√Non-refundable $5000 deposit now required for Ineos Grenadier, no road testing or inspections available

The Land Rover-inspired off-roader is yet to arrive in production guise, however prospective buyers are being asked to front up cash to secure a build slot.

Australian consumers keen on the new Ineos Grenadier off-roader will be required to place a non-refundable $5000 deposit before the end of this month – despite the fact test drives are not yet available.

Drive understands emails explaining this have been sent to existing reservation holders in Australia, who had already forked out $800 as an “early expression of interest.”

The original $800 figure will be included in the new “deposit,” which means those keen to reserve a vehicle will need to stump up an additional $4200 to stay at the front of the queue.

This next step represents a leap of faith for deposit holders, who haven’t yet been able to test drive a Grenadier or inspect its build quality.

The Australian communications team for Ineos declined to comment when contacted for further information by Drive, however individuals with direct knowledge of the plans confirmed the deposit would be “non-refundable.”

A spokesperson for the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) – the country’s peak market watchdog – told Drive: “Under Australian Consumer Law, when a consumer buys a product or service, it comes with automatic guarantees that they will work, have no faults, look acceptable and do all the things someone would normally expect them to do.

“Businesses also guarantee that, where a product is sold by description, it will match that description.

“If a product or service fails to meet a consumer guarantee, consumers have the right to ask for a repair, replacement or refund. The remedy the consumer is entitled to will depend on whether the issue is major or minor.”

The Ineos Grenadier is a new chassis-based four-wheel-drive inspired by the original Land Rover Defender, and funded by British chemical giant Ineos.

A hand-built prototype – without airbags or a completed interior – has been available for the Australian public to see at some media events. However, only approved employees of Ineos have so far been able to drive it.

While some specification details like a starting price and power outputs have been drip-fed by the new manufacturer, there are many specifications and details yet to be divulged by Ineos Automotive.

Keen four-wheel drivers will be particularly interested in details like the Grenadier’s kerb weight and GVM, and resulting payload. For those keen to load up and tow, figures like the Gross Combination Mass (GVM) and Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) are also important.

Drive understands that customers looking to make the non-refundable $5000 deposit will be furnished with full specifications of the Grenadier, before they make their decision.

A detailed configurator – which includes pricing – will go online next month (April 2022), allowing reservation holders to specify their own orders.

The Ineos Grenadier is expected to arrive in Australia by the end of 2022, with sixteen sales and service centres located around Australia.

Pricing for the 2022 Ineos Grenadier is set to start from $84,500 before on-road costs for a five-door, two-seat model, while the five-seater is expected to start at $85,500.

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