Ineos Fusilier: Because Land Rovers Weren't "Quirky" Enough
Remember the Ineos Grenadier, that glorious box on wheels meant to resurrect the spirit of the old-school Land Rover Defender? Ineos, the company that brought us a blast from the past by basically 3D-printing a new Land Rover Defender (with a BMW engine!) isn't content with having just one retro-flavored brick in their lineup. Meet the Fusilier, a slightly smaller, slightly smoother, and surprisingly electric take on the rugged-yet-refined formula. Well, let's call it electrified, shall we?
Apparently, taking design cues from a refrigerator was in vogue because the Fusilier has its own boxy charm. Visually, it's like someone put the Grenadier in a wind tunnel for a few minutes. It's smaller than the Grenadier, measuring around 178 inches long (452 cm), but promises the same off-road toughness. Still boxy, mind you, just with softer edges and an ever-so-slightly raked windshield for some aerodynamic pretense. Because nothing screams off-road dominance like active grille shutters, am I right? It loses the Grenadier's chunky charm but looks less likely to split air like an ax. Progress? Maybe.
Underneath, the Fusilier ditches the ladder-frame chassis for something called an EV "skateboard" platform. That means electric motors at each axle for genuine four-wheel drive. No word on power, torque, or whether it can pull a house (like a proper off-roader should), but hey, at least they gave up on the Grenadier's agricultural steering in favor of something modern. This thing might actually handle corners! But fear not, ruggedness lives on: Ineos promises an interior where you can hose the mud off the touchscreens... wait, no, there are actual buttons! It's a miracle!
Ok, so it is an electric off-roader that promises a lot - but how about its range? Ineos claims that under ideal European testing, the Fusilier's Hungarian-built battery might squeeze out 249 miles (400 km). Let's be generous and call it 200 real-world miles (321 km) – enough for a day trip to the local park? Of course, but what happens if you venture where pavement ends? Well, that's where the REV model comes in.
Think of the Fusilier REV as your own portable gas-powered lifeline. It's a range-extender hybrid, much like the dearly departed BMW i3 REX. When the electrons run low (and they will), a tiny gasoline engine kicks on to act as a generator. This should give you a smaller (around 168 miles electric-only / 270 km) battery and slightly less cargo space to haul extra fuel cans. Because sometimes, going further means going even more old-school.
Will it work? That's the big question. Electric off-roaders are still uncharted territory. Batteries hate extreme temperatures, water crossings are a whole new level of risky, and constant vibrations can rattle your electronics loose. Ineos swears it's built tough – they're even claiming it'll conquer the famed Schöckl Pass, the ultimate proving ground for every Mercedes-Benz G-Class. But until I see it crawling over boulders with electrons powering the wheels, I will file that promise under "bold but unproven."
Ready for the kicker? The Fusilier is due in... 2027. Yes, three long years from now. In the fast-paced world of EVs, that might as well be a century. Who knows what the competition will look like then? Imagine the Fusilier rolling out to face off against fully-fledged electric Broncos, G-Classes, or – dare we hope – a reborn all-electric Suzuki Jimny! The possibilities are exciting!
If we manage to survive until 2027, don’t be expecting a budget-friendly adventure mobile. Ineos hints that the price won't be drastically lower than the Grenadier, which itself isn't exactly wallet-friendly. Throw in the REV's added complexity, and it's hard to see a compelling cost-benefit over traditional fuel sources. Of course, if you want to be a true pioneer, the cost is just part of that trailblazing image.
Ultimately, the Fusilier is an ambitious experiment – can a company known for reviving the past build a truly compelling electrified off-roader? Will the off-road diehards embrace it, or is it too niche even for them? It's ambitious, a little quirky, and actually - it might just have a shot. It's the kind of gamble I love to watch unfold. Get your popcorn ready, folks, this one could get interesting.
Yours truly,
Captain Electro
