Ineos Automotive, the car company owned by billionaire mogul Sir Jim Ratcliffe, has today unveiled the hard-wearing interior of its upcoming Grenadier 4X4, which is expected to cost from around £30,000.
It is designed to be the spiritual successor to the original Land Rover and Land Rover Defender – and like the utilitarian offroaders that have been a favourites of farmers for decades it has a cabin that can be hosed clean.
Drain plugs in the rubber flooring, wipe-down upholstery and water-resistant Recaro seats mean the lower part of the interior can be blasted with a pressure washer, while many of the control switches are located in the ceiling to prevent them from being soaked.
It also features two horns – one for regular use that is mounted in the steering wheel centre and a ‘cyclist-friendly’ alternative that lets out a lesser ‘toot’ when the red button on the steering wheel is pushed.
![Step inside Sir Jim Ratcliffe's new 4X4: This is the first time we've seen the cabin of the forthcoming Ineos Grenadier offroader](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/07/06/18/45110473-9761805-image-a-121_1625591228049.jpg)
Step inside Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s new 4X4: This is the first time we’ve seen the cabin of the forthcoming Ineos Grenadier offroader
It’s the first time Ineos has released full interior images of the car, which was first revealed last year.
It has kept the vehicle’s cabin details and design under lock and key, despite showing the exterior in full and even confirming the car’s production at a former Daimler facility on the French-German border.
With assembly pushed back to 2022, due to the pandemic and delays to the 4X4’s testing schedule, the functional – yet still stylish – cockpit has been shown.
The design team behind it says the simple layout aims to deliver the space, practicality and versatility owners need from a hard-working offroader.
As you can see, the driver’s instrument cluster is missing from behind the wheel of this pre-production model, but the empty slot shows where the display will sit – and is the first example of this Lego-style adaptable interior the Grenadier will feature.
By keeping the dash very simple and versatile keeps production costs low – such as when the wheel has to be mounted on the other side of the vehicle for models sold outside of the UK.
The switchable interior layout means the lockable glovebox can also be moved to the opposite side of the cockpit.
![Drain plugs in the rubber flooring, wipe-down upholstery and water-resistant Recaro seats mean the lower part of the interior can be hosed out - but owners can't get carried away with a pressure washer as many of the controls are only splash resistant](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/07/06/20/45110487-9761805-Drain_plugs_in_the_rubber_flooring_wipe_down_upholstery_and_wate-a-140_1625599808326.jpg)
Drain plugs in the rubber flooring, wipe-down upholstery and water-resistant Recaro seats mean the lower part of the interior can be hosed out – but owners can’t get carried away with a pressure washer as many of the controls are only splash resistant
![Many of the control switches are located in the ceiling to prevent them from being soaked - and to keep cluttering of buttons on the dashboard to a minimum](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/07/06/18/45110477-9761805-image-a-123_1625591237155.jpg)
Many of the control switches are located in the ceiling to prevent them from being soaked – and to keep cluttering of buttons on the dashboard to a minimum
Toggle switches and dials on the centre and overhead consoles are widely spaced and clearly labelled so drivers know where everything is – even if the dash gets coated in mud on a particularly wet British day.
There are also auxiliary switches that are built in and pre-wired to support the addition of winches, work lights and other accessories, should customers choose to have them.
Controls for the locking differential and off-road mode are all housed in a unit in the roof, which means the dashboard isn’t overly cluttered with buttons.
And while the full interior is designed to be splash proof if you choose it to be, customers can configure their cars to have carpets and leather upholstery if they’re predominantly using their Grenadier on tarmac.
The steering wheel is a simple design with mounted buttons for the cruise control system and audio controls – and it even has a separate horn button to alert cyclists – a feature that’s been carried over from the Grenadier support vehicles currently used by the ‘Ineos Grenadiers’ cycling team in the Tour de France.
It has a less startling double ‘toot’ note, rather than the full-blown horn that is controlled by the pad around the logo in the steering wheel centre.
A spokesperson for the brand said the secondary horn can also be used to ‘beep’ at other Grenadier owners and described it as a ‘fun thing that also respects the countryside environment, with a nod to Ineos’s love of outdoor pursuits and sport’.
![The steering wheel is a fairly simple two-spoke design with Grenadier etched into the bottom section and the main horn control in the wheel centre around the brand's logo](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/07/06/18/45110463-9761805-image-a-124_1625591240095.jpg)
The steering wheel is a fairly simple two-spoke design with Grenadier etched into the bottom section and the main horn control in the wheel centre around the brand’s logo
![Among the sound controls on the steering wheel is a cyclist-specific horn, which is a feature that's been carried over from the Grenadiers being used as support vehicles for the official 'Ineos Grenadiers' cycling team competing in this year's Tour de France](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/07/06/18/45110463-9761805-image-a-134_1625591716662.jpg)
Among the sound controls on the steering wheel is a cyclist-specific horn, which is a feature that’s been carried over from the Grenadiers being used as support vehicles for the official ‘Ineos Grenadiers’ cycling team competing in this year’s Tour de France
![All the controls are solid, large and well spread out. They are also splash proof for when owners want to hose down the cockpit after a day in the dirt](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/07/06/18/45110459-9761805-image-a-125_1625591242744.jpg)
All the controls are solid, large and well spread out. They are also splash proof for when owners want to hose down the cockpit after a day in the dirt
The gear selector will be familiar to owners of recent BMW models.
That’s because the Grenadier will use the German brand’s 8-speed ZF automatic transmission, as well as 3.0-litre petrol and diesel engines supplied by the Munich car manufacturer. Ineos has also signed up with Hyundai to co-develop hydrogen powertrains, though this won’t be an option from launch.
Advanced technology – such as the 12.3-inch infotainment system and touch screen – is included ‘only where it benefits functionality and usability’, says the Ineos design team.
It will feature both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, meaning smartphone users can rely on navigation and updates no matter which system them choose to use.
And the offroad pathfinder navigation system allows drivers to programme, follow and record their route via waypoints, when roads and tracks are left behind.
![Inoes Automotive's aim is to produce a low-cost, no-nonsense offroad vehicle aimed at farmers. Bosses have said from the very beginning of the project that the 4X4 will need a cabin that can be hosed clean](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/07/06/23/45110453-9761805-Inoes_Automotive_s_aim_to_produce_a_low_cost_no_nonsense_offroad-a-2_1625609161889.jpg)
Inoes Automotive’s aim is to produce a low-cost, no-nonsense offroad vehicle aimed at farmers. Bosses have said from the very beginning of the project that the 4X4 will need a cabin that can be hosed clean
![Grenadier is currently undergoing its final stages of testing. It is due to hit the dunes of Morocco in the coming weeks to assess just how good it is on different terrains](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/07/07/00/45110471-9761805-Grenadier_is_currently_undergoing_its_final_stages_of_testing_It-a-1_1625614176051.jpg)
Grenadier is currently undergoing its final stages of testing. It is due to hit the dunes of Morocco in the coming weeks to assess just how good it is on different terrains
When asked about the cabin of the back-to-basics 4X4, Toby Ecuyer, head of design at Ineos Automotive, said: ‘When we started thinking about the Grenadier’s interior, we looked carefully at modern aircraft, boats and even tractors for inspiration, where switches are sited for optimal function, regular controls are close to hand, auxiliary ones are further away.
‘You can see the same approach in the Grenadier: the layout is functional and logical, designed with ease of use in mind. It has everything you need and nothing you don’t.’
One particular nod to its boat-inspired interior is the ‘Port’ and ‘Starboard’ references on edges of the lower control panel and overhead array.
Stowage space has been maximised, with a dry storage box under the rear seat (which can also fold flat to increase carrying capacity), a lockable central console cubby box, and secure side-mounted storage in the rear load area.
There is also scope for individualisation, with a wide range of interior options and accessories to help each owner customise the Grenadier to best perform its role.
![It was confirmed last year that Ratcliffe - Britain's fifth richest man with an estimated wealth of £12.2billion - had ditched plans to build the Grenadier at a state-of-the-art new site in Wales in favour of purchasing a French factory from Mercedes](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/07/07/00/45110481-9761805-It_was_confirmed_last_year_that_Ratcliffe_Britain_s_fifth_riches-a-2_1625614176053.jpg)
It was confirmed last year that Ratcliffe – Britain’s fifth richest man with an estimated wealth of £12.2billion – had ditched plans to build the Grenadier at a state-of-the-art new site in Wales in favour of purchasing a French factory from Mercedes
![Reservations for the car will open from October 2021 and deliveries will start from July 2022](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/07/07/00/45110449-9761805-Reservations_for_the_car_will_open_from_October_2021_and_deliver-a-3_1625614176054.jpg)
Reservations for the car will open from October 2021 and deliveries will start from July 2022
Dirk Heilmann, Ineos Automotive’s CEO, added: ‘Inside and out, the Grenadier has been designed to do a job – to get people and their kit where they want to go in comfort, in control and with no fuss. It just works.’
130 second-phase Grenadier prototypes are currently half-way through their target of 1.8 million kilometres (1.1 million miles) of gruelling testing around the world.
Its next test location is said to be the dunes of Morocco to puts its offroad capability to the ultimate examination.
Reservations for the car will open from October 2021 and deliveries will start from July 2022. Prices are set to range from £30,000 for the most stripped-out utilitarian versions, to £45,000 for the range-topping models.
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/07/07/00/30265808-9761805-image-a-4_1625614176062.jpg)