Rumours about a new purpose-built 4x4 coming to the market started in 2020. Pictures flew across the internet and in the 4x4 and overlanding community there was a buzz. This new 4x4 would supposedly be everything the new Land Rover Defender was supposed to be. Besides, no-one flippantly sinks £1bn-plus into building an entirely new car company… certainly not Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the British billionaire and larger-than-life personality behind the Grenadier. So, the first drive was a big deal!
Here in sunny southern Africa, there were a few first production units running around and every now and then we would have a glimpse of these vehicles. From the onset, it impressed everyone. There were no funny curves, no bragging about the 0-100km/h sprint time or anything like that and the vehicle seemed to be purpose-built for the bush.
Think Land Cruiser 70 Series or
