Episode 10 of Building the Grenadier premiered today:
Of note - Looks like the transmission is properly sorted, allowing for automatic most of the time but a lot of manual control too (Many do these days, but this is the first I've seen the ability to lock the transmission into a gear being 100% confirmed for the Grenadier). And if that's not enough they also have Hill Descent Control. The lack of a manual was a concern for some, but I've always found Autos provide for a lot more mechanical sympathy off-road; the biggest issue with autos is on hill decent but it looks like they've got that taken care of. The other argument against Autos is that if they fail you can't bump start, but modern Autos are incredibly reliable and, as long as they manage the temperatures, there's no reason to fear the reliability of the auto in the Grenadier.
The Global Experience tour -- where folks can get some hands-on experience with the Gren -- is hitting quite a few places. On the list is UK, USA, Germany, the rest of Europe, Sub-saharan Africa, the Middle East, and Australia. The events have started in the UK and Germany, but the diversity of events underscores Ineos's previous commitment to this being a global platform.
Interior visibility is supposedly excellent from the Driver's seat.
Mark Evans gets behind the wheel and his first statement is "Feels like your gliding" off road -- that may be a planted line, but other guests have said the same thing, so I think it's legit. And I have some insight into this experience in a comparative way and how surprising "smooth" off road can be; I remember going from a Jeep Sport to a Jeep Rubicon, and it just so happened that I was on the same road about a week apart in both vehicles. In the Rubicon I was amazed that I didn't have to pull over to take a drink from a bottle -- the Sport was so choppy on the washboard due to the poorer quality suspension components that it was impossible to take a sip without spilling. In the Rubicon, I could put a cup of tea and a saucer on the dash and would only see ripples in the cup -- so, I get what he means when he says "feels like your gliding" off road - a proper suspension setup allows for that, and it's a wonderful experience that not everyone gets to have.
The other comment that jumped out to me is that it's quiet inside and folks can have normal conversations. Jeep or classic Defender owners will know that cabin noise can get very tiring after a long day, and it's nice to be able to chat with your travelling companions.
These vids are very much a case of the barber telling me I need a haircut, but I have to say I give full props to Ineos for this transparent approach to this vehicle, and with each new video I'm getting more and more excited to own one. I think this Grenadier will be an incredibly good Overland travel platform for a lot of folks who like the 4x4 wagon format.