Land Rover loses copycat case to new Grenadier

Road cleared for tough-looking Ineos Grenadier four-wheel-drive, ute to go on sale in Britain and beyond from 2021.

A British court has ruled that the Land Rover Defender’s basic shape is not iconic enough to copyright.

Land Rover has reportedly lost a court appeal attempting to stop Ineos Automotive from building the new Grenadier four-wheel-drive.

Ineos Automotive’s new four-wheel-drive and ute appear inspired by Land Rover’s classic Defender.

There are clear similarities between the Defender (left) and Grenadier (right).

There are clear similarities in the cars’ silhouettes, cap-like roof, simple round headlights and short overhangs.

But the U.K. Intellectual Property Office found in 2019 that the new Grenadier did not breach copyright rules.

Bloomberg reports a London court upheld that decision this week, clearing the way for Ineos Automotive to start building its version.

INEOS Automotive unveiled its new Grenadier four-wheel-drive in July.

A statement issued by Land Rover said the Defender’s shape is “instantly recognisable”, and that it was disappointed by the court’s decision.

Ineos said it is “excited to bring the Grenadier to market”.

Set to go into production in 2021, the Grenadier blends a rugged frame with BMW-sourced six-culinder petrol and diesel engines, and a cabin that can be cleaned with a hose.

INEOS Automotive says the Grenadier’s no-nonsense looks are easy to fix.

Ineos Automotive plans to position the car between Toyota’s HiLux and LandCruiser, suggesting the car’s starting price will be less than $80,000 in Australia.

Dirk Heilmann, chief executive of INEOS Automotive, told Australian reporters in June that “there’s no coincidence that you will find similar results” in the world of off-road vehicles, reiterating that the Grenadier is “a ground up, new engineered and designed vehicle”.

Originally published as Land Rover loses copycat case to new Grenadier