Land Rover has confirmed the new, high-performance Defender Octa will be publicly revealed on July 3, following a series of client preview events. The newcomer, described as the toughest and most capable Defender ever, will be shown off to prospective customers in seven global locations before being unveiled to the general public.
Tough cookie
Back in March, Land Rover confirmed it would be building a new, high-performance version of the Defender called the Octa, named after the shape of a diamond. The car, which is billed as the most rugged, most capable and most luxurious Defender yet, will sit at the top of the Defender range, powered by a twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine and bestowed with clever suspension tech.
Most of the systems appear to be inherited from the recently launched Range Rover Sport SV, including the BMW-derived V8 petrol engine, which is also seen in the outgoing BMW M5 Competition and the BMW X5 M Competition. The 4.4-litre, twin-turbocharged unit drives all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic gearbox, and it’s expected to produce the same 635hp seen in the Range Rover Sport SV.
In addition, the Octa will also get the 6D air suspension technology seen in the Range Rover Sport SV, which is designed to roll and pitch as little as possible when braking or cornering. Land Rover also says the technology will help with axle articulation when off-roading - a talent that should be further enabled by the inclusion of all-terrain tyres as standard. High-performance Brembo brakes have also been fitted.
Summer launch
Land Rover has been busy testing the Octa over the past few months, and the company claims to have performed more than 13,960 additional tests over and above the usual Defender testing regime. Such tests include high-speed driving at the Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit and off-road testing in Dubai, Utah and Sweden.
Now, though, the car is ready for its launch tour, which involves seven different preview events at various locations worldwide. Prospective customers will be invited to locations in the UK, Germany, Italy and the USA, as well as Dubai and Japan. The events will give customers a preview of the Octa, before the public unveiling on July 3.
“Defender Octa will be synonymous with mastering epic adventures in heightened luxury,” said Mark Cameron, the managing director for Defender models at Land Rover. “That adventure starts with the Defender Elements events. Each venue and experience reflects the iconic Defender DNA in an authentic and original way and I can’t wait to welcome the first clients to begin their Defender Octa journeys with us.”