Land Rover reveals most powerful Defender ever – South African pricing

Land Rover has taken the wraps off the new Defender Octa, billed as the most powerful, capable, and luxurious of its kind ever built.

Based on the four-door 110 body style, the Octa features a brutish V8 powerplant combined with a mild-hybrid system, unique suspension, and distinctive styling elements.

Order books for the SUV are “opening soon” with its indicative starting price for South Africa set at R3,499,100.

Fans will be given their first sneak peek of the Octa in action at the upcoming Goodwood Festival of Speed on 11-14 July.

The ultimate Defender

The new Defender Octa sports a 4.4-litre, V8, twin-turbocharged petrol powerplant supported by a mild-hybrid system which together generates a mountain-shifting 467kW and 750Nm, with up to 800Nm at the pilot’s disposal in Dynamic Launch mode.

Power is transmitted to all four corners via an eight-speed automatic gearbox, enabling the heavy Land Rover to sprint to 100km/h in a mere 4.0 seconds with an electronically limited 250km/h top speed on the cards.

Furthermore, the newcomer provides an exclusive Octa drive mode in addition to Comfort and Dynamic options, which has been specially developed to ensure ultimate control and driver confidence off the beaten track.

Octa Mode also supplies an Off-Road Launch programme for optimum acceleration on loose surfaces, and, when combined with the lowest traction control settings, it engages a unique Off-Road ABS calibration for heightened braking performance on loose surfaces.

The standard Defender Terrain Response system is included, too, providing Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud/Ruts, and Rock Crawl settings for more technical off-road manoeuvres.

Another tool in the SUV’s arsenal is the 6D Dynamics suspension setup that has thus far been reserved for the high-octane Range Rover Sport SV.

The system consists of an advanced network of hydraulically interlinked, continuously variable, semi-active dampers alongside lengthened, more durable wishbones that almost completely eliminate pitch and body roll on-road, whilst enabling greater wheel articulation off-road to allow owners to traverse even more extreme obstacles.

As a result, the Octa sits 28mm higher than the standard Defender 110 and boasts a 69mm wider stance.

It also features uprated 400mm front brake discs with Brembo calipers and the fastest steering ratio of any Defender to date for immediate, precise, responses.

The Octa name is inspired by the toughest and most desirable mineral on earth, the diamond, which influenced the design of the octahedral badge that adorns each example of the dynamic Defender.

Every Octa wears the encircled diamond graphic, including a gloss black diamond within a machined and sandblasted titanium disc, on each Signature Graphic side panel, as well as on the brakes and steering wheel.

This is complemented by unique bodywork comprising an exclusive grille allowing greater under-bonnet airflow, extended wheel arches, a new rear bumper with space for the quad tailpipes, extended underbody protection with an aluminium alloy front under shield, and exposed Phosphor Bronze-finished front and rear recovery points.

It also gets more rugged alloy wheels wrapped in 33-inch tyres, the largest yet fitted to a production Defender.

The Octa’s colour palette comprises two exclusive new premium metallic finishes namely Faroe Green and Petra Copper, alongside the traditional Carpathian Grey and Charente Grey, while all models come with a contrast roof and tailgate in gloss Narvik Black.

Clients can further personalise their vehicle with optional Matte Protective Film for an extra layer of protection, while adding a sophisticated appearance that highlights the SUV’s distinctive silhouette and surfaces.

The cabin is upholstered as standard in a new Burnt Sienna semi-aniline leather with Kvadrat textile trims in ebony. Alternatively, it can be specified with Land Rover’s own Ultrafabrics PU in Light Cloud and Lunar, or semi-aniline leather in Ebony.

In front, the Land Rover boasts new Performance Seats with more supportive bolsters and integrated headrests, and for the first time in a Defender, it features Body and Soul Seat audio technology.

“The Body and Soul Seat has been developed in collaboration with music industry experts SUBPAC and Coventry University, allowing the driver and front passenger to feel, as well as hear, the music,” said Land Rover.

Six wellness programmes are also available to help relax occupants or help improve cognitive responses on the move, depending on their preference.

For the first year of production there will also be an Octa Edition One trim available to more discerning buyers, boasting the new Faroe Green paint, Khaki/Ebony Ultrafabrics PU upholstery, chopped carbon fibre detailing, and 20-inch forged alloy wheels with a choice of all-terrain or specially developed Goodyear Advanced All-Terrain tyres.