From the creator of the Ford Raptor comes a brand new rip-snorting Defender, almost half a decade within the making.
Right here it’s, in all its glory: the Octa, Land Rover’s quickest, strongest Defender ever. However if you happen to ask its creator, Jamal Hameedi, as I did lately on the automobile’s LA reveal, the spectacular off-roader portends a lot extra.
Observe monster
The Land Rover Defender Octa is a brand new high-performance, ultra-capable Defender 110.
In keeping with Hameedi, the Head of Particular Autos at Land Rover (and whose CV contains the event of Ford Raptor), the producer examined the brand new Octa over 1,000,000 kilometers, each off-road and on the observe.
Curiously, it’s the latter location the place Hameedi thinks the brand new Octa actually shines.
“This factor is as enjoyable, possibly extra enjoyable, to drive on a observe as it’s off-road,” they stated. “I’ve by no means seen that earlier than and it makes the Octa actually particular. We even examined the Octa on the Nurburgring.”
A diamond on the tough
With the Octa, Land Rover doubles down on a pattern of pushing every of its autos as their very own sub model. For instance, the Defender and the Vary Rover are actually two distinct entities.
Octa, which stands for diamond, shall be Defender’s new extremely high-performance line. (Assume: AMG to Mercedes or M to BMW. It’s rather more than an even bigger engine.) In the meantime, “Particular Automobile [Operations]” will underpin the high-performance Vary Rover fashions.
Anticipate to see numerous ‘Octa’ references within the coming years. In truth, Land Rover has already began to tone again the Land Rover badge on new automobiles.
Probably the most highly effective Defender ever
Land Rover didn’t maintain again on equipping its new flagship. The Octa is packed to the gills.
- Energy: The Defender is powered by a BMW-sourced 4.4-liter Twin Turbo mild-hybrid V8 producing 626 HP and as much as 553 lb-ft of torque. 0-60mph is available in 3.8 seconds.
- Large Pace: Sure fashions have a high pace of 155 mph. To cease that a lot mass, Octa comes with huge Brembo brakes.
- Suspension: Land Rover has rolled out a reworked model of the 6D Dynamics suspension initially launched within the SV Vary Rover Sport. Right here, it’s in a position to degree out pitch and roll. For those who’ve seen these robo-toys that hold the ball degree on a floor then you possibly can think about what this does for the Defender.
- Tires: When optioned with the brand new 20-inch off-road wheels, the Defender is provided with a particular new tire that Hameedi informed me took two years to develop. It’s a 33-inch (275/60 R20) 3-layer reliable off-road tire that’s additionally succesful on a observe (proven in our stay pics).
- Raise: 1.1-inch elevate, together with the elevate of the bigger off-road tires and an almost 3-inch wider stance, offers the Defender actually critical presence in particular person. It’s able to a further 100mm of wading depth.
- Exterior Particulars: An all-new entrance bumper, huge fender flares, graphite physique safety and chopped carbon fiber particulars make up many of the exterior adjustments
- Inside: All-new seats (entrance and rear) with particular materials together with leather-based and animal-free materials. And extra curiously, Land Rover has included in-built subwoofer-like actuators from Subpac and Coventry College into the seats to higher really feel your music. It’s like a bass shaker in premium film theaters. Anticipate to see extra of this.
- Tastefully Over the Prime: The US spec clearance lights (such as you see on high-performance pick-up vans) and the twin raised air intakes are over-the-top however vital on the Defender Octa as a result of V8 and the 80-inch broad stance. The truth that they’re vital to fulfill authorized necessities is simply icing on the cake. I’m positive we’ll see folks retrofitting these to Defenders as shortly as elements can be found.
- Competitors: A transparent volley on the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG.
A particular model for early adopters known as “Version One” has particular Faroe Inexperienced paint with matte wrap and chopped carbon fiber detailing. The bronze tow hooks are an particularly fancy contact. That is the mannequin in our pictures.
When will you see it within the wild?
The general public debut of the Defender Octa will occur at Goodwood Competition of Pace on July 11.
For these of you not within the UK, you’ll must standby. Solely 4,010 models shall be created for the primary yr, of which simply 1,000 will come to the US.
Pre-orders will debut quickly with manufacturing beginning in October.
Worth: As you’d anticipate, an enormous premium
- The usual Defender Octa begins at an MSRP of $152,000. You possibly can anticipate your native dealership, relying on its scruples, to mark that up.
- The Defender OCTA Version One, proven right here within the pics, which is able to solely be out there within the first yr of manufacturing, can have a beginning value of $167,800.
Keep tuned for extra insights as soon as we get behind the wheel of the Defender Octa.