The defender recently transitioned from a nameplate in the Land Rover portfolio to a separate brand inside the JLR company. The first SUV the business will launch after obtaining independence is the Octa, a high-performance version of the Defender that will arrive in July 2024.
Tall and broad, it distinguishes it from the other Defender models with a more prominent grille, more air vents etched into the front bumper, and what appears to be a taller bulge on the hood. The enormous wheel arch flares conceal a wider track and ride on unique wheels wrapped in off-road rubber. We also see a set of red tow hooks protruding from the back end and, in one photo, massive skid plates running along the underbody.
It will be standard with the 6D Dynamics suspension technology, which is already available on the Range Rover Sport SV. This technology controls pitch and squat while boosting wheel travel.
The twin-turbocharged V8 will tick the “fast” box, and the 6D Dynamics system should provide more excellent on-road performance than the ground clearance indicates.
The defender will introduce the Octa on July 3, 2024, but a select group of clients can pre-order one before the model goes public. Availability has yet to be revealed; however, the British brand states that a limited number of vehicles will be available during the first year of manufacturing.
