These four Ineos Grenadier prototypes preview potential V8 and rally raid versions

Ineos has unveiled a whole range of modified Grenadier prototypes at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and we’re told that they offer ‘a glimpse of potential future Grenadier variants’. How very exciting. 

“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 CEO Lynn Calder. “As our new brand campaign states, the Grenadier is Built For More, and over the next few years we will be showing just what that means.”

Let’s run through the bunch to see what might be coming to supplement the Station Wagon and Quartermaster pickup… 

German tuner LeTech is known for its work modifying Mercedes G-Wagens for off-road use, but it’s also now an official Ineos sales and service partner. Welcome then to its hardcore, portal-axled Grenadier. Both a Quartermaster and Station Wagon will be at Goodwood, with the new axles and wheel hubs increasing ground clearance by 250mm to 514mm and wading depth from 800mm to 1050mm. There are chunky off-road tyres too and a lightbar up top on the roof. We want to have a go immediately.

This dinky version of the Quartermaster pickup was created by Ineos engineers at the factory in Hambach, France. It’s based on a standard Grenadier Station Wagon so doesn’t get the extended wheelbase of the production Quartermaster. It’s still a double cab though, with the rear seats pushed forward to maximise the space in the load bay. Apparently, its nickname is the ‘Shortermaster’. Great pun. 

Now here’s an exciting one. We’d love to see a production Grenadier with a V8 engine. This one was built by Ineos partner Magna’s engineering apprentices and, given the use of BMW six-cylinders in the Grenadier so far, we expected to hear about a 4.4-litre twin-turbo N63 under the bonnet…

But that is absolutely not the case. The 3.0-litre straight-six petrol has been swapped out for a GM-sourced, naturally aspirated 6.2-litre V8 that makes 425bhp and 461lb ft of torque. Apparently the new power unit required a complete re-engineering of the engine mounts, the engine electrics, the water and oil cooling, the exhaust manifold, the transmission bearings and the heat shields. Oh, and not forgetting the centre console on the inside too. Please make it, Ineos.

UK-based 4x4 specialist Buzz Special Vehicles has created a rally spec Grenadier that will compete in the 2025 World Rally-Raid Championship. Very cool. The racer gets an uprated version of the 3.0-litre straight-six petrol engine that’s now producing 349bhp and 406lb ft of torque. There’s a new sports exhaust system too, as well as racing suspension by R53 engineering, stronger brakes and bespoke alloy wheels. The interior has apparently been stripped out and there’s a full roll cage in there instead with bucket seats and carbon fibre interior door panels.