Ineos reveals Fusilier EV

It is indeed somewhat ironic that the company that vowed to build the hardcore utilitarian SUV that others wouldn’t is returning with something somewhat less hardcore. Nevertheless, the Fusilier in itself looks interesting. For a kick-off, did you expect Ineos to get into the EV game so promptly? Well the Fusilier is its first, albeit with a range extender as an option.

Targeted range for the pure EV is 249 miles, while the range extender will feature a smaller battery to accommodate the generator. Further detail on the powertrains is yet to be revealed or, in the case of the nature of the batteries, established by Ineos itself.

The Fusilier will use a skateboard platform entirely unrelated to the ladder frame architecture used by the Grenadier. Nevertheless the claim by Ineos is that it will be ‘without compromise to the off-road capability’.

“The Fusilier is a great looking vehicle, and the two powertrain options provide a real-world reduction in carbon emissions without compromise to the off-road capability or the on-road performance,” said Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Chairman of Ineos.

“We’re excited to bring our electric 4X4 to market but we are beginning to understand the clear limitations of battery electric in certain situations.

“We believe the addition of a range extender electric to our line-up will offer our customers a very low emission drive without the range anxiety drivers of electric vehicles experience today.”

The car is a co-development with Magna who will build it once it goes into production in 2027. In spite of the car we see here looking very production representative, it’s early on in its developmental journey.

As for the design, it’s more or less what you’d expect: softer than a Grenadier, a bit more rough-and-tumble than the new Defender or even a G-Class. Speaking of the G-Class, it’s not dissimilar in appearance at the front end, is it? Magna builds those, too.

We look forward to learning more about it and seeing the Fusilier take shape over the coming three years.