I'm not MattA nor Zimm and I doubt they want me to be them. I do not know them and I have no connections to them. BTW. I have no connection to the vast majority of the world population.
I tell you now that I can't reveal all, but I tell you what I revealed in a German podcast, already: Dirk Heilmann, former CEO of Ineos Automotive, contacted me end of May 2016 (at a time the decision if the Grenadier will be built or not wasn't even taken) because of my involvement in the 4x4 scene (I posted a video here, where you can see Dirk stepping out of a Defender. That was my 90ty Defender). I saw the first presentations when Ineos tried to buy the tools from Land Rover to continue the production of the Defender. I saw the study, performed by Magna Steyr for Ineos (which bought a white Defender 110 and which was given to Magna Steyr to get completely disassembled) which showed what would have been necessary to make the Land Rover Defender legal again, even in the US(!). Believe me, that wasn't much. I saw the initial specification sheet, when Ineos realized (with the help of Magna Steyr), that continuing the Defender is not a possible way. I sat down several evenings with Dirk and a German marketing company, specialised in market entries for British motor companies. We discussed the pricing, the targeted customer base, the models, how the 4x4 people think, what they like etc. etc. This company was cancelled by JR (too German) and the whole project was shifted to the UK. I flew to Magna Steyr with Dirk to discuss things. I know the first guys in the project, like the former project lead Alexander Quindt, who is retired now. BTW, many of these early people have left Ineos already. That is a public available information you can see on LinkedIn. There are more than 650 ex-Ineos Automotive employees). I was member in an international expert group, discussing things like two winches as a standard, the rails on the doors, the bumpers etc. I had one-on-one calls regarding such things. I collected a big list of third parties and suppliers for Ineos, when they were not clear what they want to do on their own (like the winch and the double battery system), what to leave to the aftermarket, what to approve as the manufacturer and what not to approve. Some of my suggestions are now partners or suppliers.
I received two Series IIa prototypes in my garage 12/2021 and Ineos technicians came to me and worked on the cars, made tests etc. The cars were foil-coated there. At that time the designated price was 54.000 Euro. I was visited by Steven Graham and we discussed the Carraro axles, the diff locks (yes, no, standard or option) the service and sales network, where I also contributed a little bit. However, not many has been left over of that. I had a very small and unimportant part in testing a specific part of the car, where I also met Ineos technicians and developers. I also now other externals which contributed to the project, like the interior and I know their stories. I know dealers and their stories. I'm not telling that I was responsible alone for this and that in that project or that it was only me discussing things with Ineos, no no, but I was a at least a (small) part of that. I was in London in the Grenadier pub when JR made the project public and I started his Land Rover Series 1 which stood in front of the door, because no one else knew how to do that.
Therefore I know exactly what the first ideas were (I loved these, I was absolutely excited!!), how things have changed on that journey (what is not good, as the Ineos communication&marketing had to follow these changes: from a very basic rugged vehicle for workers, farmers and doers to a more fancy, luxury car with a high price. You should now what you want right from the start). And I see what the the Grenadier has become. And I monitor that project as close as I can and with intent, also looking for and using information all around that universe, as I really want to know how it works out, as I loved the initial idea so much and still love it.
I think that is enough for now. Satisfied your curiosity? If not...ok..fine for me.
AWo