- Ineos admits it rushed early plans for the Fusilier SUV.
- The Fusilier will rival baby Defender and G-Class models.
- The company says the new model is not years away now.
Ineos says development of the smaller Fusilier is back underway, nearly two years after the project was paused as enthusiasm for EVs began to cool. Exactly when it might appear in showrooms is still unclear, but the program itself is no longer sitting on the sidelines.
The company first pulled the wraps off the Fusilier in early 2024, outlining plans for a new bespoke skateboard platform underneath. Both a fully electric version and a range-extender variant were on the table from the start. In the bigger picture, the model is expected to become a key gateway into the Ineos lineup, positioned as a smaller, more attainable alternative to the Grenadier.
Read: New Ineos Fusilier EV Is A Smaller SUV With Optional Range-Extender
“The concept of the Fuselier – something that’s a bit smaller than the Grenadier – is still a vision that is alive and well in the company, and we’re actively pursuing what that vehicle would look like, or a vehicle like that would look like going forward,” the region director for Ineos in Australia, New Zealand, and APAC, Justin Hocevar told Car Expert. “That’s what we’ll be talking about in the not-too-distant future. In terms of announcing the timeline, I don’t think it’s years away.”
What’s Changed?
According to Hocevar, Ineos was “charging into” the Fusilier project too quickly, and had to pause it to ensure a range-extender powertrain could work with it.
“The project morphed over time, and part of the pause on that project had a lot to do with our desire to have an alternative new-energy powertrain in that vehicle – hybridization or a range-extender solution,” he said.
Hocevar stopped short of putting a firm date on the Fusilier’s arrival. Still, his suggestion that the wait is not “years away” hints that the project is moving along at a healthy pace, which should reassure anyone keeping an eye on Ineos’ next move.
Whenever it finally lands in showrooms, the compact off-roader will enter a growing niche. Mercedes-Benz is preparing a smaller G-Class and Land Rover has a baby Defender in the pipeline. Ineos appears ready to take a slightly different approach, leaning toward a more traditional, less tech-heavy interpretation of the segment.
