In 2024, the Land Rover group, home of the original British adventure brand Defender, will unveil a brand-new, highly capable all-terrain vehicle. Known as the OCTA, it has a mild hybrid and a twin-turbo V8 engine.
The brand will venture into uncharted ground with the new flagship Defender, which will be the most formidable, competent, and opulent vehicle in the lineup. On-road or off-road, the 6D Dynamics air suspension will provide an unmatched range of performance, comfort, and poise.
With its cutting-edge pitch and roll control system, the technology will allow it to maximise independent wheel travel and articulation across challenging off-road terrain while maintaining a nearly level stance during accelerating, braking, and cornering on the road.
The new OCTA name is inspired by the octahedron shape of a diamond, which is the hardest naturally occurring mineral on Earth and is highly sought after, thereby reflecting the vehicle’s premium credentials.
The flagship Defender model is symbolised by a new encircling diamond design. It is featured on several exterior and internal pieces, such as each trademark graphic panel where it appears as a gloss black diamond set inside a titanium disc that has been machined and sandblasted.
The durability and resistance of titanium to the elements in its natural state is another reason for its selection. Notably, the OCTA has undergone the most rigorous testing and development process ever undertaken by Defender.
After three years of development, it has passed more than 13,960 tests above the Defender’s standard testing programme. These tests included wet asphalt at Ladoux in France and high-performance handling and durability at Germany’s Nürburgring Nordschleife.
It has been tested in sand dunes in Dubai, on ice in Sweden, on demanding rally raid stages at Lastours in France, and on Moab rock crawls in Utah, USA. It has also successfully completed every extreme route at the renowned JLR test centre in the UK, Eastnor.
On July 3, 2024, the Defender OCTA will be made public worldwide. Australia will receive fewer than 100 models throughout the first year of manufacture.
