"What kind of car is this?"...The Ineos Grenadier draws gasps every time it stops [Outstanding Mobility]

\r\n\r\n\r\n[The Financial News] I was waiting at a traffic light. The driver in the next lane briefly rolled down the window, pulled out a smartphone, snapped a few photos, then waved and drove off. At a rest stop, a passing family came over with a child and posed in front of the car for a souvenir shot. In a large café parking lot, two groups took photos one after another. That scene repeated throughout a two-night, three-day test drive of the Ineos Grenadier, during which I covered about 400 kilometers.
The Ineos Grenadier is the first model from Ineos Automotive, a company founded by British chemicals group INEOS. It was developed after Jim Ratcliffe, chairman of the INEOS Group, heard that the classic Land Rover Defender would be discontinued. In 2017, he set out to build a no-compromise 4x4 that stayed true to the basics. The name comes from a regular pub in Belgravia, London, where Ratcliffe and his colleagues first talked about their dream of building a car.
Stand in front of the car, and it is easy to see why people gather around it. It measures 4,895 mm long, 1,930 mm wide and 2,035 mm tall. Its boxy body, made entirely of straight lines and right angles, gives off a striking presence in the middle of the city. With no curves at all, a sharply angular silhouette, round LED lamps at the front and rear, and an aluminum ladder mounted on the left side of the tailgate, it is a design that does not chase trends. In fact, it seems to ignore them altogether.
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe cabin has a completely different feel. Thick, chunky physical buttons cover the dashboard. Climate control, drivetrain functions and various assist features are all handled by switches and dials. Each button is spaced generously so it can be used even while wearing gloves. While many modern cars hide these functions behind screens, the Grenadier brings them out in a larger, more prominent way.
Look up at the ceiling, and another layer appears: the so-called overhead control panel. Inspired by an aircraft cockpit, this area houses off-road functions such as wading mode, center, front and rear differential locks, and downhill assist. The instrument cluster has been reduced to warning lights, while information such as speed, fuel level, tire pressure and steering angle is grouped to the left of the central 12.3-inch touchscreen.
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWith a curb weight of 2,700 kg, the nearly 3-ton body is powered by a BMW B58 engine, a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder turbocharged gasoline unit. Paired with a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission, it produces 286 horsepower and 45.9 kg·m of torque. Although it uses the same B58 engine, INEOS Automotive's engineering team recalibrated it so peak torque arrives earlier at low speeds. Press the accelerator on a highway on-ramp, and the heavy SUV gathers speed with surprising force. It was a moment that made the word powerful feel entirely appropriate.
The biggest surprise was the ride quality. It has a body-on-frame structure, solid beam axles and a curb weight of 2.7 tons, so I did not expect it to ride well. But once underway, the Eibach progressive coil springs and finely tuned 5-link suspension handle road impacts better than expected. The body settles immediately after crossing a speed bump, and there are no rattles. That is thanks to eight chassis mounts between the body and frame, which help filter out vibration. Among true off-roaders, this is one of the best on-road rides you can get.
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nDuring the drive from Seoul to Yeoju and then from Yeoju to Incheon Metropolitan City, one habit developed on the highway's straight sections: I had to make small steering corrections frequently. Because of the recirculating ball hydraulic power steering, with 3.85 turns lock-to-lock and a 13.5-meter turning diameter, the car does not automatically hold the center of the lane. It feels unfamiliar at first, but once you understand that this is part of the Grenadier's character, it becomes oddly natural. And once you know how precisely the steering works off-road, it makes sense.
Its limits were clear as well. I broke into a sweat several times in parking lots in downtown Seoul. With a turning diameter of 13.5 meters, it often took two or three corrections to get out of right-angle underground parking ramps. Even when taking corners, you always have to keep the vehicle's size and high center of gravity in mind. If you want to drive this car in the city, you first need to accept the inconvenience.
\r\n\r\n\r\nThe fuel economy is honest. The official combined figure is 5.5 km per liter. Even on mostly highway driving, the actual mileage shown on the cluster was hard to push much higher than that. The gearing was tuned for off-road capability, and while the 90-liter fuel tank means you will not stop for gas very often, you should be prepared for the amount you spend each time you fill up.
The Ineos Grenadier, sold exclusively in Korea by Chabot Motors, is priced at 139.9 million won for both the Fieldmaster Edition and the Trialmaster Edition. The two trims cost the same, but the Trialmaster Edition comes standard with front and rear differential locks and BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 tires. A five-year warranty applies, and a digital concierge service lets customers handle everything from purchase to test-drive requests through a single app.
Even after handing back the keys, one thought remained: I wanted to drive it again. It is the kind of car that is clearly inconvenient, yet keeps coming back to mind. The Ineos Grenadier is exactly that.
eastcold@fnnews.com Kim Dong-chan Reporter