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Focus on ‘fundamental’ off-road performance in the fierce SUV market
Mercedes-Benz and Ineos create a domestic off-road experience space
AMG Speedway (Benz)·Inje Speedium (Ineos)
Experience rough roads in an expensive SUV without worrying about car repair costs
Understand complex off-road capabilities… “You have to learn to know”
From circuit to off-road… Mercedes-Benz contributes to the development of domestic automobile culture
The heyday of sports utility vehicles (SUVs) continues steadily in the domestic and overseas automobile markets. Competition is intensifying as various models, from small to large, diesel to gasoline, hybrid, and electric vehicles, are pouring into the market. In some cases, a car with a slightly higher ground clearance than a sedan is introduced as an SUV.
As various SUV models compete fiercely, overall marketability tends to level upward. In this situation, some brands are differentiating their market penetration by emphasizing specialized functions. In particular, ‘off-road’, which can be said to be a ‘fundamental’ element of SUVs, is worth noting. Recently, companies that say they have tried selling SUVs are releasing ‘off-roaders’ that reflect their unique brand characteristics. In general, SUV models with design, design, functions, and performance specialized for driving on rough roads are called off-roaders.
![“Welcome, this is my first time driving off-road”… How to enjoy off-roading in an expensive SUV[동아리]](https://dimg.donga.com/wps/NEWS/IMAGE/2024/11/16/130438684.2.jpg "“Welcome, this is my first time driving off-road”… How to enjoy off-roading in an expensive SUV[동아리]")
Representative examples include the JLR (Land Rover) Defender, Jeep Wrangler, and Mercedes-Benz G-Class. The Ford Bronco, which has returned with a modern look, and the Ineos Grenadier, which has chosen to live a single-track SUV life, can also be seen as off-road specialized SUVs. In addition, pickup trucks have also joined the ranks of off-roaders. These include Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Sierra, Ford Ranger, and Jeep Gladiator. Recently, the domestic automobile brand Kia also took on the challenge of the off-roader market. It emphasizes the off-road capabilities and performance of the Tasman, the brand’s first pickup model. The SUV market appears to be segmenting in a direction that emphasizes expertise based on specialized functions and performance, moving away from the universal convenience unique to each vehicle type.
The moves of Mercedes-Benz and Ineos are attracting attention in the domestic SUV market
this fall season. We are strengthening our off-road offensive, one step ahead of other brands. Both brands have created actual off-road experience spaces in Korea.
In fact, looking at domestic road conditions and market environment, it is limited to 100% use of all the functions of an off-roader. There is no need to have strong ability to break through rough terrain or cross rivers. Even off-road driving as a hobby comes with limitations. This is because there are legal and moral restrictions, such as damage to nature or complaints from nearby residents. In addition, as advanced off-road features such as intelligent four-wheel drive systems and differential locks are added, the price of the car increases.
in Korea, off-roaders are expensive because they have advanced off-road functions, but they are only used as large cars that cannot be handled carelessly for fear of scratches or broken parts of the expensive car. Rather, thanks to its high price, it is considered a luxury car with a strong impression and style. In fact, the high-performance AMG G63 model of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, which was in short supply until just over a year ago, was sold in Korea in much higher quantities than the entry-level G400d diesel model. The G-Class, which is considered one of the world’s top three authentic off-roaders based on its history that began as a military vehicle, is being ‘treated’ as an urban high-performance luxury SUV in Korea.
The off-road experience space prepared by Mercedes-Benz and Ineos in Korea can be expected to quench the thirst for key off-roader functions that are limited in use in urban areas. Owners of off-roader models can understand the functions of the cars they drive on a daily basis without having to worry about repair costs, and general consumers can experience exciting and amazing car experiences like theme park rides. This space is expected to have a positive impact on the development of domestic automobile culture.
‘Fast-footed’ Mercedes operates off-road test drive space at Yongin AMG Speedway
Mercedes-Benz Korea created the ‘Mercedes-Benz SUV Experience Center’ beyond the track wall of ‘AMG Speedway’ in Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do. You can get to the experience location through an underground tunnel connected to the AMG Speedway. The off-road course site size is 26,000 m2. The course was created while preserving as much of the natural terrain as possible, including forests, trees, and slopes, to maximize the experience of enjoying adventure in nature. It went into operation in early October and was visited by general customers,
Mercedes-Benz Korea announced that it has set up its second vehicle experience space following AMG Speedway to deliver a dynamic and professional SUV experience while repaying the support of domestic consumers. In fact, it is said that owners who own a G-Class but have not driven the G-Class off-road before showed a lot of interest in this program.
The course consists of two programs, A Course and G Course, with the base camp in the center. Course A has three types of slopes with different road surfaces and angles (up to 33 degrees), rock, sand, and gravel terrain, wooden bumps and axle twists that embody extreme rough roads, and cones where you can experience the left and right tilt of the car. It consists of approximately 10 detailed courses, including the Doha section, which is 70cm deep and designed like a river.
Course A includes all major Mercedes-Benz SUV models, including the internal combustion engine models GLC, GLE, GLS, and G-Class, as well as electric SUVs EQE SUV and EQS SUV. You can choose the model you want and experience the off-road course yourself. I experienced Course A riding the newly released G-Class electric car ‘G580 with EQ Technology’ and the diesel engine model ‘G450d’. In the G Class, you can set the differential lock function for each of the three axes by pressing a button. Three buttons, including the main axle, front wheel, and rear wheel, are located in the bottom center of the dashboard center display. When the driving mode is set to gravel road and all three buttons are activated, maximum torque is transmitted to all wheels, resulting in the most powerful driving state.
Although the electric vehicle G580 is an electric vehicle, it inherited all of the driving capabilities of the off-roader G-Class and added some exclusive functions, making it a more advanced off-roader. It is heavy because it is equipped with a large capacity 118kWh battery, but the four electric motors on each wheel move the car lightly. Due to the quietness unique to electric vehicles, the ride feels smoother than the somewhat clunky G-Class. It can feel different from the existing G Class, but the gap is filled by applying the virtual sound of the AMG G63’s V8 engine, which can be heard from outside. Even though it is not an AMG model, it makes an AMG engine sound.
In fact, it is said that the ride quality was improved by reflecting consumer opinions and strengthening the car body. Functions exclusive to electric vehicles include the G-turn function, which rotates 360 degrees in one spot, the G-steering function, which uses the inner wheel as an axis depending on the direction of rotation to drastically reduce the turning radius, and the crawl function, which is a low-speed driving assistance device on rough roads. The crawl function can set the maximum speed to 5 km/h, 7 km/h, or 9 km/h using paddle shift. This is a function that helps the driver focus on steering while checking the surroundings while maintaining low-speed driving without using the brakes.
When climbing the slopes, you can see the true beauty of the G Class. The maximum inclination angle of the slope on Course A is 33 degrees. In reality, the slope is steep. However, this level of incline was easy for the G Class. I deliberately disable all differential lock functions and entered. I even applied the brakes in the middle of the incline to bring the car to a complete stop. In the case of the electric car G580, it was pushed back slightly when stopped in the middle. This is because of the heavy battery weight. I stepped on the brakes harder and it came to a complete stop. Escape was easy. Even without pressing the accelerator pedal hard, I was able to easily escape a steep slope.
The diesel G450d did not roll back when stopped in the middle of an incline, and like the G580, it overcame the incline without difficulty even after stopping. The transparent bonnet function, which displays the situation at the bottom of the bonnet using a camera on the center display, was very convenient in areas with tree obstacles where tire positions had to be adjusted. The fee for Course A, which allows for hands-on experience, is 100,000 won. You can make a reservationon Naver. To commemorate the opening of the center, two Everland admission tickets will be given to customers who make reservations for the program and complete the experience by next month.
The G course was an exclusive course for the G class, making the most of the natural terrain while making some sections narrow, so only a taxi driving experience was possible. The AMG G63, a high-performance model, is being introduced, and since a new model will be released next month, I experienced taxi driving in the old model. The scenery was nice thanks to the colorful autumn leaves in the fall season. Driving was done by an experienced instructor who received training at the G Experience Center in Graz, Austria, where the G-Class is produced. Along the course, apple trees were planted to symbolize the Mercedes-AMG brand. A course was created in the mountains, with bumpy and narrow paths connected and slope sections also created. The AMG G63 exhaust sound that resonates in quiet nature is unique. It is unfortunate that you cannot drive yourself, but since it is currently in the early stages of operation, it will be launched as a taxi program for safety reasons, and it is said that it is planned to operate a self-driving program in the future.
G course taxi driving costs 60,000 won per car. If three people ride, it is 20,000 won each. Any driver’s license holder over the age of 18 can experience driving. For safety reasons, the taxi program is open to those over 6 years old and over 140cm tall.
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‘Off-roader’s only path’ Ineos prepares Inje Speedium off-road experience space
Ineos Automotive, a new off-road specialty brand with a unique origin, also opened an off-road experience space in Korea. Chabot Motors, the official source of income for INEOS Automotive, collaborated with Inje Speedium to unveil ‘Ineos Grenadier Off-Road Parcours’, an experiential permanent test driving center at the off-road site in Inje Speedium, at the end of last month.
This is a driving experience space created with investment from Chabot Motors, and was presented as a facility for Ineos Grenadier owners, potential customers, and off-road driving enthusiasts. A total of 11 off-road obstacle courses, including wading, slide slopes, log traps, and ramps, were created on a site measuring approximately 42,970 m2.
In particular, the Ineos Grenadier is the latest model, but it is an off-roader with analog sensibility everywhere. It is characterized by a large number of physical buttons instead of the touch or display buttons that are common these days. Due to the lack of a dashboard in front of the driver’s seat, there are several buttons on the ceiling. As a result, you can experience intuitive operation while enjoying a classic sensibility. There is also a feeling of being in an old-fashioned fighter jet cockpit. This can be considered a unique charm of the Grenadier.
However, when you actually get on the Grenadier for the first time, your head may turn gray because of the seemingly complicated button layout. That’s why studying is necessary. This Ineos Grenadier Off-Road Parkour is expected to be a very useful space for owners to learn and familiarize themselves with the car’s functions. Participants can actually use various functions of the Grenadier that are unfamiliar in everyday life, such as off-road and wading mode, differential lock, and central control system.
The off-road course takes about 10 minutes to complete once. The course, which runs in a single line on a flat surface, is quite diverse. Drivers can drive alone, and an instructor is assigned to each course to guide them on how to overcome obstacles. The overall level of difficulty is average. It is said that it was designed to a level where many drivers can easily enjoy off-roading. The hill slope is also shorter and gentler than the Mercedes-Benz off-road course. In fact, most obstacles could be easily overcome without setting up a separate off-road function. The course structure focuses on enjoying the driving of the Grenadier itself rather than its off-road capabilities. In the Advanced Flex & Mud course just before the river wading course, you must activate the differential lock function to overcome it. If you enter without setting, one wheel will float, causing the car to slip and steering to become difficult. After stopping the car, if you activate the front and rear differential lock buttons on the ceiling, the car moves forward easily even if one wheel is floating on a slippery mud road.The INEOS off-road parkour program is designed to be expanded to include driving on nearby general roads and Hanseok Mountain mountain trails in addition to the off-road course inside Inje Speedium. After completing the off-road course, you will experience driving on regular roads and mountain trails under the guidance of an instructor. Although it has a classic appearance, the Grenadier delivers a comfortable ride on public roads, just like cars coming out these days. In fact, it is said that the Grenadier was developed as a car that can be comfortably driven and easily repaired even if it breaks down, with a focus on long-distance driving. The explanation is that the goal was to create a car that can be repaired on one’s own with just a little bit of learning, rather than making all the devices electronic. The turning radius is larger than that of cars coming out these days. In fact, the wide turning radius is also a characteristic of the old Land Rover Defender. The steering wheel also needs to be turned more than in other cars. The simple, square exterior stands out for its classic sensibility. It is said to resemble an old Land Rover Defender, but in reality it is very different. The silhouette is rather reminiscent of the Mercedes G-Class. In terms of color, the sky blue Grenadier with an Air Force military feel particularly caught the eye.The mountain road is not steep, but the road is narrow and winding. The slope continues within 10 to 15 degrees. Be aware of road conditions while driving as there are obstacles such as rocks. The instructor will guide you when to activate the mechanical low gear and when to turn on other key functions according to the road surface condition and section. As you go up the winding road, you will soon reach the top where the cliff next to the car is. If you focus on driving according to the instructor’s instructions, the Grenadier will safely lead you to the top of Hanseok Mountain.
Ineos Off-Road Parkour is scheduled to be opened to consumers early next year after detailed program supplementation and improvement. It is said that they plan to introduce package products that combine hotels, condos, and circuits within Inje Speedium. In accordance with the policy of Ineos Automotive’s global headquarters, Ineos Off-Road Parkour will begin full-time operation.Chabot Motors, which unveiled the off-road course, plans to strengthen domestic communication about Ineos Grenadier. Next year’s new cars are planned to be launched in Korea as ‘Grenadier 1924 Limited Edition’ and pickup truck version ‘Grenadier Quartermaster’. Currently, Ineos Grenadier is being sold online in Korea. Since actual production is carried out according to order, it is said that it takes about six months for the car to be manufactured and brought into the country upon purchase. They appear to be eliminating cost waste through small-volume custom production and focusing on investing in building domestic infrastructure and marketing for customers.
The domestic introduction volume is known to be less than 100 units per year. Although the quantity is not large, it is said that even this year’s planned quantity has been sold. It is said that the main purchasing group is those in their 40s or older, and many of them purchase the product mainly for the purpose of a second car. To address the shortcomings of slow delivery of new cars due to custom orders, the Korean Edition is also being sold with options that reflect the tastes of domestic consumers, and it is said that this model can be received in about 3 months.
What types of tailored driving experiences will the Ineos Grenadier program offer to participants?
Expand the program to accommodate a wider range of customers, offering tailored driving experiences that not only showcase the Ineos Grenadier’s off-roading capabilities but also provide insights into its unique mechanical functions. This initiative aims to create a vibrant community of off-road enthusiasts, fostering a deeper connection between drivers and their vehicles.
The Grenadier itself reflects a nostalgic design ethos, intentionally steering away from modern digital interfaces and emphasizing a driver-focused experience. With the physical button layout and cockpit design evoking a sense of nostalgia, Ineos seeks to attract those who appreciate traditional mechanical engineering in a world increasingly dominated by screens and automation. This emphasis on analog controls is not merely aesthetic; it is a nod to the brand’s philosophy of creating vehicles that are straightforward to operate, easy to repair and maintain, and optimized for rugged use.
As part of the program, participants can learn the intricacies of operating the Grenadier’s various functions through practical engagement. This hands-on approach demystifies the vehicle’s capabilities, making it approachable for drivers of all skill levels. The planned expansion of the program to include scenic drives through mountain trails and general roads will further enhance the experience, allowing participants to appreciate the Grenadier in diverse driving conditions.
With the increase in interest toward outdoor and adventure activities, the Ineos Off-Road Parkour will not only serve as an educational platform but also as a recreational outlet for those seeking adventure through a unique driving experience. The partnership with local hospitality services to bundle accommodation and experience packages will likely appeal to adventure-seeking consumers, making it a prominent destination for off-road enthusiasts.
The overall goal is to create a vibrant off-road community, attract potential buyers, and promote the unique features of the Grenadier while ensuring that participants leave with a newfound respect for the vehicle and the thrill of off-road driving. As the launch date approaches, anticipation builds for this innovative program that blends education, adventure, and community building into one cohesive experience.