Land Rover unveils ultimate off‑road luxury: The defender 110 octa

The Defender 110 OCTA is the latest creation from British engineers, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that it is also the grandest Land Rover in history. Its enormous versatility and off-road capabilities now combine with extraordinary on- and off-road performance.

The car features a 4.4-liter V8 Twin Turbo engine with 637 HP, capable of generating 553 lb-ft of torque (momentarily up to 590 lb-ft in Dynamic Launch Mode), enabling it to accelerate to 60 mph in around 4 seconds. It surpasses all off-road vehicles produced by manufacturers' design offices to date.

The Defender is faster than the Ford Raptor family and the Jeep Wrangler 392, which has a larger but less powerful engine. It accelerates to 155 mph.

The capabilities of the drivetrain and suspension complement the engine's performance. The drive is permanent, transmitted from the engine to a two-speed transfer case through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Defender OCTA features innovative suspension with 6D Dynamics hydraulic coupling technology. The manufacturer describes it as follows:

"An advanced network of hydraulically connected, continuously variable, semi-active dampers virtually eliminates body roll and lean on the road, and the 6D Dynamics system also contributes to the Defender's unprecedented comfort and refinement. In challenging terrain, 6D Dynamics allows for greater wheel articulation and can handle even more extreme obstacles."

In short, the dampers are hydraulically linked, so the response of one can affect the response of the others, all managed by a computer. The dampers are semi-active, meaning they are not controlled directly but indirectly through others. For example, if the right dampers compress in turn, they become stiffer and cause greater extension and softer operation of the left ones, increasing grip on the left wheels.

In articulation, when the right damper is compressed, the left extends to maintain contact with the ground. The Defender OCTA can independently assess the surface it's on and adjust the suspension accordingly. It features an increased ground clearance of about 1 inch and a widened wheel track by 3 inches. The dampers have separate oil reservoirs, providing a greater thermal range and smoother operation on bumps.

A Land Rover vehicle has a high-speed off-road driving mode for the first time. The OCTA mode allows for maximum acceleration on loose surfaces, switches traction control to a less aggressive setting, disables the DSC system, and changes the ABS settings to optimize braking effectiveness on loose surfaces.

Both technical driving in difficult terrain and high-speed pursuits are made possible by 33-inch Goodyear Advanced All-Terrain Tires, developed specifically for the Defender OCTA.

In addition to its technology, the Defender 110 OCTA stands out in appearance and interior from other Defenders. Externally, it can be recognized by badges designed to resemble the toughest diamond (OCTA) - actually a badge with a circle and a rhombus inside.

The front bumper features a larger lower grille, and the rectangular tailpipe tips are black. The color palette includes two new options: Petra Copper and Faroe Green, alongside Carpathian Grey and Charente Grey. All Defenders OCTA have a contrasting roof and rear door in Narvik Black. The car will be visually available in a road specification with 22-inch wheels and an off-road Edition One specification with smaller wheels and off-road tyres.

Interior differences mainly include the front seats, shaped like sports seats with integrated headrests. Additionally, recycled materials and finishes are available in Khaki and Ebony color schemes.

Orders for the new Defender OCTA will officially open soon, with an approximate price starting from 145,300 British pounds, which converts to around $180,000. The Edition One version may cost approximately 160,800 British pounds (around $199,000). The car will officially debut live during the Goodwood Festival of Speed from July 11–14.