Land Rover has confirmed it will bring a new, high-performance version of the Defender to market in 2024, offering a number of features taken from the recently launched Range Rover Sport SV. With a twin-turbo V8 petrol engine and '6D' air suspension technology, the flagship Defender Octa is expected to be the most powerful Defender ever.
Faster, tougher, more luxurious
Land Rover has said the new Defender Octa will chart "new territory" for the brand, despite numerous high-performance Defenders having been released previously. However, the new Octa model will get technology from the Range Rover Sport SV to make it more capable on- and off-road, while Land Rover is also promising plenty of luxury features.
Although the car has not been revealed in its entirety, Land Rover has confirmed the Octa will be the most powerful Defender ever, with a twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine under the bonnet. It's thought this will be the same 4.4-litre unit seen in the Range Rover Sport SV, although whether it will get the same 635hp output remains to be seen.
The top-of-the-range Defender will also inherit the Range Rover Sport SV's '6D' air suspension technology, designed to eliminate body roll when accelerating, braking or cornering, as well as maximising wheel travel and articulation when off-road.
Rough diamond
Apparently, the Octa name comes from the octahedron shape of diamonds - the hardest naturally occurring substance on the planet. Land Rover claims both diamonds and the new Defender model have comparable properties - toughness, rarity and exclusivity - so the Octa will get a new "encircled diamond graphic" on numerous interior and exterior components.
To demonstrate its toughness, the Octa is currently on what Land Rover calls "the most exhaustive development regime in Defender history," covering terrain that includes the Swedish snow and the desert of Dubai, as well as the asphalt surface of Germany's Nürburgring and the rocky Moab in America.
Mark Cameron, the managing director of Land Rover's Defender division, said: "Defender has been synonymous with all-terrain capability with a bloodline tracing back to the Series 1 in 1948. New Defender Octa will take this to another level, with a dramatic stance, innovative technology and unparalleled attention to detail. With astounding performance and a bold new attitude, it will enable our clients to master epic adventures in heightened luxury."
Exclusive previews
Although Land Rover has shared testing images of the Defender Octa with the press, prospective clients will be invited to attend exclusive preview events ahead of the car's full reveal later this year. Customers interested in registering can contact their nearest retailer for details.