Notes from my visit with the INEOS staff at the Overland Expo East in Arrington, Virginia USA (Day 1 - Friday, 7 October 2022):
- The vehicle on display in blue and white livery was the same Prototype 2 model that has been in the US for a year now. As with all prototypes, the interior plastics were primarily 3D-printed and not indicative of the final fit and finish.
- An INEOS rep confirmed that they had just finished their high-altitude Grenadier testing in Colorado and that there was a video in post-production that would be disseminated in the near future to report upon that testing.
- There has been discussion at INEOS about public feedback on the wheel tunnel humps in the rear cargo area. The humps are caused by / due to the position of the shock towers. However there may be a design change made to provide a more squared off look to the humps.
- Manufacturing - Hambach v. Wales: One of the INEOS reps indicated that Hambach became a better choice to produce cars because the proposed site in Wales , a former Ford site, had been previously focused on engine / power train machining. It would have taken more physical changes and time to develop that site to perform Grenadier assembly. On the other hand, Hambach was already making the Smart car and thus needed far less time and effort to prepare it to build Grenadiers. Thus, they are bringing the Grenadier to market faster.
- A More “Hands-On” Ownership: The INEOS rep confirmed there will be a focus on making the Grenadier easier to maintain by the car owner. For example, detailed shop manuals would be made available and downloadable. Parts designs have been focused on making things more interchangeable for easier repairs. One example of this are the front headlights. In other brands, you probably have to order a left or a right headlamp with different part numbers. The Grenadier’s left and right headlamps are interchangeable (not a different “left” and “right” headlamp) and could easily be swapped out and leveled by the owner.
- There will be 11 vehicles made available in the US for potential buyers to obtain a test drive. When: Possibly as early as January 2023 but more likely later in Spring 2023.
- Pricing in the US: One rep said pricing would probably be in the higher trim range of the current Jeep Rubicons / Ford Bronco’s, but wouldn’t be made known until after January 2023. Another rep opined that the cost of the vehicle may be slightly higher in the $70-80K USD range. Regardless of what the true cost may be, both confirmed that the factory price would be THE price. The INEOS dealership model in the US would not make it possible for a dealer to insert their own local dealer pricing and/or additional mark-ups.
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I asked him if it was like the one I used to have on my LR Disco II sunroof and he said, “yeah like that”.
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