Defender 110 OCTA: Land Rover's ultimate off‑road Beast unveiled
The fastest, most capable off-road, and most luxurious Defender ever created throws down the gauntlet to the biggest off-road heavyweights, like the Ford Ranger Raptor and Bronco Raptor, as well as the Wrangler 392 and anything else you can think of.
The Defender 110 OCTA is the latest work of British engineers, and it wouldn't be wrong 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-litre V8 Twin Turbo engine with 637 HP, generating 750 Nm of torque (up to 800 Nm in Dynamic Launch Mode), accelerating to 100 km/h in around 4 seconds. It leaps ahead of all off-road vehicles that have so far been produced by manufacturers' design offices (not tuners).
The Defender is faster than the Ford Raptor family or the Jeep Wrangler 392, equipped with a larger but not more powerful engine. It accelerates to a speed of 250 km/h.
The capabilities of the drivetrain and suspension match the engine's performance. The drive is, of course, permanent, transmitted from the engine to a two-speed transfer case through an eight-speed automatic. The Defender OCTA features innovative suspension with 6D Dynamics hydraulic coupling technology. The manufacturer describes it as follows:
"Replacing traditional anti-roll bars with a sophisticated hydraulic circuit, the 6D Dynamics suspension system provides exceptional levels of roll support and significantly reduced pitch when accelerating and braking. In fact, this world-first system controls roll so effectively that 1.1g of lateral acceleration is available on the fitted all-season tyres."
In short, the dampers are hydraulically linked, so the response of one can affect the reaction of the others, all managed by a computer. The dampers are semi-active, meaning they are controlled, but not directly, somewhat indirectly, through others. For example, if the suitable dampers compress, they become stiffer and cause more excellent extension and softer operation of the left ones, so the left wheels have a higher grip.
On the other hand, in articulation, when the suitable damper is compressed, the left one extends to maintain contact with the ground. The Defender OCTA can independently assess the surface it's on and adjust the suspension accordingly. It has an increase in ground clearance of about 2.5 centimetres and a widened wheel track by 7.5 centimetres. The dampers have separate oil reservoirs, providing a more excellent thermal range and smoother operation on bumps.
For the first time, a Land Rover vehicle comes with a high-speed off-road driving mode. The OCTA mode allows maximum acceleration on loose surfaces, switches traction control to a less aggressive setting, disables the DSC system, and changes the ABS settings to increase braking effectiveness on loose surfaces.
84-cm Goodyear Advanced All-Terrain Tyres, explicitly developed for the Defender OCTA, enable technical driving in rugged terrain and chasing Ford Raptors.
Not just technology
In addition to the technology, the Defender 110 OCTA differs in appearance and interior from other Defenders. Externally, it is recognised by badges meant to resemble the toughest diamond (OCTA)—in reality, it is a badge with a circle and a rhombus inside.
The front bumper has a larger lower grill, and the black tailpipe tips are rectangular. The colour palette includes two new ones: Petra Copper and Faroe Green, alongside Carpathian Grey and Charente Grey. All Defenders OCTA have a contrasting roof and rear door in Narvik Black. Visually, the car will be available in a road specification with 56-centimetre wheels and an off-road Edition One specification with smaller wheels and off-road tyres.
Interior differences primarily include the front seats, shaped like sports seats with integrated headrests. The Khaki and Ebony colour schemes also contain recycled materials and finishes.
Orders for the new Defender OCTA will officially open soon. The approximate price starts from £145,300, and the Edition One version may cost approximately £160,800. The car will officially debut live during the Goodwood Festival of Speed from 11–14 July.
