Old-School Design Makes the Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster Timeless
Most new pickup trucks all look the same, it’s true, but not this one. The new Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster from British upstart Ineos Automotive has an old-timey name to match its old-school looks.
Based on the Ineos Grenadier SUV, which we’ve already had a close look at here, the Quartermaster is differentiated by a longer wheelbase and frame to accommodate the pickup bed.
Order books in the U.K. opened last month, but Canadians will have to wait a little longer. With the Grenadier SUV finally (after a couple delays) slated to arrive in Canada early next year, we’d guess the Quartermaster pickup could arrive sometime in late 2024 or 2025.
A New, Old-School Pickup
If other new trucks look ready to fight in an MMA octagon, the Quartermaster looks like it might slap you in the face with a leather glove and challenge you to fisticuffs. And, where Tesla’s Cybertruck looks forward, with electric power and a design pulled straight from some dystopian sci-fi wasteland, the Quartermaster looks backwards. Its power comes from fossil-fuels and the design pays homage to vintage Land Rover Series pickups — an icon still found on country estates and small farms throughout the U.K. That said, the Quartermaster has just enough modern technology to make it practical. The engine, for example, is a BMW straight-six, paired with ZF’s smooth eight-speed automatic gearbox.
Okay, but Can It Off-Road?
It may look old, but this truck can throw down. Its off-road credentials are (nearly) as impressive as the Grenadier’s. Only the pickup’s extra length — to accommodate the pickup bed — hampers its off-road prowess by limiting approach and departure angles.
So, you have a gnarly gravel road at your cottage? The Quartermaster could traverse that without breaking a sweat. The new truck has 264 millimetres of ground clearance and an 800 mm maximum wading depth. The company claims its truck has better approach, breakover and departure angles than any other production pickup on the market.
Fine, but Can It Tow?
Oh, it’ll tow, and haul, and do just about whatever else you need. It’s overkill for 90 per cent of owners, but aren’t all modern pickups?
The bed is 1,564 mm long — similar to the Chevy Colorado’s — but much, much wider at 1,619 mm wide. It’ll fit five people, and has the same 760 kilogram payload capacity and 3,500 kg towing capacity as the Grenadier SUV. A 400 watt power take-off in the bed will be great for tailgate parties. Speaking of which, the tailgate itself can support up to 225 kg when open.
Downsides?
Well, we’ll wait to drive it to offer a proper verdict of course. But, we can say right now that the Grenadier is a truly massive vehicle, and the Quartermaster is even larger. So, a word of warning: think twice before buying this pickup for running errands around town. Pictures don’t really do justice to the sheer scale of the machine. And, there’s the price.
How Much Does the Ineos Quartermaster Cost in Canada?
The company only just announced Canadian prices for the Grenadier SUV, and they’re a little higher than we (and some customers) expected. It starts at $91,929, so by the time you tick a few option boxes you’re looking at a six-figure SUV.
Canadian prices for the Quartermaster have yet to be announced, but in the U.K. it starts at £66,215 making it a few thousand pounds more expensive than the Grenadier. In Canada, we estimate customers will pay around $95,000 for the Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster. For reference, the Jeep Gladiator pickup starts at roughly $55,000. The Ineos is definitely a luxury option.
Who — or What — Is Ineos?
The story of Ineos Automotive, a car company spun off from a billion dollar petrochemical giant, is one of the stranger things to happen in the car world over the past few years. We were skeptical too, but vehicles are rolling off production lines now, and by all accounts they’re excellent.
In 2017, British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe had the idea for an old-school 4×4. The well-heeled founder of petrochemical giant Ineos Group spun up a new company, Ineos Automotive, which then purchased a former Mercedes assembly plant in France. The new company is working closely with Magna, the same firm that’s been building the G-Class under contract for Mercedes for decades. The Quartermaster is only the company’s second model, and the firm has already confirmed it has an EV in the works as well.
