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Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos Grenadier in race to replace Army's Land Rover Defenders. Updated: 08:02 EDT, 14 May 2026 Billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe's hardcore 4x4 brand could replace Land Rover as the British Army's vehicle of choice, stoking the rivalrous fire that's been raging between the two car makers since 2016. Ineos Automotive has officially entered its heavy-duty Grenadier off-roader - the brainchild of chemical billionaire and Manchester United owner Ratcliffe, who's worth an estimated £17 billion - into the race to win the new Ministry of Defence (MoD) vehicle contract and replace Jaguar Land Rover's ageing fleet of 5,000 Defenders. The lucrative deal will see Ineos Automotive bid its Grenadier against JLR's military version of its new Defender, as well as a partnership between BAE Systems and United States automotive giant General Motors. Another competitor comes in the form of armoured versions of the Toyota Hilux pick-up, built in partnership between Devon-based military vehicle manufacturer Supacat and its defence contractor partner Babcock. Ineos confirmed to This is Money and Daily Mail: 'Ineos Automotive is engaging in the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) tender process for the Light Mobility Vehicle (LMV) programme - more details will follow soon.' Mike Whittington, chief commercial officer at Ineos Automotive, said: 'The Grenadier is the ideal choice for defence services. It's the most capable 4x4, and its local supply lines make it ideal for deployment in European countries, for sovereign defence and operations in the UK and on the continent. 'Ineos wants to extend the availability of the Grenadier to as many governments as possible and build on the demand from forces across Europe, including elite counter-terrorism and special operations units in Germany and France, as well as border forces in Germany, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, Hungary and Spain.' The Ineos Grenadier, the heavy-duty off-roader that's the brainchild of billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, could become the British Army's new vehicle, replacing the Land Rover Defender What is the Ineos Grenadier and why would it be army material? Here's what our Motoring experts think. We've driven the Grenadier and its Station Wagon pick-up sister many times in multiple countries - from Wales' toughest green lanes to Italy's rockiest bypasses - and we've reviewed both the past generation and the new version, the MY26. So, we know that the Grenadier is a serious off-roader - it is not an SUV. To this end, its off-road capabilities have been widely applauded by the motoring press and fiercely embraced by a growing Grenadier enthusiast community. The heavy-duty 4x4, with its BMW 3.0-litre straight-six turbocharged engines, is a beast: with a gross weight of 3,500kg, ground clearance of 264mm and a wading depth of 800mm, this is a machine meant for rocky paths, sharp inclines, wet mountain tracks and deserts - the trickier the terrain, the better the Ineos performs. In fact, its Achilles' heel is its wayward on-road steering; that is what's been lambasted by critics, not its off-road credentials. Driving the Ineos on a smooth road isn't for everyone. It's meant for adventurers, farmers and off-road enthusiasts - even emergency services such as mountain rescue - not motorway miles. As such, instead of SUV-style 'drive modes', you have optional front and rear differential locks (these lock the axles together to keep the wheels rotating at the same speed, which improves traction on challenging surfaces), a standard centre locking differential, low-range gears (which make the gears more usable for low-speed, all-terrain work), and BFGoodrich All-Terrain tyres. Hop inside and it's not a typical SUV either. The utilitarian yet supremely comfortable interior is made to get muddy: hose-down valves, critical cabin components protected against dust and water, stain-resistant rubber, and tough cloth and vinyl (or leather, if you want), safari windows, grab handles - the Grenadier is less cabin and more cockpit. Especially as there is a cockpit-style control panel overhead, with switches and buttons for everything from the differential locks to exterior lighting. The Grenadier is also a highly modifiable 4x4, which makes it well-suited to Army needs; it is easy to add extra lighting rigs and bulky kit to its Exterior Utility Belts or roof crossbars. When the MoD announced the retirement of the armed forces' Land Rover fleet in March, it set out what was needed: 'As the Army looks to the future, plans are now underway to identify the next generation of light mobility vehicles, with the first new vehicles expected to be in the hands of soldiers by 2030. 'Simple, dependable and a workhorse of the British military, the Land Rover has been used for a range of duties, including patrol, command liaison, and transportation of equipment and personnel.' Ineos' vehicles have already proved up to the challenge, as customised Grenadiers and Quartermasters (the pickup version) are in active service with fire and rescue, mountain rescue services and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). Reviewing the new 2026 Ineos Grenadier off-road vehicles Loaded: 0% Progress: 0% Current Time 0:00 Duration Time 2:48 The Ineos story - from pub to public disputes: The rivalry Land Rover never saw coming. The Ineos Grenadier's origin story is legendary: the project was conceived over drinks at The Grenadier pub in Belgravia (which became the car's moniker), and the sketch for the 4x4 was drawn on a £5 note. That was back in 2016, after Land Rover announced it was ending production of the old Defender and had refused to sell the production rights to avid Defender fan Ratcliffe. As one of the richest men in the world - currently estimated to be worth £17bn - Ratcliffe decided to take matters into his own hands and build the ultimate 4x4 with 'functional design, serious durability and extreme off-road capability'. What followed was a string of legal challenges by Land Rover to scupper the Grenadier's production, attempting to trademark the shape of its Defender 4x4 to block Sir Jim Ratcliffe's plans to build a spiritual successor to the iconic off-roader. However, in 2020, courts deemed that the squared-off 'look' of the classic 4x4 is generic, as form follows function. And so, in October 2022, the Grenadier officially went into production. Since then, the rivalry has continued, with Ineos even recently running a tongue-in-cheek advertising campaign about the legal dispute. With the tagline 'Let's take this outside', Ineos referenced the legal battle and played on its positioning as a muddy 4x4 meant for off-roading compared to the shiny 'school run' new Defender SUV. Ineos' bid to take over from Land Rover as the military's vehicle of choice is just the latest development in the head-to-head between the two brands. The This is Money Motoring Club is designed to make car ownership cheaper and simpler for This is Money and Daily Mail readers. Powered by MotorEasy it's the place to keep on top of tax, MOTs and servicing - and manage the important documents and receipts that boost your car's value. New members receive a £20 reward voucher, which you can put towards repairs or even a warranty - giving you peace of mind that if something goes wrong, you won't be left footing the bill. You can even get £20 off an MOT with one of MotorEasy's listed providers. I really hope he succeeds and wins the contract, the Grenadier is an exceptional vehicle in every way...I absolutely love them and hope they'll be around for many years to come in their current spec. Too new and too complex. You want something that can be fixed in the field by a squaddie with basic kit. No self respecting trrst would see himself on anything but a Toyota Hilux. The opinions and views expressed in the comments section are solely those of the individual users and do not represent or reflect the opinions, views, or positions of Daily Mail. Daily Mail does not endorse, support, or verify the accuracy of any user-generated content. More top stories. Save Money on motoring.

Everything you need to know about Chevrolet. Chevrolet is back in the UK again, but this time it's focusing on big SUVs, pick-ups and Corvette sports cars 6 May 2026 The name Chevrolet is one of the oldest in the car world, but it means very different things on opposite sides of the Atlantic. In the USA, Chevrolet is one of the best-known brands within General Motors (GM), responsible for models such as the Camaro and Corvette that have become part of American car culture. In Europe and specifically the UK, Chevrolet's history has been far less successful. Attempts to sell both Chevrolet and its more upmarket sister brand Cadillac have come and gone over the years, often with little lasting impact. GM's decision to rebadge Korean-built Daewoo models as Chevrolets briefly gave the brand a higher profile in Britain during the 2000s, but sales never really took off and Chevrolet withdrew from Europe in 2015. Now the company is trying again, although in a very different way. A new UK arm of GM Specialty Vehicles (GMSV) has been created to import selected Chevrolet and Cadillac models, while Chevrolet Corvette Europe continues to sell the latest Corvette through a small network of specialist dealers. So who or what is Chevrolet? Chevrolet's history goes back to 1911, named after one of its founders, racing driver Louis Chevrolet. GM acquired Chevrolet in 1918 and the brand quickly became central to the company's growth in the United States. Through much of the 20th century, Chevrolet occupied the more affordable end of the GM range. Models such as the Corvette sports car and Camaro helped give the brand a much stronger identity in the post-war years, while the brand expanded globally during the late 20th century. The UK story was more complicated. GM already had Vauxhall as its mainstream British brand, so Chevrolet never established a major official presence here. Cars such as the Camaro and Corvette were available through specialist importers, but mostly in left-hand drive. That changed after GM took over the struggling Korean car company Daewoo. From 2005 onwards, Daewoo models sold in Europe were rebranded as Chevrolets. Cars such as the Lacetti and Cruze briefly gave Chevrolet a larger presence in the UK market, but sales remained modest and GM withdrew the brand from Europe in 2015. Chevrolet never entirely disappeared from the UK, however. Corvette sales continued through specialist dealer groups and, in 2026, GM launched GMSV UK to import selected Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC models for British customers. When did Chevrolet launch in the UK? The latest version of Chevrolet's UK return is only just beginning. London-based importer Clive Sutton has been appointed to oversee the launch of GMSV UK and establish a dealer network. The company has imported American vehicles into Britain for decades, but now operates as an official GM partner rather than an independent importer. That means vehicles sold through GMSV UK come with full manufacturer backing, including a three-year unlimited-mileage new car warranty, servicing support and access to genuine GM parts and accessories. At the time of writing, Clive Sutton's own London showroom is the only confirmed GMSV UK outlet, although the company plans to appoint additional dealer groups around the country. Somewhat confusingly, Corvette sales are handled separately through Chevrolet Corvette Europe, which already works with established dealer groups in several parts of the UK. What models does Chevrolet have and what else is coming? The initial GMSV UK line-up focuses on large American SUVs and pick-ups rather than mainstream family cars. The Chevrolet Suburban is a seven-seat SUV measuring more than 5.7 metres long and powered by a 6.2-litre V8 petrol engine producing 420hp. Prices start at around £100K. Sitting just below it is the slightly smaller Chevrolet Tahoe, also available with the same V8 engine and seven seats. Prices start at around £86K. Chevrolet also offers the Silverado pick-up, available in several versions and priced from around £66K. Meanwhile, Corvette buyers have a choice of three versions of Chevrolet's sports car. The standard Corvette Stingray uses a mid-mounted V8 engine producing 482hp and is available as either a coupe or convertible. Above it sits the hybrid-assisted E-Ray, while the track-focused Z06 delivers 646hp from a 5.5-litre V8 engine. Unlike the SUVs and pick-ups, all Corvette models are now available in right-hand drive. Future UK Chevrolet plans are expected to continue focusing on specialist American models rather than mainstream European-style family cars. Where can I try a Chevrolet car? At present, Chevrolet's UK dealer network is still very small. As of April 2026, Clive Sutton's showroom in St John's Wood, London, is the only confirmed GMSV UK outlet. The company says it plans to appoint additional dealer groups around the country. Corvette buyers currently have a wider choice, with official dealers located in Manchester, Birmingham, Colchester, Glasgow and Shrewsbury, through groups including Arnold Clark, Lookers, Grange and Greenhous. What makes Chevrolet different to the rest? Chevrolet's current UK strategy is built around large, unapologetically American vehicles. These are big SUVs, pick-ups and V8-powered sports cars aimed at buyers who actively want something different from the European mainstream. That also means high running costs. Most of the larger Chevrolet and Cadillac models currently being imported are heavy vehicles with large petrol engines, so fuel economy and CO[2] emissions are unlikely to appeal to cost-conscious buyers. A fascinating Chevrolet fact to tell your friends. The Chevrolet Suburban has been on sale continuously since 1935, making it one of the longest-running model names in automotive history. The current model now on sale in the UK is the 12th generation, which was launched in 2021. Summary. Chevrolet and its various related GM brands have tried and failed to crack the UK market before, mainly by trying to offer cars that were just like those of their rivals. Now the company is going down the route of emphasising all of the very American aspects it's renowned for. This latest attempt is very different from the Daewoo-era strategy of competing directly with mainstream family hatchbacks and saloons. Instead, Chevrolet is leaning heavily into large SUVs, pick-ups and V8-powered sports cars that stand apart from most European rivals. Chevrolet is unlikely to become a mainstream UK brand any time soon. But for buyers who actively want something American, that may be precisely the point. Buy a Chevrolet. If you're looking to buy a new or used Chevrolet, The Car Expert's partners can help you find the right car. Find a used Chevrolet with Motors. Find out more Find a new or used Chevrolet with Auto Trader. Find out more Find a new or used Chevrolet with Carwow. Find out more