Model Year 2026 (MY26) – Confirmed & Speculated Changes

[ecohen2]

This came out 12 hours ago....

https://www.carscoops.com/2026/01/ineos-tries-to-civilize-the-grenadier-but-its-still-a-savage/

 

[Tenac]

I get to drive one around town and freeway today so I'll put my 2cents on the matter of steering.

 

[ecohen2]

Honestly, the steering is the only thing I would change about mine. I wonder if changing the steering rack is an option?

I had a loaner with less than 1000 miles earlier this week. The HVAC had issues, the sensors were going off all of the time and it did this weird bucking at lows speeds. There is definitely a difference from vehicle to vehicle...

 

[Krabby]

I get to drive one around town and freeway today so I'll put my 2cents on the matter of steering.

If you can, document whatever changes you feel/see etc. We're obviously focused on the steering, HVAC, and drivetrain, but anything else you observe would be great to hear about. The articles I've come across all seem to be rehashed IA press release drek so a real boots on the ground report would be well received.

 

[DoubleDoom]

This came out 12 hours ago....

https://www.carscoops.com/2026/01/ineos-tries-to-civilize-the-grenadier-but-its-still-a-savage/

That article is from the UK and the steering had already improved on European models with MY24 (I drove an MY23 and that was worse than the MY24), Plus, we don't get the silly zero castor that US models seem to have. So, I suspect the difference a UK reviewer would feel will be different to how a US reviewer may feel. That said, if a reviewer drove an MY23 originally and is driving an MY26 now, they may feel more of a gap.

 

[Tenac]

That article is from the UK and the steering had already improved on European models with MY24 (I drove an MY23 and that was worse than the MY24), Plus, we don't get the silly zero castor that US models seem to have. So, I suspect the difference a UK reviewer would feel will be different to how a US reviewer may feel. That said, if a reviewer drove an MY23 originally and is driving an MY26 now, they may feel more of a gap.

So in EU my24 have the new worm gear and hydraulic steering stops already? Bc they do not here in the US for sure. You all are lucky they rolled it out without telling anyone there.

 

[FlyersFan76]

New optics for 2026: The two rings are most likely due to new safety regulations, which require the DRL to be always on and to operate separately from the turn signals. Still no information regarding a new 5-piece lens element in the headlamps; this could be related to supply-chain constraints or improvements in beam performance.


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While not a fan of DRL's (headlight only) it makes sense to have the turn signals work independently of headlight.

 

[AWo]

While not a fan of DRL's (headlight only) it makes sense to have the turn signals work independently of headlight.

Headlight? That is still the case, in the old and new version of the headlight. The turn lights are operating independent of the headlight, but they are integrated into one unit. Do you mean independent operation from DRL?

As an automotive light guy I think it the other way around. Having the DRL switched off while turning makes the indicator far more visible than with two separate lights so close together.

I assume that the European version is a 1 or 1a type (should be noted somewhere on the light), depending on the distance to the low-beam light (begin of the lens).

Regarding UN-ECE R48 the DRL needs to be dimmed when the distance between turning indicator and DRL is lower than 40 mm while the turning indictor is used. But it is still illuminated. If both are a single unit (pre-2026) the DRL has to be turned off.

Is that the case? Is the DRL dimmed while turning?

AWo

 

[Krabby]

I agree w @AWo - anything other than the turn signal should be turned off so the signal is most visible. There are many cars out there that do not to this and it's hard to tell of they are signinling or not.

 

[FlyersFan76]

Headlight? That is still the case, in the old and new version of the headlight. The turn lights are operating independent of the headlight, but they are integrated into one unit. Do you mean independent operation from DRL?

1. As an automotive light guy I think it the other way around. Having the DRL switched off while turning makes the indicator far more visible than with two separate lights so close together.

I assume that the European version is a 1 or 1a type (should be noted somewhere on the light), depending on the distance to the low-beam light (begin of the lens).

Regarding UN-ECE R48 the DRL needs to be dimmed when the distance between turning indicator and DRL is lower than 40 mm while the turning indictor is used. But it is still illuminated. If both are a single unit (pre-2026) the DRL has to be turned off.

2. Is that the case? Is the DRL dimmed while turning?

AWo

1. Actually, that does make sense. Around my parts (Pennsylvania, USA) the DRL'S are experiment bright. So bright that people do not turn their lights on when needed because a) they think their lights are on, and b) they have auto lights set to off. So they are driving without their rear lights on.

2. Not sure. I never actually checked because I turn my DRL's off.

 

[FlyersFan76]

I agree w @AWo - anything other than the turn signal should be turned off so the signal is most visible. There are many cars out there that do not to this and it's hard to tell of they are signinling or not.

Signaling? What is that. lol

 

[LC0013]

Trumpedier model.

Available only in Greenland.

 

[Ovrland Bill]

Available only in Greenland.

And, alternatively, Iceland.

 

[HeavyFoot]

I have been following proposed new vehicle legislation from the northern hemisphere as it always seems to be new legislation that filters into Australia and New Zealand. Driver monitoring cameras, who has been following proposed laws quietly coming into the U.S.? The US might have the 2nd amendment but guessing it's going to be a long walk to use it if the new cars heading in this direction.

View: https://youtu.be/yvhNQ8cVJSk?si=qMFJZXVXBufUzwUb

Correction. We used to have a 2nd, 4th, and 10th Amendment. They’ve died a slow and long death.
“They” love mandating more of this crap none of us want. Imagine the Grenadier without any of the recently required Nannie’s of the past 10 years

 

[HereinDaRockies]

I wonder if the new headlights are less susceptible snow/slush build up.

 

[AWo]

1. Actually, that does make sense. Around my parts (Pennsylvania, USA) the DRL'S are experiment bright. So bright that people do not turn their lights on when needed because a) they think their lights are on, and b) they have auto lights set to off. So they are driving without their rear lights on.

2. Not sure. I never actually checked because I turn my DRL's off.

If it makes sense to you is up to you. This is simple the law in all countries which apply to the UN-ECE rules and that is Europe and all in all about 56 countries in the world. You have other laws in the US which are called SAE. I don't know what they require.

But to summarize again what is mandatory in the EU:
- DRL must be dimmmed or turned off when another light function like position, low or high-beam is turned on.
- DRL must be dimmed while the indicator is used if their distance is less than 40 mm (makes sense from my point of view because otherwise the indicator might not be noticed.).
- DRL must be switched off if the DRL and the indicator are the same light source, while the indicator is used (makes also sense to me for an unknown reason).

AWo

 

[AWo]

I wonder if the new headlights are less susceptible snow/slush build up.

No. Why should they?

The reasons are
- the light design was nearly kept the same
- what creates heat is behind the thick lense and it is dissipated to the rear and the rear housing. Not many heat can escape to the front.
- the mounting position is the same, the light is captured by a ring preventing the snow to escape

Icing LED lights is a problem between about +3°C to -7°C because this is a temperature range where there ist still humidity in the air which can ice. Snow is still wet and sticky. Below -7°C the air and the snow becomes dry. There is no humidity anymore in the air which can ice and the snow is so dry, that it doesn't get stuck so easy. If there is a gap big enough between the light and the outer ring, the snow can escape. I was teached that and it was my personel experience during my 14 days trip over new year 2023/2024 in Lappland, Sweden and Norway at -40°C max. and all temperature ranges in between with Nolden 7" headlights which are very close to the Nolden 8,xyz" headlights of the Grenadier. Mounting position is also comparable.

Why are there nearly no cars with heated LED lights? Because metal stripes in the glass would increase the CO2 output (think not of one car, think of thousands) and getting the ECE and SAE homologation becomes more difficult, as the LED lights are using a lens most of the time. That means that even a small metal stripe would have an impact on the photometric properties. Actively heated lights (blowing the hot air to the front) are also not common (if they exist at all) because the moving parts increase the risk of failures which can't be repaired as an LED light can not be opened without ruin the light.

Here you see the one of my Nolden 7" light after a five hour drive to Vejejaur, Sweden from -15°C to -25°C at our destination. The upper part is the low beam used all the time, ice-free. The lower part is the high beam, not used. The optical fibre in the middle is the DRL and position light (in the picture DRL is on).

AWo

 

[Tempus Fugit]

Is the HVAC single zone or dual zone? I always thought it was single but the US website now says it’s dual zone (is that new)? Maybe I’m just crazy and always had it wrong.

 

[TCMColorado]

Is the HVAC single zone or dual zone? I always thought it was single but the US website now says it’s dual zone (is that new)? Maybe I’m just crazy and always had it wrong.

It has always been single zone. If it is now dual zone for 2026 that is an update.

 

[CrazyOldMan]

No. Why should they?

The reasons are
- the light design was nearly kept the same
- what creates heat is behind the thick lense and it is dissipated to the rear and the rear housing. Not many heat can escape to the front.
- the mounting position is the same, the light is captured by a ring preventing the snow to escape

Icing LED lights is a problem between about +3°C to -7°C because this is a temperature range where there ist still humidity in the air which can ice. Snow is still wet and sticky. Below -7°C the air and the snow becomes dry. There is no humidity anymore in the air which can ice and the snow is so dry, that it doesn't get stuck so easy. If there is a gap big enough between the light and the outer ring, the snow can escape. I was teached that and it was my personel experience during my 14 days trip over new year 2023/2024 in Lappland, Sweden and Norway at -40°C max. and all temperature ranges in between with Nolden 7" headlights which are very close to the Nolden 8,xyz" headlights of the Grenadier. Mounting position is also comparable.

Why are there nearly no cars with heated LED lights? Because metal stripes in the glass would increase the CO2 output (think not of one car, think of thousands) and getting the ECE and SAE homologation becomes more difficult, as the LED lights are using a lens most of the time. That means that even a small metal stripe would have an impact on the photometric properties. Actively heated lights (blowing the hot air to the front) are also not common (if they exist at all) because the moving parts increase the risk of failures which can't be repaired as an LED light can not be opened without ruin the light.

Here you see the one of my Nolden 7" light after a five hour drive to Vejejaur, Sweden from -15°C to -25°C at our destination. The upper part is the low beam used all the time, ice-free. The lower part is the high beam, not used. The optical fibre in the middle is the DRL and position light (in the picture DRL is on).

View attachment 7920380

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AWo

I never knew all this time that lighting was your bag. Have you looked at the JW Speaker or Oracle Lighting Oculus aftermarket options for the Jeep Wrangler? Can you think of any reason Ineos wouldn’t use something like that for a heated headlamp? I know those models aren’t compatible - I’m just wondering whether they could commission something LIKE that. I agree with you on the temp range - it’s when the snow is “sticky” that you get the buildup. Only at warmer temps. Fortunately or unfortunately, out here it’s been colder than a witch’s *** for the last couple of weeks, so that hasn’t been a problem