Ineos Fusilier will rival upcoming small EV SUVs from Mercedes and Land Rover.
Ineos has revealed the Fusilier as a smaller sibling to the Grenadier, bringing the option of pure-electric power and claiming “world-class off-road capability”. This is 4×4 company’s third model, after the Grenadier SUV and Quartermaster pick-up.
The pure-electric version of the Fusilier will be sold alongside a range-extender (REx) derivative – Ineos has yet to give full technical details for either variant.
Ineos Fusilier design and interior
While the EV and REx cars will look identical, the Fusilier’s visual relationship with the Grenadier is plain to see.
The Fusilier has a greater focus on aerodynamic efficiency; the blocky silhouette’s edges and corners have been rounded off, the windows are flush with the bodywork, the door hinges are recessed and there are active grille shutters at the front.
The company has yet to reveal the interior, but has confirmed it gets physical buttons and switches, like the Grenadier.
Ineos Fusilier battery, range and powertrain
The company said the EV has a targeted range of 400km and the REx will have around 70 percent of the EV’s battery capacity to give roughly 270km of range with the engine off. The batteries will be supplied by Samsung and assembled in Hungary, but Ineos has yet to decide on a specific chemistry.
CEO Lynn Calder told our sister publication Autocar UK that both cars will have an electric motor at each end for four-wheel drive and will be engineered to perform effectively on challenging terrain. Calder added, that the Fusilier will forego the Grenadier’s recirculating-ball steering – which has been criticised for its responsiveness and predictability – in the name of improved on-road behaviour.
Company founder and chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe said Ineos is offering the REx powertrain because “we’re beginning to understand the clear limitations of battery-electric in certain situations”. The REx’s petrol engine – which is yet to be revealed – will function as a generator to power the electric motors. Ineos estimates that this variant will emit 20-30 percent of the CO2 of a conventional ICE model.
Ineos Fusilier production and rivals
The decision to add a REx option was only made in the past few weeks and has prompted Ineos to push back the Fusilier’s planned launch date from 2026 to early 2027.
The Fusilier will also be engineered and developed by Magna. A part of the development programme will involve durability testing on the Shöckl Pass – a proving ground for every iteration and variant of the venerable G-Class so far.
The Land Rover Defender, Toyota Land Cruiser and Mercedes G-Class – the Grenadier’s key rivals – are each set to spawn more compact, electric derivatives in the coming years.
Also see:
Smaller Mercedes G-Class to be EV only, due by 2026
Land Rover evaluating smaller Defender model
Toyota Land Cruiser Se EV concept revealed ahead of Tokyo debut