Ineos has revealed the Fusilier as a smaller sibling to the Grenadier, bringing the option of pure-electric power and claiming "world-class off-road capability".
The 4x4 company’s third model – after the Grenadier SUV and closely related Quartermaster pick-up – is based on a new EV-oriented skateboard architecture, completely separate from the company's existing ladder-frame structure.
It's due to be built in Austria from early 2027 by Magna, which also builds the Jaguar I-Pace, Fisker Ocean and, most pertinently in the case of the Fusilier, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class.
The pure-electric version of the Fusilier will be sold alongside a range-extender (REx) derivative that will no doubt give owners to fully exploit its off-road credentials with minimal fear of running out of battery in remote areas - although Ineos has yet to give full technical details for either variant.
The company said the EV has a targeted range of 249 miles and the REx will have around 70% of the EV's battery capacity to give roughly 168 miles of range with the engine off.
The batteries will be supplied by Samsung and assembled in Hungary, but Ineos has yet to decide on a specific chemistry.
Both cars will have an electric motor at each end for four-wheel drive and will be engineered to perform effectively on challenging terrain, CEO Lynn Calder told Autocar.
“This will be a serious off-road vehicle, not just something with some e-diffs," she said. "It might be a bit softer as it’s not on a ladder frame but it will pass all our tests or we wouldn’t do it.”
Calder added, however, that the Fusilier will forego the Grenadier's recirculating-ball steering – which minimises kick-back off-road but has been criticised for its responsiveness and predictability – in the name of improved on-road behaviour.
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Incredibly disappointing. As with the Grenadier, it's not a great looking object. An old L-R Defender has far more charm and is much cooler. Also, Ineos is an oil company. How can we trust them to build a decent EV? Plus Ratcliffe is clearly living in the 20th Century. He doesn't get that internal combustion is obsolete. On this evidence, an old Land-Rover converted to electric, which is a booming industry, makes much more sense. Or wait for a plethora of competitors which aren't far away, like the Rivian R2, Ford Ranger Lightning and Geely Radar pick up.
It looks like an almost looks like a knock off of a well established brand?, if your going to take on the big boys, at least make sure it doesn't look like there's.
The motoring equivalent of fan-fiction. A Liam Gallagher ‘original’ tune. The car company Alan Partridge would create if he were friends with investment bankers.