Now that Ineos has revealed its Grenadier Quartermaster bakkie to take the fight to Toyota’s Land Cruiser 79, the company has seemingly set its sights on the Hilux…

The head of Ineos Automotive has revealed the off-road brand has big plans to launch a 1-tonne bakkie, which would have the likes of the strong-selling Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger squarely in its sights.

Earlier in July 2023, Ineos finally took the wraps off the Grenadier Quartermaster, a BMW-powered bakkie that looks set to take on the double-cab version of the Toyota Land Cruiser 79. While the Quartermaster’s payload rating comes in at just 760 kg, the company has acknowledged the importance of the traditional 1-tonne bakkie segment.

“[We] really strongly believe that we need [a 1-tonne bakkie] to be competitive, so it’s on the long list of things for us to do, and to look at,” Lynn Calder, CEO of Ineos Automotive, told Australian publication CarsGuide.

“I think the 1-tonne is something that’s really in my head, right? We’ve got to do something. I don’t quite know what form it’s going to take yet,” she added.

According to carsales.com.au, Calder – who was appointed CEO in December 2022, having spent most of her career in the petrochemicals and energy sectors – wouldn’t be drawn on timing, saying she didn’t want to provide “unrealistic timelines” and emphasising the current focus was on bringing the new Quartermaster to market.

The Grenadier Quartermaster looks set to battle the Toyota Land Cruiser 79 double cab.

In addition, the Ineos CEO made no mention of potential body styles for the upcoming 1-tonne bakkie, so it’s not yet clear whether the company plans to cover the single-, extended- and double-cab segments or whether it will focus on a single category.

Separately, Calder suggested to CarsGuide the Grenadier Quartermaster was capable of outperforming the venerable Land Cruiser 79 off the beaten track.

“They’ve got the proven durability and reliability. And we’ve got to prove we can do that as well. I think [with] the 70 Series, you’re going to get the off-road capability. I think ours is probably a little bit better.

“I think it is, but I’ve said all along that customers are going be the judge of that, right? So that’s my view, but we’ll see,” she said.

South African order books for the new Grenadier Quartermaster are due to open on 1 August 2023, with local pricing likely to be announced at the same time.

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