When production of the classic British SUV Land Rover Defender ceased, many were saddened as it was a legendary car that certainly left a noticeable mark on the history of the global automotive industry.
They started producing such cars in 1948 and the last production Defender rolled off the assembly line on January 29, 2016, but there was one person who decided to extend the life of this glorious car. Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the British billionaire who runs the chemical company Ineos, which owns a third of the Mercedes team, organized the carmaker Ineos Automotive Ltd to continue producing such SUVs, but at a new level.
The production of cars, called Ineos Grenadier, started last summer in France on the premises of a company previously owned by Mercedes, where Smart minicars were assembled. But the first cars that could be called production cars didn’t leave the assembly line until October, just a few weeks ago. And recently Ineos Automotive’s press office published a short video dedicated to Sir Lewis Hamilton, along with Sir Jim Ratcliffe, driving one of these Grenadiers over rough terrain. However, they also rolled on asphalt.
The video’s authors immediately warned that the shooting took place on roads closed to other vehicles, so no one was at any risk. Although two gentlemen could well roll into a ditch or get stuck somewhere.
But it turned out that Lewis is excellent at driving such vehicles, and not just Formula 1 cars, for which he earned accolades from Ratcliffe.
Over the course of the film, the characters exchange brief comments, mostly enthusiastically, as Hamilton clearly loved the car. By the way, it is set in motion by a fairly powerful BMW power unit: a gasoline in-line “six” develops more than 280 hp and a diesel engine of about 250 hp.
A few lines from the dialogues between Lewis and the billionaire Ratcliffe are worth quoting:
Lewis Hamilton: It was amazing! I was even a little scared that I would tear the wheels off the car!
Jim Rackliff: And somehow I made it. (laughs) We need your honest opinion about the car.
Lewis Hamilton: But you know me, I always say everything directly and openly. I can definitely say that the feeling is like being in a James Bond movie. Although the seat cannot be ejected, and behind the headlights there are no hidden rocket launchers.
If I order one for myself, it will be a black car with all those extra headlights and big wheels. And I was very surprised how well she keeps track.
Jim Ratcliff: I can say for sure: I don’t think anyone drove this car like Lewis Hamilton!
Source: F1 News
I’m Todderic Kirkman, a journalist and author for athletistic. I specialize in covering all news related to sports, ranging from basketball to football and everything in between. With over 10 years of experience in the industry, I have become an invaluable asset to my team. My ambition is to bring the most up-to-date information on sports topics around the world.
