Electric Ineos SUV due 2026

Fledgling British car-maker Ineos Automotive says it is planning to introduce an electric SUV with off-road potential by 2026.

However rather than developing its own ground-up design, the company independently funded by the chemical and energy giant of the same name, says it will adopt an electric platform from another as-yet unnamed manufacturer.

"The exterior design is nearly done, we’ve got a bit more to do on the interior. We are working with (third-party vehicle assembly and engineering firm Magna-Steyr) on that development program as well," said senior Ineos executive Mark Tennant.

Ineos remains tight-lipped about the electric-car platform it plans to adopt, however the company uses BMW petrol and diesel engines in the Grenadier (its first four-wheel-drive) – and the Magna-Steyr manufacturing firm also produces cars for Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and BMW.

“We are obviously looking for some carry-over from Grenadier, in terms of some components, but it won’t be a ladder frame (platform),” said Mr Tennant.

“It will be a skateboard (platform) because frankly, in order to get the range and capability, we need to go that route.”

The term ‘skateboard’ refers to a dedicated electric vehicle platform, whose form mimics the look of a basic skateboard: one wheel at each corner, connected by a bank of batteries that negate any need for a chassis or traditional powertrain – but with a car body on top.

This is in contrast to the 'ladder' frame chassis that underpins the Ineos Grenadier four-wheel drive, which was a ground-up bespoke design by Magna-Steyr.

When asked whether the forthcoming electric Ineos would be a heavy-duty or light-duty off-roader, Mr Tennant said:

“You’re not going to go back on durability and reliability. Off-road capability by definition of that platform, is probably not going to be quite as good (as the Grenadier).”

“But in the segment, relative to the growing idea of EV SUV, I think it will be class-leading.”

Justin Hocevar, regional head of Ineos Automotive for the Asia-Pacific region, told Drive while the forthcoming electric Ineos is yet to be confirmed for Australia, he claims there is a keen interest – and said it must have genuine capability rather than a 'soft-roader'.

He said the Ineos Grenadier was created to fill the void left by the older, hardcore Land Rover Defender four-wheel-drive – which became extinct in 2016 after 68 years of continuous production.

“The DNA that sat behind many brands (such as the Land Rover Defender) was being left behind; brands that had iconic (four-wheel-drives) were becoming increasingly SUV,” said Mr Hocevar.

“That battery-electric vehicle will retain core (Ineos) DNA, but it has to push the boundaries of what is going on in battery electric vehicles at the moment, which tends to be more soft-roader focussed.”