The Land Rover Defender Octa makes its debut as the model’s most powerful variant ever. Under the hood sits a 4.4-liter mild-hybrid twin-turbocharged V-8 engine good for 626 horsepower and up to 590 pound-feet of torque. But there’s more to this SUV than just an increase in power. Land Rover has also revised the suspension and tweaked the design to take full advantage of the enhanced off-road capabilities.
The Octa features Land Rover’s 6D Dynamics chassis, which eliminates body pitch and roll while maximising suspension travel for ultimate off-road performance. It sits 1.1 inches higher than the standard Defender with a 2.7-inch wider stance, and features longer, stronger wishbones and unique active dampers. Stopping power comes from 15.7-inch front brakes with six-piston Brembo calipers, and the SUV has the quickest steering ratio of any Defender to date.
An eight-speed automatic transmission is the sole gearbox, with the engine typically making 553 lb-ft of torque in standard mode. Switch it to “Octa” mode and you unlock the full 590 lb-ft. Land Rover claims the Octa can hit 60 mph in 3.8 seconds and can reach a top speed of 155 mph with 22-inch alloy wheels and all-season tires. It can also ford 3.3 feet of water.
33-inch Goodyear Advance All-Terrain tyres, specially developed for the Octa, sit beneath extended wheel arches. Redesigned bumpers improve the Defender’s approach and departure angles, and a new grille design increases airflow under the bonnet. Quad tailpipes with an active exhaust system extend rearwards. It even has front and rear recovery points and underbody protection.
Inside, the Defender Octa features new Performance seats with increased support and integrated head restraints, with the company offering its Body and Soul Seat audio technology on the Defender for the first time. The standard interior is Burnt Sienna semi-aniline leather with Kvadrat Ebony cloth, but customers can also specify a Light Cloud and Lunar or Ebony leather cabin. The Octa Edition One gets two-tone khaki and ebony seat upholstery.
Every Octa features a new diamond-shaped graphic and a contrasting Narvik Black roof and tailgate, with customers able to choose from two new exterior colours: Petra Copper and Faroe Green. They join Carpathian Grey and Charente Grey, but Land Rover only offers the green on the Edition One model.
The special edition, only available during the Octa’s first year of production, also comes with carbon fibre detailing for the bonnet lettering, air intake surrounds, front seat backs and centre console trim. It also comes with 20-inch alloy wheels and the choice of an Advanced All-Terrain tyre option.
The Defender Octa, which takes its name from the octahedral shape of a diamond, will make its public debut next week at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed from July 11-14. Land Rover retailers are now taking orders for the SUV, which will have a starting price of $152,000. The Defender Octa Edition One will cost $167,800.