Off-road Conquerer

We are one of the first to drive the new Ineos Grenadier offroader and it's already showing its passion for adventure

- By Mark Smyth

INEOS GRENADIER ETA: Q4 2022

Price: R1 395 000 Engine: 3,0-litre, six-cylinder, twin-turbo diesel Transmission: 8-speed, automatic Power: 183 kW Torque: 550 N.m 0-100km/h: TBC Top speed: TBC Fuel consumption: TBC CO2: TBC Rivals: Land Rover Defender, Mercedes-Benz G-Class, Toyota Land Cruiser

+ Seems good off-road, comfortable, well equipped - Lacks reputation, more luxurious rivals, no electrification (yet)

The chapters of the automotive industry book are filled with stories of people who turned a passion into a business. Colin Chapman formed Lotus Engineering in 1959 after building his first racecar in his garage 10 years before. The Morgan Motor Company started as a small dealership and servicing agent. Even Enzo Ferrari started his road car business primarily to fund the race team. Browse through the history books and you'll find plenty of car companies that seemed to be less about making money and more about a passion.

Now we're not saying Sir Jim Ratcliffe is not in the business of making money, far from it. His Ineos chemicals company has netted a personal fortune of nearly $15 billion (R226 billion), making him the richest man in the UK. He has used some of his company's wealth to buy one-third of the Mercedes-AMG F1 team, and to sponsor an America's Cup sailing team, an international cycling team and even the New Zealand All Blacks.

What he has also done is create his own car, the Grenadier, and while it's the reverse of how many other car companies started, it remains a car borne out of passion.