The Defender OCTA features a trick new suspension system to enhance on-road and off-road efficiency
July 3, 2024 at 01:50
- Probably the most potent model of the Defender will debut at subsequent week’s Goodwood Pageant of Velocity.
- U.S. pricing begins at $152,000 and $167,800 for the Defender OCTA Version One.
- This insane Defender wants simply 3.8 seconds to hit 60 mph.
The Land Rover Defender household has a brand new addition, and it’s probably the most highly effective and quickest mannequin ever adorned with the Defender badge. It’s dubbed the OCTA and has been introduced forward of its dynamic debut on the Goodwood Pageant of Velocity subsequent weekend.
The headline of the brand new Defender OCTA is its powertrain. Whereas the present Defender V8 makes use of a supercharged 5.0-liter V8, the OCTA makes use of a BMW-sourced 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 with mild-hybrid know-how. It pumps out 626 hp and 553 lb-ft (750 Nm), though that torque determine will increase to 590 lb-ft (800 Nm) with launch management activated.
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In a straight line, the insane 4×4 wants simply 3.8 seconds to hit 60 mph (96 km/h) or 4.0 seconds to succeed in 100 km/h (62 mph), making this comfortably the quickest Defender ever. Nevertheless, the Defender has by no means actually been about blistering on-road efficiency, and as a substitute, it’s develop into an icon due to its ruggedness and off-road prowess. Land Rover hasn’t forgotten this with the OCTA.
This new mannequin sits 1.1 inches (28 mm) increased than lesser Defender fashions and has a 2.7-inch (68 mm) wider stance. It’s been outfitted with longer and more durable wishbones to enhance wheel articulation and options the model’s new 6D Dynamics suspension know-how. This setup consists of hydraulically interlinked constantly variable semi-active dampers that Land Rover says scale back pitch and physique roll on the street whereas additionally bettering articulation off-road.
Land Rover has additionally outfitted the brand new mannequin with a system that routinely detects what floor it’s being pushed on and optimizes the Defender accordingly. Drivers may also manually regulate the steering, throttle, and suspension settings. There’s additionally a brand new driving mode dubbed ‘OCTA.’ On this mode, an Off-Street Launch management is enabled, and the ABS is tweaked to make it simpler on free surfaces. The identical array of Terrain Response modes as different Defenders are current, together with Sand, Mud and Ruts, Grass Gravel Snow, and Rock Crawl settings.
Daring new seems
Because of the brand new mannequin’s dramatic stance, it instantly stands out from lesser Defender variants. It has 33-inch Goodyear Superior All-Terrain tires, flared wheel arches, a totally revised entrance fascia, and a brand new rear bumper with quad tailpipes. All OCTAs constructed will function a two-tone paint scheme with a Narvik Black roof and tailgate, and house owners can go for a matte safety movie to be utilized throughout the physique.
Adjustments proceed within the cabin. Two new Ultrafabric choices can be found, whereas as normal, the Defender OCTA features a Burnt Sienna semi-aniline leather-based with Kvadrat textile trim. Land Rover has additionally gone to the difficulty of designing new seats for the mannequin and put in a brand new audio system that the model says will enable entrance passengers to “really feel, in addition to hear, the music.”
U.S. costs for the Land Rover Defender OCTA begin at $152,000, though the primary yr of manufacturing will solely include the Defender OCTA Version One variant, priced from $167,800.
