Ineos Automotive, the car manufacturing subsidiary of the petrochemical giant, has unveiled its third model after the Grenadier 4×4 and Quartermaster pick-up: the Fusilier. It is co-developed and will be produced by Magna Steyr, with a fully electric or a range-extended electric drivetrain, with a projected launch date 2026.

Ineos does not seem set on going all-electric yet, at least for the use case of their terrain vehicles. The Grenadier is currently undergoing testing with a hydrogen fuel cell (FCEV) drivetrain. At the same time, this new model, the Fusilier, can add a gasoline-powered range extender to its electric base.

G-Class look

The Fusilier is an all-new model co-developed with Austrian expert Magna Steyr, who also produces the Mercedes G-Class. And it seems that some of the parts bins have been shared, as the Fusilier looks similar to Mercedes’ off-roader. It is also smaller than the Grenadier, with a smoother shape to minimize drag.

On the technical side, not much is yet known. The Fusilier will sit on a skateboard platform with a steel top hat and underbody, combined with aluminum doors and closures to keep the weight down. The batteries will come from Samsung, but there is no word on the capacity or projected range. Ineos promises to reveal more by the Fall of 2024, including a launch date currently projected for the end of 2026.

Range extender

Chairman Jim Ratcliffe told media at the press launch, which was held at The Grenadier pub in London, where the first Ineos model was conceptualized, that “BEVs are perfect for certain uses. Like shorter trips and urban deliveries.”

“However, industry and governments need to have realistic expectations around other technologies that can help accelerate the necessary pace of change. That is why we offer an additional powertrain for the Fusilier, which dramatically reduces emissions but has the range and refueling capabilities needed.”

The combustion engine will be pretty straightforward, without variable valve timings or other clever extras to combine a high power output with low emissions in a regular ICE vehicle. It will run in a steady state and “will still have a low carbon footprint, but without the anxiety about range or filling it up.”