Land Rover has unveiled its latest powerhouse, the Defender OCTA, promising to be the most dynamically accomplished Defender ever produced. The new model blends extreme toughness with high-end luxury, reflecting its name inspired by the hardest mineral on Earth, the diamond.
Under the bonnet, the Defender OCTA is powered by a 4.4-litre twin-turbo mild-hybrid V8 engine, sourced from BMW, churning out an impressive 467kW and 750Nm (800Nm in launch mode). This setup allows the Defender OCTA to sprint from 0-100 km/h in just 4.0 seconds, making it the quickest Defender ever.
It’s not just about straight-line acceleration, though. Land Rover has spent considerable effort making sure the new beast is the best handling model as well, both on and off the road. So it comes with an advanced 6D Dynamics suspension system, offering pitch and roll control and various drive modes.
The new model offers raised ground clearance as well, and sits 28mm higher, while the width has been increased by 68mm for a muscular and sturdy stance. There’s also a set of 400mm front brake discs with Brembo calipers ensuring awesome stopping power.
For the exterior, the wheel arches are pumped out, bespoke to the OCTA, with revised front and rear bumper bars, and buyers can select between two exclusive new paint colours including Petra Copper and Faroe Green, and Carpathian Grey and Charente Grey.
A set of unique wheels wear chunky 33-inch tyres. These are the largest ever fitted to a standard, road-legal Defender. Land Rover worked closely with Goodyear to come up with this bespoke tyre, developed for the new beast.
Taking a look inside, the Defender OCTA promises a blend of durability and luxury. New performance seats with ‘Body and Soul’ technology aim to provide an intimate driving experience, finished in high-quality yet durable materials. The Edition One model, available in the first year of production, showcases an exclusive interior combo.
The Defender OCTA will make its public debut at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed from 11–14 July, with orders opening soon after that. Prices in Australia start from $291,542, and from $317,592 for the Edition One (excluding on-road costs).
