SPY PICS: INEOS Grenadier ute breaks cover

An uncamouflaged production-spec INEOS Grenadier ute has been spotted undergoing open-road testing in Austria ahead of its expected global launch later this year, neatly in line with expectations previously outlined by INEOS product chief Donna Falconer.

So far seen only in official digital renders, Falconer said back in 2021 the dual-cab pick-up version of the Grenadier off-roader would “hopefully” follow “fairly hot off the heels off the back of the station wagon”, the international media launch for which is happening right now in Scotland.

The three spy images seen here were posted to the INEOS Grenadier Owners Australia Facebook group by Michael Hamilton, who in turn credited David Dafr for the shots.

The series shows a cream-coloured, fully-trimmed Grenadier dual-cab ute apparently making its way through Graz – near the Magna Steyr facility that produces not only the Grenadier but the Mercedes-Benz G-Class and the BMW Z4 and Toyota Supra sister models – devoid of any secrecy or camouflage.

Plastered to the back of the tailgate is a yellow warning decal translating to “US test vehicle. Flashing red lights”.

A video of the same cream test vehicle was posted to Instagram by thegrenadierguy a day after the photos emerged on Facebook, giving us a better look at the ute’s rear-end and the stand-out circular tail-light design pinched straight off the SUV.

There’s nothing entirely earth-shattering to report about the tubbed off-roader, but this working pre-production model looks to feature a longer tray than the almost bob-tailed dual-cab seen in the previous press image, plus a rear sports bar.

The longer tub is supported by a previously confirmed wheelbase extension compared to the wagon. According to Autocar, the Grenadier ute’s wheelbase will grow 3175mm – up 153mm from the wagon’s 2922mm and about 90mm longer than a Toyota HiLux twin-cab’s.

Unlike most other mid-size utes the Grenadier will feature coil-sprung rear suspension to prioritise off-road composure over the load-carrying capability of rear leaf springs.

The only other mid-size utes currently sold in Australia with a coil-sprung rear-end are the Nissan Navara, SsangYong Musso and Jeep Gladiator, the latter of which is arguably the Grenadier’s closest rival in terms of off-road capability – alongside the bare-bones Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series.

As with the Grenadier wagon, expect live axles at both ends, full-time four-wheel drive with centre differential lock and low-range ratios, optional front/rear diff locks and the option of the option of all-terrain tyres.

However, unlike the go-anywhere Jeep and budget-friendly SsangYong, the incoming British ute is intended to have a 1000kg payload capacity in order to make it a proper work and play vehicle.

Like the upcoming Grenadier wagon, expect the tray-back version to be powered by BMW-sourced turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six petrol and diesel engines matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

We don’t know yet when the Grenadier ute will be offered for sale Down Under, where first customer deliveries of the wagon are expected this month following production delays.

However, odds are the ute will arrive here within the next 12 to 18 months with similar price tags to the wagon, which is available in 12 different versions starting from $97,000 plus on-road costs.

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