Ineos Grenadier Takes Over Search and Rescue Duty from Retiring Land Rover Defender

A few years ago now, Land Rover decided it was tired of building the rugged, simplistic Defender that had become a mainstay of its range. It would instead put the Defender name on a more modern, comfortable vehicle, and in the process, alienate fans of the classic never-say-die off roader. The Ineos Grenadier was built specifically to fill the void that Land Rover left behind, and it’s already starting to do that in a very real way.

Nith Inshore Rescue mans one of the busiest lifeboat stations in Scotland. The rescue organization aims to protect people and property from maritime threats, taking on hunts for missing persons, assisting boats in trouble, and helping those that otherwise find themselves on the wrong end of the wrath of the sea. The group has relied on a Land Rover Defender for years as an emergency response vehicle. When its 2004 model started getting long in the tooth, it came time to find a replacement, and the Grenadier was a natural choice.

As we learned from David Tracy’s review of the Grenadier, it’s a nearly perfect off-roader. It rocks a classic drivetrain, with the engine feeding into a Tremec transfer case with a center diff and proper low-range gearing for handling the rough stuff. From there, drive is sent to solid axles, front and rear, as the dirt gods intended. These are the same elements that made farmers, miners, and adventurers fall in love with the Land Rover Defender and the Toyota 70 Series Land Cruiser alike. Ineos figured if it stuck to the same golden formula, it would succeed with the same fanbase. What it loses in street manners, it gains in the ability to handle rough-and-tumble situations with ease.

This deployment marks the first time a Grenadier has served in a so-called “blue light” emergency role in the UK. The vehicle has been customized to suit the role, with the Grenadier’s “plug and play” wiring setup easing the job of adding extra lights and accessories. Rescue equipment provider Emergency One fitted out the vehicle for its new job, including the fitment of an extendable roof-mount camera that has been nicknamed Johnny Five in a reference to Short Circuit (1986). 

“We deal with life-and-death situations, very harsh weather, and challenging terrain,” said Peter Bryden, secretary of Nith Inshore Rescue. “When it came to evaluating the options for a new support vehicle, there were few options and the Grenadier stood out, ticking all the boxes.” According to Bryden, the group foresees a long career for the new off-roader. “Together with our revitalized lifeboat, we expect it to serve our team for the next 40 years.” The new rig received its first callout from HM Coastguard on November 12, entering into service almost immediately after its official handover ceremony.

The group’s beloved existing Defender was put up for auction once its service life was concluded. The 2004 model featured the TD5 2.5-liter inline-five diesel, good for 122 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. In comparison, the Grenadier’s 3.0-liter turbodiesel inline six is a powerhouse, putting out 245 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. The Defender racked up 16,826 miles in the line of duty, eventually selling for £22,000, or roughly $27,500 US dollars. Despite its working life by the water, it managed to stay rust-free in all that time with only minor wear and tear on the body and interior.

With the modern Defender more built for the fancy, moneyed set, expect the Grenadier to take on more roles more traditionally performed by Land Rovers in years past. As a simple boxy off-roader, it has few competitors, though it bears noting that Toyota isn’t going anywhere with the 70 Series Land Cruiser, either. While the mass market may demand plusher interiors and more mod cons as the years roll by, the rugged jobs will still be done best by the barebones basic off-roaders. It was ever thus.

Image credits: Nith Inshore Rescue, Collecting Cars