who appreciate quality, performance, and great service.” [Rendering via Sewell]
The Grenadier is the first model from INEOS Automotive, a subsidiary of INEOS Group, which operates 194 sites in 29 countries. Sewell has more than 3,800 associates and runs 19 dealerships in the state of Texas.
Get on the list.
Dallas Innovates, every day.
Sign up to keep your eye on what’s new and next in Dallas-Fort Worth, every day.
R E A D N E X T
-
Plano ISD partners with Capital One for the Savings Success program to take some of the myths out of money and turn them into financial facts.
-
These mavericks are not just shifting gears, they're changing the road rules in the automotive ecosystem. The Capital One Accelerator program, now in its second year, helps founders develop their business plans and pitches en route to becoming capital ready. Meet the 13 startups selected for 2023, set to drive innovation and change in the automotive ecosystem.
-
Paul Quinn College President Michael Sorrell has a vision for a global network of Urban Work Colleges that take aim at intergenerational poverty and "smash it." The first one opened in Plano in 2018. Accepting a leadership award from the Collin County Business Alliance, Sorrell asked his staff and students to stand up. Why? Because "they're going to come see you and talk to you about hiring students to work at your companies," Sorrell told the audience filled with local business leaders. "And I want everyone to practice this with me: 'Yes.'
-
Just north of Dallas, Plano and Richardson are nestled together—and they share at least one thing in common. Both have been named among the "2023 Best Cities to Live in America" by Niche, a leading platform that connects students and families with colleges and schools.
-
A subsidiary of Boston-based Bain Capital Credit is backing the launch of Legacy Corporate Lending, a new asset-based lending company headquartered in Plano that will serve middle market companies that might not be able to readily access traditional forms of lending. “We are excited to establish this well-capitalized platform in partnership with Bain Capital Credit at a time when lending provides an essential solution to many companies,” Legacy Corporate Lending CEO Clark Griffith said in a statement. “We see a significant opportunity to leverage our combined credit investment and industry expertise to provide borrowers with flexible, solutions-oriented capital. We look…
