Is this being built in the old Ford factory? I hope it’s a success, it ticks all the boxes for defender purists. Hopefully it’s mechanical designed to be worked on at the side of the road without the need of a laptop, lots to be said for simplicity and accessibility.

The only issue with that is to meet emissions legislation it will need all the sensors and after treatment that goes with modern vehicles so will no doubt need plugging in to a laptop to find issues.

>>so will no doubt need plugging in to a laptop to find issues.

It has been said in the past that the old Royal Enfield motorcycle is alive & well in Indian - partly based on the principle of it being easier to repair than the locally built Hondas etc.

Dan86 is right saying simple does not describe BMW 3 litre, ZF auto, emissions + electronics.

In the past Toyota Land Cruisers sold in the Europe had different engines (more complex) than those that are sold in 3rd world countries

Royal Oilfields (as they used to be known as in the UK) have come on a bit recently and have gone complicated!

https://www.royalenfield.com/in/en/motorcycles/

The chassis of Grenadier has departed considerably from the Land Rover Defender design, even though it's still a ladder frame with live axles. So it's a pity the body styling isn't a bit more original too. For example, why retain the plastic 'eyebrow' wheel-arch extensions instead of making the whole body wider, giving more interior space.

Land Rover only used the plastic extensions because the 90 and 110 had a wider track than the previous Series 3, Why Land Rover didn't go for a wider body back then I don't know, since almost every panel affected by any widening was different from the Series 3 anyway!

I like those plastic sacrificial wheelarch extensions on 4x4's, in narrow places off road the chances are a clout will only damage the extension or those lower door panels which are usually clipped or plastic screwed on and designed to break off under enough force leaving no damage to the main body, just had this exact thing happen on our Landcruiser, easy repair and no damage at all to the nsr quarter panel.

Years and years ago i remember reading a test of a Pinzguuer 6x6 in an off road magazine. It was fitted with wooden rubbing strips, the reason being that in serious off roading, they would work best with the kind of surface you are likely to be rubbing against!.

The Grenadier will be marketed ONLINE and at trade fairs, off road centres and relevant country fairs. Servicing and repairs will be via mobile mechanics and a tie up with an existing national chain. Presumably if factory parts are required they will need a 24hour courier?. They are aiming at 25000 units per annum. Sounds like a very modern approach but will it work in practice?

no shooting brake variants of the various other excellent Toyota 4x4s offered here at all either.

Highlander is coming though.

Highlander is coming though.

Excellent news, presumably with a similar drivetrain to Lexus SUV's?

It's on the same platform as Lexus RX so may well get the same hybrid powertrain.

Highlander is coming though.

Excellent news, presumably with a similar drivetrain to Lexus SUV's?

Only if you don't look at one.

Yes I read that Ineos is reviewing its manufacturing of the Grenadier, hardly surprising in view of the current state of the car market. It seems hard enough for the many car manufacturers competing for sales without something new breaking into the market.

I am not alone in noticing that the price of new cars is getting beyond a lot of pockets. Small cars such as the A1 and Minis seem out of proportion to larger cars put I suppose its the market. I saw a Works MINI cooper advertised at £42k more than twice the price as the base model.