This Defender OCTA could keep up with supercars because of a 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 under its hood.
Land Rover has recently revealed its most luxurious yet most capable Defender yet, for which it has dubbed the OCTA after a diamond’s octahedral shape. And as is fitting for its name, under the hood of this top-flight variant is to be V8!
The same twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre BMW lump with mild-hybrid tech that was first seen powering the Range Rover Sport SV, this OCTA’s is currently rated to output a whopping 626 hp and 750 Nm. Though perhaps even more impressive than that is that the latter could actually still be bumped up by an extra 50 Nm, when launch control (in a Defender!) is activated.
Thanks to that healthy dollop of power therefore, it should come as no surprise for this most potent Defender ever to also be the quickest. The OCTA is said to only require 3.8 seconds to hit 60 mph (96 km/h) from a stand still or 4.0 seconds to reach 100 km/h (62 mph), with it then eventually top out at a very Germanic 250 km/h (155 mph).
When it comes to bringing proceedings to a halt on the other hand, the OCTA comes packing some substantial 15.7-inch front brakes clamped on by six-piston Brembo calipers. Land Rover has further equipped this ‘most dynamically accomplished’ trim with the fastest steering ratio of any Defender so far, just so that it can tackle the back roads as well as it does off-road.
And on the topic of how well it does off-road meanwhile, Land Rover has ensured this much by gracing the OCTA with the brand’s new 6D Dynamics suspension technology. This setup consists of hydraulically interlinked continuously variable semi-active dampers, for which says reduce pitch and body roll on the road while also improving articulation off-road.
This Defender nets an OCTA driving mode, in addition to the usual Terrain Response configurations. This particular mode engages Off-Road Launch control and tweaks the ABS to make it more effective on loose surfaces, which essentially could see for this Chelsea tractor be transformed into a wannabe Baja basher if one so chooses.
Exclusive to the OCTA also are longer and tougher wishbones for improved wheel articulation, with said 22-inch light-alloy wheels to incidentally be wrapped in standard 33-inch Goodyear Advanced All-Terrain tyres that were specifically developed for this variant. This top-flight Defender further sits 28 mm higher than lesser models and has a 68 mm wider stance as well, which is highlighted by the enormous flared wheel arches that literally bulge out from its slab-sided body.
Other exterior enhancements that set the OCTA apart from its common counterparts are a set of redesigned bumpers on either end that improves its approach and departure angles, along with tougher underbody protection featuring an aluminium alloy front skid plate. This particular Defender also nets a new grille design that increases airflow to feed that V8, while a set of quad tailpipes that stick out of its rump help better transmit the rumble.
Moving on inside here, the OCTA sports newly-developed Performance seats that offer more support and integrated headrests. Land Rover is also offering its Body and Soul Seat audio technology on the Defender for the first time, along with a set of Ultrafabric trim options that are apparently 30% lighter than leather.
The Land Rover Defender OCTA will be making its dynamic debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed next weekend, before hitting dealerships later with a price tag starting from an eye-watering £145,300 (RM 875,000). All OCTAs produced will feature a two-tone paint scheme with a Narvik Black roof and tailgate, with the Edition One further bringing along with it a custom Faroe Green paint, khaki interior, ‘chopped’ carbon fibre accents and 20-inch forged wheels shod in all-terrain tyres.
