You can now officially buy the portal axled Ineos Grenadier, if you've got £150k lying around
Ineos teams up with LeTech to put its monstrous conversion kit into production after over 1,000 people expressed interest
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Remember the Ineos Grenadier LeTech prototype we drove up a mountain in Iceland, and then again in a muddy field in the UK? Well, after over 1,000 people expressed their interest in buying one, it'll soon be officially available to order at your local Ineos showroom.
Well, so long as you live in Germany, with the LeTech being offered to the rest of Europe thereafter. And so long as you have a spare €170,000 excluding VAT lying around for the Station Wagon version, or €171,000 excluding VAT for the giant Quartermaster pickup.
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Yeah, it's not cheap. But you are getting a lot of off-road kit for the cash. These Grenadiers will start life at the Ineos factory in Hambach as muddy spec Trialmasters with front and rear locking diffs. They will then be taken to LeTech's facility near Stuttgart in Germany where they'll be fitted with 'a new heavy-duty five-link front and rear suspension layout, portal axles with wheel hubs offset from the main axle and larger 37in BFGoodrich Mud Terrain off-road tyres'.
The 3.0-litre turbo straight-six from BMW remains unchanged no matter whether you spec the petrol or diesel option, but LeTech also adds 18in forged beadlock alloy wheels, new brakes, wider wheel arches and running boards, a front winch, a rear ladder, a roof rack and a lightbar with six LED spotlights. A tyre pressure control system and LED rear lamps are also options. Yes, give us all of the spotlights. The tiptoed Grenadiers also come with a full leather interior, heated front seats, safari windows and a 'premium sound system'.
Orders will open later this month and Ineos has had 'numerous enquiries' from rescue services and aid agencies that operate in less-than-ideal driving conditions. They will be pleased to hear the modifications enhance ground clearance to 450mm (a 186mm improvement) and wading depth to 1,050mm (up from 800mm as standard). The new setup also provides much greater wheel travel and improved axle articulation, while the 3,500kg towing capacity remains. As does the standard car's five-year, unlimited mileage mechanical warranty, apparently. Very sensible.
Anything else you should know? Ah yes, it's now officially called the Ineos Grenadier Trialmaster X LeTech, because every collaboration needs to include an 'X' these days.
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