Ineos News

Fuel prices are soaring across the board whether it is petrol or diesel. Some drivers are being more affected than others as lower fuel efficiency contributes to higher refuelling costs. Here are the most expensive cars to run currently in Australia based on fuel efficiency. Other contributing factors to the high fuel costs on this list include the fact many of the cars have big fuel tanks and require premium fuel.Fuel prices have been calculated using the average prices for fuel in New South Wales and at an average of 15,000km driven per year. Among the heaviest guzzlers is the Nissan Patrol four-wheel drive, with its 5.6-litre V8 drinking fuel at a rate of 14.4L/100km. Its 140-litre fuel tank and requirement for premium unleaded petrol means it costs $364 per fill-up and a total yearly cost of $5617.28. The Patrol will move to a more efficient 3.5-litre six-cylinder twin-turbo petrol, which is expected to reduce fuel costs. The Ford Mustang sports car is another V8 on this list, with its 5.0-litre unit registering average fuel efficiency at 13.6L/100km and a yearly cost of $5310.27.Ford’s other representative is the Ranger Raptor high-end ute, powered by a twin-turbo six-cylinder petrol engine costing $4482.76 per year. The Ineos Grenadier off-roader is the most expensive model to run and costs $5618.50 a year to run, in part due to it being diesel, which has been the fuel type that has increased the most. The Lexus GX550 has refuelling costs of $208 per fill-up currently, costing $4800 for the year, along with nearly $3000 for the Jeep Gladiator, which unlike many on this list can run off E10 fuel.The 6.2-litre petrol V8 found in the Chevrolet Silverado full-size pick-up has an economy of more than 12 litres per 100km, costing $4,356.30 over the year.  Genesis’ GV70 luxury SUV costs more $4400 per year in fuel, a similar figure to the supercharged 5.0-litre V8 variants of the Land Rover Defender. Highest fuel efficiency new vehicles on sale under $150,000 

Ineos Automotive has unveiled its new Grenadier four-wheel drive with some Australian-tuned upgrades.The Black edition Grenadier will sit at the top of range, with a starting price of $122,000, before on-road costs. The special edition upgrades are available on both the wagon and ute versions of the car. The rugged off-road capabilities and minimalist interior see the Grenadier line up as a rival to the Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series.However, the French-built, British branded and German-engineered Grenadier is more expensive than the 70 Series, which starts from $79,200, before on-roads for the cheapest automatic variant. With a starting price of $105,000 for the double cab chassis, it is priced more similarly to the new-generation Land Rover Defender, which differs from the Grenadier’s ladder frame by resting on a monocoque frame.Ineos has said the new Black Edition has received some additional gear to give it some Australia-specific improvements. There are new specialist all terrain tyres from BFGoodrich, which are said to be more durable and offer consistent performance on a range of off-road surfaces. Plus, the Grenadier has undergone some other tuning, with a new variable-ratio steering system to aid sharp manoeuvring, especially on uneven terrain.The variable ratio steering box allows for a lower ratio around the central steering position, delivering "increased precision and responsiveness" according to the brand. It has some other comfort upgrades to improve long-distance cruising the car, in addition, the turning circle has also been reduced by around five per cent. The Black edition receives several blacked out elements on the body work of the car, such as the grille and skid plates.There are 18-inch black alloy wheels, privacy glass and lockable spare wheel storage. On the inside, the car gets a dark interior headlining and carpet flooring. The niche brand has said while there is no limit on volume, the car will have a limited production timeframe. The Black Edition Grenadier will be available with the same petrol and diesel choices as on the rest of the range. The BMW-sourced 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engine produces 210kW and 450Nm, while the diesel has 183kW and 550Nm. Both engine choices are mated to an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission with a proper 4x4 transfer case.2026 Ineos Grenadier price

Modern 4x4s are packed with clever tech - but at what cost?

Nostalgia can be a wonderful thing and may bring on a deep-seated hankering, if you will, for paisley shirts, disco balls, and, later, grunge music.This bitter-sweet sentimental longing can also be a terribly misleading mindset that leads to disappointment because nothing is ever actually as great as you remember it.The same applies to vehicles. What you recall to be such an awesome car is actually ordinary at best and mediocre at worst.But there’s a big market for nostalgia in the car realm and a chosen few new-ish vehicles, such as the Ineos Grenadier, Suzuki Jimny and Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series, all hark back to a bygone era, with their unabashed retro styling conjuring strong images of a supposedly better time.However, you’d best exercise caution if buying into any nostalgia-based product because it’s often not everything you’d imagined it to be — sometimes for better, sometimes for worse. Read on.While not technically an ‘old’ 4WD, the Ineos Grenadier and its ute stablemate the Quartermaster are part of a new wave of old-school-style 4WDs that mix a chunky traditional-style appearance with plenty of substance, namely in the form of a ladder frame chassis, live axles front and rear, permanent four-wheel drive, and the option of front, centre and rear locking differentials.It’s powered by either a BMW 3.0L turbo petrol, straight-six engine or BMW 3.0L twin-turbo diesel, straight-six engine and eight-speed automatic transmission.The Grenadier shares the upright squared-off look of the Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series, Land Rover Defender and Suzuki Jimny, but it’s exactly that simple straight-forward appeal to our sense of yesteryear that draws us in, whether we’re viewing the past through rose-coloured glasses or not. The Grenadier's design is a clear homage to the Land Rover Defenders of old — and it’s arguably the Defender Landie lovers actually wanted the new-gen Defender to be.The Grenadier’s looks also encompass strong nods to the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen, the Land Rover Discovery and even a sly tip of the hat to the Suzuki Jimny and Mitsubishi Pajero. But that appearance can be polarising so prepare yourself for numerous admiring glances but steel yourself for just as many disapproving glares.The cabin continues that no-nonsense work-and-play theme by way of a nicely laid-out interior with retro styling, myriad quirky touches and comfortable seats.But beyond its charming exterior and spartan but welcoming interior, this new, old-school (in spirit, at least) off-roader is also surprisingly pleasant to drive on sealed surfaces — for such a heavy, blocky 4WD anyway. It’s planted, somewhat comfortable (on heavy-duty coil-spring suspension), and refined (again, for a 4WD).There are trade-offs, though.It’s not dynamic (no surprise for a long and heavy solid-axle four-wheel-drive). If you haven't spent a lot of time or any time in vehicles like this, such as the Toyota LandCruiser 70 series or of that ilk – big heavy old-school 4WDs – then many of the Grenadier’s driving characteristics will likely rattle you.It’s not particularly quick off the mark either, unless you stomp your right foot to the floor. Again, no surprise for a big 4WD.Steering is slow, and there is a lot of play to it, especially off-centre. It feels floaty and it takes a lot of effort and constant micro-corrections when you're driving to keep it on track, whether that’s on a sealed surface or on a dirt track.These are big, heavy vehicles so they take considered driving to steer around – it has a turning circle ranging from 13.5 metres to 14.5 metres, depending on whether you’re driving the wagon or ute – but that's not to say those dimensions and those characteristics ruin it on- or off-road because they don't. These vehicles simply require more thought when you're driving it.That steering and concentrated driving style can be exhausting for some people. Keep that in mind.I can forgive the Grenadier for those characteristics because I reckon four-wheel driving should be a fully immersive experience, you should always be directly involved in the process and in the Grenadier you really are.And, of course, it’s handy off-road.The Grenadier has a dual-range transfer case, electronic traction control, and up to three diff locks (front, centre and rear as standard in Trialmaster and are able to be optioned up in other variants), and it's an effective mix of traditional mechanicals and driver-assist tech. The 3.0-litre petrol or diesel engines and eight-speed automatic transmission work well in on-road situations and it's also a cleverly smooth pairing for off-roading.But I think a lot of people, swept up in a nostalgia fever dream, buy vehicles like the Grenadier without realising what they’re getting into.As I’ve warned people about the ute version of the Grenadier, the Quartermaster, it’s a very capable four-wheel-drive ute and there's a lot to like about it, but the issue with a vehicle like this is that people may come into it not understanding exactly how it rides, how it drives and how involved you actually have to be. And also they don’t acknowledge the fact that there are lots of compromises to make, indeed some sacrifices.You're not getting as much driver-assist technology as you get in other contemporary vehicles, and it doesn't drive as precisely or perhaps as comfortably as some other modern 4WDs.Driving the Grenadier is an all-encompassing experience, good and bad. And if you get in one of these vehicles, you have to be ready for the bumps and the discomfort and the effort it requires, but all of those things add to the appeal of these vehicles, rather than detract from it.In being faithful to the spirit of old-school 4WDing, Ineos has shown its willingness to forgo those very things that people have come to arbitrarily expect. As a result it may attract not only urban explorers and dirt-track explorers, but also those who have little experience of how 4WDs ride and handle on bitumen, how they perform daily-driving duties and how to actually drive a 4WD off-road. I reckon some will get a rude shock.

Ineos Automotive is reportedly in talks with Chery to set up a deal that’ll see it be able to use one of its platforms for its delayed Fusilier off-roader.As reported by Autocar, the British multinational carmaker is eyeing a range-extender (REEV) platform from Chery’s iCar (aka. iCaur for export markets) off-road brand.It’s expected Ineos will repurpose iCar’s upcoming V27 REEV.At 4.8m long and just under 2.0m tall, this off-roader is slightly larger than the original Fusilier concept, but still smaller than the existing Grenadier wagon.The iCar V27 reportedly has a total system output of 335kW in dual-motor all-wheel form and comes with either a 22kWh or 33kWh battery pack, depending on the variant.It uses a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine as a generator when its battery pack runs out of the charge.The V27 can reportedly travel up to 200km on electric power alone, according to CLTC testing.It’s unclear where Ineos will build the Fusilier if it’s based on the same platform as the iCar V27.It could repurpose its facility in Hambach, France, to assemble the Fusilier with iCar platforms sent over from China.The car could also be built over in China, but if it is the case it would attract tariffs in Europe.The original Ineos Fusilier was revealed back in early 2024 and was claimed to offer both electric and range-extender options.Initially planned for a 2027 launch, Ineos pumped the brakes on development last year due to cooling demand for EVs and uncertainty around tariffs.At this stage it has been radio silence on this front until now.If Ineos does launch the Fusilier it will finally give it a crucial low-CO2 model that’ll see it comply with tightening emissions regulations in Europe and the UK.The company currently manages the regulations by selling some Grenadier models as commercial vehicles, allowing it to qualify as a low-volume manufacturer which has less strict emissions regulations.In Australia, Ineos sells the Grenadier as a NB1 medium goods vehicle in Australia which allows it to be exempt from the recently implemented New Vehicle Emissions Standard (NVES).It also allows it to be exempt from certain safety regulations for autonomous emergency braking and pole side impact performance.

Ineos’ CEO Lynn Calder has scolded the European Union’s mandate banning the sale of cars with an internal combustion engine (ICE) by 2035, telling Top Gear customers deserve to be able to choose the type of car they want to purchase.

If you don't love this ute, you can give it back - but there's a catch.

The 2025 Ineos Grenadier will be exempt from having car-to-car Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) fitted as standard, despite new Australian Design Rules (ADRs) mandating all new vehicles must be sold with the safety technology from March 1.AEB works by using car-mounted radars to measure the distance between a your vehicle and the car in front. The system autonomously brakes if the distance between you and and that car suddenly starts to shorten.Ineos was awarded the exemption under ADR 97/00 on the grounds of its Land Rover Defender-inspired off-roader being classified as a Medium Goods vehicle with a GVM exceeding 3.5 tonnes, but not 12 tonnes, that is “designed for off-road use.”Asked by CarsGuide why Ineos sought the exemption, even as AEB is fitted on Grenadiers sold overseas as well as the brand’s new Quartermaster ute, an Ineos spokesperson said the technology wasn’t sought after by Grenadier customers.“In Australia at present, this category of vehicle does not have a high demand for this technology. We remain open to the possibility of adding it to our local program in future, however, this will be led by market demand. We continue to carefully review our active customer feedback alongside all government requirements to ensure we provide the most compelling and compliant vehicle.”“Exemptions are available based on specific vehicle classification and this includes the Australian-homologated INEOS Grenadier, a specialist 4x4, reinforcing our commitment to delivering the ultimate vehicle to 4x4 enthusiasts who appreciate a back-to-basics, driver-centric approach.”Toyota did not seek an exemption on its 70 Series LandCruiser, the Grenadier’s main rival, which is also classified as a Medium Goods Vehicle. It now comes standard with AEB.Meanwhile, the passenger car equivalent mandate, ADR 98/00, saw the end of the Mitsubishi ASX, Eclipse Cross, Pajero Sport, as well as the Suzuki Vitara, Ignis and Swift Sport, among others.In response to new rules, Kia moved in January to fit AEB as standard on its Picanto, Australia’s cheapest car, which starts at just $18,290, before on-road costs.The Grenadier was launched in 2022 as the brainchild of British billionaire and chemical engineer, Sir James Ratcliffe, as a no-frills, utilitarian off-roader designed to occupy the gap left in the market by the departure of the Land Rover Defender.It is built on a relatively simple box-section ladder frame chassis, with heavy-duty Carraro beam front and rear axles, paired to a five-link coil suspension from Eibach and anti-roll bars.Powering it is the choice of a 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol or diesel engine from BMW, which sends either 210kW/450Nm or 183kW/550Nm, respectively, to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission pulled from a BMW 7 Series.It starts at $102,000, before on-road costs, for the 2 Seat Utility, rising to $123,600, before on-road costs, for the top-spec 1924 Station Wagon.Ineos doesn’t publish its local sales, so it is uncertain exactly how many cars the brand has sold since Grenadier deliveries commenced in 2023, although Australia is considered an important market for the brand.

New Australian Design Rules (ADRs) will begin to bite from March 1, 2025, requiring all new vehicles to be sold with auto emergency braking (AEB) systems. The rules mean major withdrawals from the Australian new-car market but they aren’t quite as widespread as you might imagine, with some manufacturers putting in the effort to keep their cars on the right side of the law. Falling in line with United Nations safety protocols, ADR 98/00 — Advanced Emergency Braking for Passenger Vehicles and Light Goods Vehicles requires the fitment of AEB, a life-saving technology that can automatically apply the brakes if a car senses an impending crash. These systems have various levels of effectiveness but the latest rule change is concerned with being able to detect other cars on the road. The systems must function at least between 10-60km/h and be able to bring the vehicle to a complete stop on a dry road from 40km/h. They must also switch on every time the car is started. This applied to new models of passenger car, light and medium commercial vehicles from March 1, 2023 and will cover all new vehicles imported into Australia from March 1.Mitsubishi is the hardest hit by the new rules, no longer able to sell the Pajero Sport off-road SUV or Eclipse Cross small SUV. The long-running ASX is also affected but Mitsubishi’s small SUV will be replaced by a new model this year.Next casualty is the cut-price Suzuki Ignis, which is not fitted with the technology. A new model, the Fronx, will replace it but probably not at its bargain price. Entry-level Vitaras will also be affected, though the brand did not respond to our query. The Porsche 718 would have been hit by the rule change, but production ceased in September with a new electric generation coming equipped with AEB. Another affordable brand slugged with the need for AEB is LDV, its cheap V80 large van is not equipped with the technology but, like the Porsche, production ended last year and all that’s left is existing stock. The entry trim T60 ute and all G10 van trims also lack AEB. CarsGuide was informed by a spokesperson that both “will meet the upcoming requirements for ADR 98/00”, with more news to share in the coming months. The Toyota Granvia people mover has also been given the chop. Onto the, perhaps unlikely, candidates that are equipped with AEB. Despite their age, these vehicles remain important sellers for carmakers, so it was clearly worth investing.There is none older than the Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series, over 40 years old its mid-life crisis (or glow-up) saw Toyota add crucial AEB including pedestrian, cyclist and motorcycle detection. Toyota also, a little sneakily, bumped the GVM beyond 3500kg to 3510kg in 2023. The value of this is that the 70 Series becomes reclassified as a medium goods vehicle, allowing it to dodge the latest side impact regulations that would’ve seen an imminent sales stop. The Toyota Fortuner, current HiLux and GR86 manual are all equipped with AEB that permit sale in Australia up to, and beyond, 2026.Another ageing model due for replacement is the Nissan Patrol, though the new version is not due until 2026 the Y62’s many life-cycle updates saw ‘Intelligent Emergency Braking’, an AEB system that can detect cars and pedestrians, way back in 2019.Also worth noting is the British Ineos Grenadier off-roader, the first batch does not have AEB. Cheekily, orders opened in May 2022 (before the mandate for all-new models) but customers didn’t receive cars in bulk until the first quarter of 2023, and Australian media only sampled the cars in December of that year. CarsGuide understands that all Grenadiers and Quartermasters will be equipped with AEB from March onwards.The Australian Government has launched a review into ADRs going forwards now there is no longer local manufacturing to legislate (and protect). The next big active safety ADR change (revised as ADR 98/01) is due in August 2026, when all cars sold must have AEB systems that can intervene if a pedestrian is detected in the path of a vehicle. Some carmakers, including Nissan and Mitsubishi, have called for this to better align Australia’s laws with Europe, Japan and the USA promoting greater affordability and fast-tracking of more efficient models. 

I feel like 2024 was the eye of the storm. It’s the year, which sits between a big surge of electrification, yet before our market will be hit with a big shake-up with at least 12 new manufacturers entering the fray in 2025.