Britain isn’t a tough enough test for the Ineos Grenadier, really. Too small, too densely populated, too well connected. The Australian Outback, on the other hand, is much more the ticket, with its vast expanses of nothingness and brutal climate. So Ineos has made a Quartermaster pickup perfect for the end of the world: it’s called the Quartermaster Kaiju, which is Japanese for ‘giant creature’ or ‘monster’, the idea being to tap into Australia’s love for modified Japanese 4x4s. Ineos’ down under division will be exhibiting it at events in Australia over the coming months, a rolling demo of what can be achieved with a blank canvas from the factory. Interestingly, Ineos is actually extending its new car warranty to aftermarket parts that are supplied through its official accessories partners. Perhaps something this extreme won’t get full factory backing, but it’s nice to know that Ineos is properly leaning into the go-anywhere nature of the car.
The Kaiju really has been kitted out for every eventuality. So in addition to those parts included in Trialmaster spec - an auxiliary battery, diff locks, an access ladder - plus those from the Ineos Genuine Accessories catalogue - the roo bar, rock sliders and checker plates - there are also things like a heavy-duty aluminium ute tray from Rhino Rack and BF Goodrich mud terrain tyres.
All par for the overland course, in truth, but the Kaiju takes its mission much more seriously than that. It has a 168-litre long-range fuel tank from Brown Davis alongside the standard 90 litres, which ought to mean many miles adventuring even with the Grenadier’s notoriously rubbish fuel consumption, plus remote reservoir dampers from JMACX like the Quartermaster is a rally raid car. They’re adjustable through 16 stages, come finished in cerakote for longevity and feature a ‘built-in Bump Zone to protect your vehicle from damage.’ Should that not stop you from getting stranded, the Kaiju features a recovery kit from MaxTrax.
Planning a more serious adventure? There’s a tray and canopy from Norweld also included, water and dust-resistant for the harshest conditions with a 130l fridge for vital VB supplies. Power comes from REDARC auxiliary power management, with a 150Ah Alpha lithium battery that’s claimed to last 5,000 cycles and is IP56-rated against water and dust ingress. So it’s tough enough to provide power wherever the Ineos ends up.
The battery needs to be powerful, too, as there are lighting and communications jobs to consider in the Kaiju. There are CB radios onboard (with colour screens, no less), as well as a personal locator beacon. Lighting comes from Stedi, and includes Type-X Evo Mini spot beams in the grille and the equivalent flood items above the windscreen. There are also work lights, a 9-plug array harness and further Type X Evos out the back. If you want to be found in a Quartermaster Kaiju, or want to find something in fact, it’s not going to be missed.
Justin Hocevar, the Ineos Regional Director for Asia Pacific, said: “We wanted to create a truly unique Quartermaster together with some incredibly innovative local engineering and accessory partners. The Quartermaster Cab Chassis is a ‘blank canvas’ that allows for great versatility when it comes to customisation, so together with these project partners, we let our imagination run wild. Ultimately, the Kaiju Quartermaster expresses our Australian vision of Built For More.” It’s hard to imagine a British equivalent looking quite so tough, but we’ll live in hope for something similar come 2025. After the Kaiju, a standard Quartermaster pickup just looks a little meek…
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