Ineos Automotive is taking its rugged Quartermaster pickup to even more extreme territory with a new portal axle version developed in partnership with German engineering firm Letech. The Grenadier Quartermaster Trialmaster X Letech will enter limited series production this summer, with prices starting from €171,000 (£148,000) excluding VAT.
The Quartermaster is already a niche, no-nonsense workhorse designed for off-road enthusiasts and commercial operators with serious terrain to tackle. Turning it into an ultra-capable, portal-axled machine takes it into an even narrower corner of the market.
More than 1,000 expressions of interest have already been received, and Ineos says that demand has come from search and rescue teams, disaster relief agencies, and commercial fleets operating in hostile environments.
The Quartermaster Trialmaster X Letech starts life at Ineos’ Hambach factory in France, before being transferred to Letech’s facility near Stuttgart. There, it’s rebuilt with a new five-link suspension system and portal axles, which significantly raise the vehicle’s ride height and off-road geometry. Ground clearance jumps from 264mm to a towering 450mm, and wading depth increases to a best-in-class 1,050mm – all without touching the existing drivetrain.
The same 3.0-litre BMW inline-six engines remain – petrol or diesel – sending power through the familiar ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox and permanent four-wheel-drive system. But everything else under the skin has been upgraded for maximum go-anywhere ability. The Letech conversion includes 37-inch BFGoodrich Mud Terrain tyres, beadlock wheels from Hutchinson, uprated brakes, extended arches, and reinforced running boards.
The Quartermaster’s load-carrying ability remains impressive. The portal axle conversion includes a GVM increase to 4.2 tonnes, preserving a payload of up to 642kg even with all the additional equipment fitted. Towing capacity remains at 3,500kg, ensuring the vehicle still functions as a proper working pickup.
Additional off-road equipment includes a front-mounted Warn winch, roof-mounted LED lighting, a multifunctional rear ladder with jerry can mounts, and a Letech roof rack system. Customers can also specify a tyre pressure control system, loadspace drawer kit, sand ladders and additional working lights.
Inside, the Quartermaster Trialmaster X Letech builds on the Trialmaster spec with leather seats (heated in the front), premium audio, privacy glass, and safari windows. It’s a touch more luxurious than you might expect for a commercial tool, but it will provide comfort over long missions or expeditions.
For commercial buyers needing a pickup that can ford rivers, scale rocky inclines and haul serious kit while shrugging off the worst conditions, it’s likely to be one of very few factory-supported options available.
Sales will begin in mainland Europe from 8 July, with Germany the first market to go live. Customers in other EU and EEA countries can order through their local Grenadier retailer, who will liaise directly with Letech. Letech will handle the conversion process, road homologation and final delivery.
