Land Rover Defender Octa to debut later this year

Land Rover will unveil the new Defender Octa later this year, making it the first JLR to wear this badge. Previously thought to carry the long-dormant SVX branding, the new ‘Octa’ badge will be used for all future range-topping Defender models. The name ‘Octa’ is said to come from the octahedron shape of a diamond, the hardest naturally occurring mineral on Earth – a reflection, no doubt, of the car’s durability and price.

1. Defender Octa likely to be powered by 4.4-litre V8 engine
2. Will borrow suspension from Range Rover Sport SV
3. Currently undergoing testing overseas

Land Rover Defender Octa technical details

Technical details remain largely under wraps, but JLR has confirmed that the new variant will use a twin-turbocharged V8 rather than the supercharged ‘AJ’ unit in the existing eight-cylinder Defender models. It is likely to be the 4.4-litre BMW-sourced unit used in various Range Rover models, including the Sport SV. In that car, it puts out 618hp and 800Nm, and propels the 2.5-tonne SUV to 100kph in just 3.8sec.

JLR has also revealed that the Octa will use the same ‘6D Dynamic’ suspension system as the Range Rover Sport SV. This system hydraulically links the dampers front to rear and side to side, providing active control over the car’s pitch and roll without a physical anti-roll bar. That should help provide the level of wheel articulation required by a hardcore off-roader like the Octa, without compromising on on-road drivability or comfort.

To that end, Land Rover said it is testing the car in the “most exhaustive” range of conditions of any of its cars to date; “from the snow and ice of Sweden to the Dubai desert, Nürburgring Tarmac and Moab rock crawls”.

Images published by the firm reveal that the Octa also receives a bespoke set of Brembo brakes, suggesting on-track performance is a priority. These are marked with the special Octa diamond logo, which also features on the steering wheel and side-pannier mounts.

The Defender Octa will be revealed in full later this year and will sit at the top of the SUV’s line-up.

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