Since its launch in 2019, the Defender has been a huge hit, said Top Gear Magazine, and Land Rover has a simple aim for its new Defender Octa: "to be the world's fastest off-roader" yet. Three years in the making, it has been re-engineered to take even more punishment.
The Octa is 28mm higher and 68mm wider than previous models, "with muscular wheelarch extensions". It has a new 627bhp BMW-sourced 4.4-litre twin-turbo mild-hybrid V8 engine with an eight-speed automatic gearbox, but the "big news" is the "6D Dynamics" air-suspension tech that renders traditional anti-roll bars redundant.
Off-road, the car seems to 'float'
This "astonishing" tech is possibly "the defining piece of the Octa puzzle", said Evo, allowing for flatter, calmer cornering. The Octa is "an unexpected thrill to drive", making the regular Defender look "a touch meek".
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Despite weighing 2,585kg, it can reach 60mph in 3.8 secs in launch mode, and "gathers momentum with serious pace", while remaining composed; the brakes are "suitably impressive" too. Off-road, the car seems to "float", absorbing any impact with "engineered excellence".
An 'extra-special off-roader'
Land Rover has thrown out the rulebook to create a "tough" and "phenomenally capable 4x4", said Autocar. The all-terrain tyres give an assured level of grip, even on the road; less rugged all-season tyres or Michelin Primacy road tyres are an option for those who want to go faster. The dash is simple, with an intuitive touchscreen featuring excellent off-roading cameras; and the new "body and soul" bucket seats with vibro-acoustic tech are supremely comfortable. This "extra-special off-roader" should be in a class of its own.
-
'A symbol of the faceless corporate desire'Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Say farewell to summer at these underrated US lakesThe Week Recommends Have one last blast
-
Truck drivers are questioning the Trump administration's English mandateTalking Points Some have praised the rules, others are concerned they could lead to profiling
-
Land Rover Discovery Sport: much-loved off-roader goes greenSpeed Read This new hybrid version is highly energy-efficient while remaining a joy to drive
-
The Last Overland: the mother of all road tripsThe Week Recommends Overland from Singapore to London, in a 1950s motoring icon
-
Land Rover Adventure Moab: navigating Hell’s RevengeThe Week Recommends Fergus Scholes gets behind the wheel on Land Rover’s Adventure Travel Moab experience for an exhilarating off-road driving holiday
-
Land Rover Defender SVR 2021: design rumours, plus engine specs and releaseIn Depth British marque is already working on a hot version of its reborn off-roader
-
Range Rover EV 2022: design, battery range and releaseIn Depth Land Rover’s first electric car will be the marque’s ‘most road-focused model yet’
-
Best seven-seater SUVs on sale in 2019: Skoda Kodiaq, Tesla Model X and moreIn Depth From crossovers to go-anyway off-roaders, here’s our pick of the most practical models on offer
-
Keyless theft: why it takes only ten seconds to steal a new carIn Depth What you need to know about keyless theft - and how to prevent it
-
Land Rover Discovery Sport 2019 revealed: specs, prices and release date
In Depth Entry-level SUV gets sharper looks and a hi-tech cabin
