A NEW HORN GIVES CYCLISTS A HELPING HAND

IN CONSIDERATION of two-wheeled travellers, the new INEOS Grenadier 4x4 has — in addition to its conventional horn — an extra ‘beep beep’ button to give cyclists and other vulnerable road users a friendly warning if they stray too close for comfort or safety. It is a feature carried over from Grenadier support vehicles being used by the ‘Ineos Grenadiers’ cycling team in the Tour de France.

The red cyclist button — and a washable cabin — were revealed this week as part of a back-to-basics interior for the new off-roader from Ineos Automotive, the car firm owned by billionaire petrochemical mogul Sir Jim Ratcliffe. The utilitarian interior also has a cabin that can be hosed clean. Drain plugs in the rubber flooring, wipe-down upholstery and waterresistant Recaro seats mean the lower part of the Grendadier’s cabin can be washed out.

Many toggle switches are located airliner-style in the ceiling to prevent them from being soaked.

The new Grenadier is designed as ‘spiritual successor’ to the original Land Rover. It is to be built at a former Daimler facility on the French-German border after plans to construct it in Wales were shelved. Assembly has been pushed back to 2022 because of the Covid pandemic.

More luxurious interiors with carpets and cloth seats can be specified by buyers.

Reservations open from October 2021 with deliveries from July 2022. Expect prices from around £30,000 for basic stripped-out versions, to £45,000 for the range-topping models.