Land Rover's New Defender Octa is Bonkers in Almost Every Way Possible

by Chris Teague

Published: July 3rd, 2024

land rover s new defender octa is bonkers in almost every way possible

What’s a competent off-roader if you can’t also do 0-60 mph in less than four seconds? That’s the approach Land Rover is taking with the new Defender Octa, which offers tremendous power and performance driving modes that make it an over-the-top special edition.

How does 626 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque from a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 sound? It sounds like 3.8 seconds to 60 mph, and what will likely be a memorable trip up the Goodwood hill is what it sounds like. Land Rover’s new Octa Edition One Defender will debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, bringing its adaptive suspension and exclusive styling touches with plenty of carbon fiber.

We’re talking about a speedy SUV here, but the Octa is still quite capable off-road. It offers the deepest wading depth of any Defender, at 3.3 feet, and it has a widened track with a 2.7-inch broader stance than the standard SUV. Land Rover said it conducted 13,960 tests to prove the Defender’s high-speed off-road durability.

The Octa also gets an exclusive Octa mode, which includes an off-road launch setting, and when combined with the lowest traction control settings, it offers optimal traction on loose surfaces.

Inside, Land Rover offers a pair of color choices, including khaki and black, but burnt sienna semi-aniline leather is standard. The Octa also gets performance seats with heavier bolstering and “wellness programs” that help with relaxation.

If you’re hoping to get ahold of a new Octa, get ready to pay $152,000 to start, and the Edition One starts at $167,800. The real prices will likely be higher than that, as buyers often add thousands in options and upgrades.

[Images: Land Rover. Note: Some images are of current models, not the Octa.]

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Chris Teague

Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.

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2 of 10 comments

Zipper69 on Jul 06, 2024
Is there a big enough market for an extreme sports performance off-roader?It seems such a niche, I wonder this is just a loss-leader, garnering publicity and press coverage but selling few...

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Redapple2 on Jul 09, 2024
Rubbish cars for moneyed obnoxious people.

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