Meet the fastest Defender ever

The Defender is known as one of the most capable off-road vehicles, but the new top model is also one of the fastest 4x4s in the world. Meet the 635 hp OCTA…

An old paper factory in the middle of Düsseldorf. In recent years, this place has been tastefully transformed by a car enthusiast into a storage space for his collection, but today we are there to introduce you to the Defender OCTA. Previously we would have called this car Land Rover Defender OCTA, but Defender has recently grown into an independent brand - just like Range Rover and Discovery. Including Jaguar, the number of JLR brands (the overarching 'house of brands') now stands at four. That also explains why the fastest Defender is not called an SV, as is the case with the fastest Range Rovers: after all, Defender is now a different brand than Range Rover, so why would it use the same type designations? The name OCTA refers to the shape of a diamond, the strongest and most coveted mineral on earth. This Defender should be at least as strong.

New heights

In any case, what is strong is the engine. That is a 4,4 liter V8 with two turbos, which is good for 635 hp. This allows the OCTA to reach a top speed of 250 kilometers per hour and sprint to 100 in four seconds. For that you have to choose the 22-inch wheels, and you actually don't want those. The OCTA is also available with 20-inch wheels that are fitted with tires that Goodyear has developed especially for the OCTA. These are all-terrain tires that allow you to achieve a lower top speed, but give the OCTA a much cooler appearance. Of course, those tires also take you a lot further into the terrain, which is what the Defender was actually developed for. The OCTA allows you to drive through water up to a meter deep, surpassing many of its competitors. The G-Class from Mercedes-Benz, for example, reaches 'only' 85 centimeters.

According to Mark Cameron, managing director of Defender, the OCTA only unlocks the full potential of the Defender: “This car really shows how broad its capabilities are.” The chassis has been extensively modified to perform both on and off-road. The track width has been increased, longer and stronger wishbones are used and semi-active shock absorbers virtually eliminate body roll and dive movements. A new system, which Land Rover calls 6D Dynamics, ensures that the wheels can make greater vertical movements on rough terrain. The OCTA itself detects whether you are driving on unpaved surfaces and automatically adjusts all settings accordingly.

Admire live

You can order the Defender OCTA in four colors: We already know Carpathian Gray and Charente Gray from the 'normal' Defender; Petra Copper is a new color, especially for the OCTA; Finally, there is Faroé Green, which is especially for the OCTA Edition One. This version also has a specific interior and the aforementioned 20-inch wheels. The Defender OCTA will be available for sale from this summer. There is no exact price yet, but there is a price indication: 275.000 euros. The Edition One is 20.000 euros more expensive. Anyone who wants to see the Defender OCTA live for the first time can travel to the Goodwood Festival of Speed, from 11 to 14 July.