If there’s one thing guaranteed with the most off-roady of off-roaders, it’s that nobody will have to wait long for an overtly road focused rework. Happens with G-Classes, happens with Defenders, happens with Jimnys - now it’s most certainly happening with Grenadiers.
Following a toe-in-the-water styling package (and a more explicitly all-terrain-focused Expedition car), the Chelsea Truck Company has this, the Ineos Grenadier Grandmaster. CTC suggests that its latest transformation ‘captures that same soul’ as the rufty-tufty standard car, albeit ‘with a refined, more road-focused aesthetic that embodies the OEM+ philosophy of design’.
So it’s a pretty unapologetic Grenadier, put it that way. The Grandmaster gets 40mm wider arches in exposed carbon (don’t scrape those on bollards), filled out with 9x20-inch forged alloy wheels (don’t scrape those on kerbs), plus a central roof light (in exposed carbon, obvs) to clear the way on the North Circular. While the tyres remain all terrain, the grille is now something called a Dakar with centre lights and the window covers now ‘Alpine’ spec, this is clearly designed for road routes. What use would 100mm exhaust tips be for a straight six if there wasn’t anyone around to hear them?
The Granmaster interior is equally bold. Volcanic Blue is as distinctive as you might hope, here in Nappa hide and found just about everywhere: Seats, door cards, grab handles, gaiters, the whole kit and kaboodle. Chelsea suggests that the upholstery offers ‘a seamless blend of luxury and comfort, providing an experience as indulgent as it is refined’. Which are not typically words associated with the Ineos Grenadier, so it’ll be interesting to see how much of a change has been wrought by the changes. Certainly not going to mistake it for a standard car, at least…
While the Grandmaster is being launched as a standalone model, expect some of the parts to make it to the CTC store in time. There are already parts like the hard spare wheel cover (£700 inc VAT) in a different design, an assortment of bodykits (£6k-£9k) and a 30mm suspension lift kit (£825), so it seems likely that the new rear valance, that chunky rear wing and the contrast roof will be there soon enough.
For those that want the complete car - ‘the ultimate expression of sophistication’, no less - there isn’t yet a Grandmaster RRP. But given the most affordable Grenadier on Chelsea’s stocklist is more than £70,000, and it’s most expensive not that far from £100k, it’s likely to be in that ballpark. Which is probably a cheaper way into the trend than with a Defender or a G-Class. Coming to a not-quite-big-enough parking space near you soon.
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