As time goes by, people are beginning to discover the potential of the Grenadier beyond its factory fittings and intended uses. From an off-roader, the SUV is rapidly turning into an overlander, a doomsday survival vehicle, or simply a mobile home for outdoor fun.
Somehow, Ineos and a bunch of its partners from Australia have managed to blend all of the above capabilities into a single vehicle, a one-off build that wears one of the most powerful names the custom industry gave birth to this year: Kaiju Quartermaster.
It's pretty clear where the final part of the name comes from: the build is based on the Grenadier Quartermaster cab chassis, the one that also comes with a bed at the rear to make it both enjoyable, and utilitarian.
The Kaiju name in itself needs little introduction also, as it is one used by the Japanese to describe all sorts of giant, fictional monsters. Used in this application, it's supposed to "convey the powerful capabilities of the Grenadier, and acknowledges Australia's love affair with modified Japanese 4x4 vehicles." Even if, naturally, the SUV on which it was slapped is not Japanese.
The build was put together with help from a series of Australian aftermarket parts suppliers. It's supposed to be used as a promotional vehicles meant to advertise the fittings the Grenadier can get in order to be transformed into an overlander that can easily help one survive in the land of Mad Max.
The first thing that makes the SUV stand out is its perfectly black exterior. Technically speaking, except for the covering that goes over the bed, no modifications were made to it as to change the way it looks, but a few extras, such as the roof bar, rock sliders, and checker plates have been added.
At the back, where the magic truly happens, Ineos chose to install over the aluminum bed a tray and canopy produced by a company called Norweld. The canopy itself is water and dust-resistant and comes equipped with a fridge, a jerry can holder, and an integrated water tank capable of holding 20 liters (5.3 gallons).
The technical capabilities of the Grenadier have changed as well, although we're not told exactly what that means in numbers. The SUV is equipped with things such as front and rear differential locks, a raised air intake, and 17-inch steel wheels shod in BF Goodrich KM3 Mud Terrain tires to make it capable of traversing all the terrain variations the landscape of Australia can throw at it. The 16-stage adjustable suspension system is enhanced with parts supplied by Jmacx.
For longer-time survival in the wilderness, by means of supplying the needed power for various other pieces of hardware, the vehicle packs an auxiliary battery, a 2000W inverter, and a main 150 Ah lithium battery.
Because unforeseen events do take place in the wild, the Ineos SUV packs a series of fittings meant to allow it to extricate itself from sticky situations. On deck for the task are a beach recovery kit, a tow hitch, and a compass that features an altimeter. Why, there is even a personal locator beacon on deck to help friends track you down in case you get lost.
A series of utility belts and rails have been installed all around, and there's even an access rider to allow its occupants access to a vantage point. And, given how Australia is gifted with landscape so desolate it's unlikely that you'll find a gas station when you need it, the main fuel tank of the SUV, capable of holding 90 liters (24 gallons) is baked by a much larger, 168-liter (44-gallon) tank supplied by Brown Davis.
The Grenadier's ability to make light in the darkness has been enhanced by fitting flood and spot beams, work lights, and aftermarket main lights. Comms are made possible with the help of a pair of handheld UHF CB radios (complete with an LCD screen and magnetic microphone mounts) and a UHF antenna.
Although the Ineos Grenadier Kaiju Quartermaster is just a show vehicle, it is also meant to inform customers about what they can do to the SUV to suit their needs. That's why, in some cases, the carmaker will offer those choosing to fit their rides with various aftermarket items the same warranty as it does for the vehicle itself.
Sadly, given how most of the companies that contributed to this build are based in Australia, and considering the many choices on the table, it's impossible for us to estimate how much the Kaiju might have cost to be put together.
