What's all this about?
The new Land Rover Defender Octa, which was announced earlier this year, will be unveiled to the public on July 3, following a series of customer preview events worldwide. The car, which is currently still in testing, will be the flagship model of the Defender line-up, promising performance and luxury.
Hang on, what's the Octa?
In essence, it’s the new range-topping version of the Defender, offering high performance and plenty of off-road capability, as well as a dose of luxury. Apparently, the name is inspired by the octahedral structure of a diamond, the hardest naturally occurring substance on the planet.
So what does the Octa get?
Under the yet-to-be-revealed skin, the Octa will have a V8 petrol engine, expected to be the 4.4-litre, twin-turbocharged, BMW-derived unit found in the Range Rover Sport SV. And that wouldn’t be a surprise, because there’s plenty of other SV-derived parts under there already.
For a kick-off, press images have shown the Octa gets a Brembo brake kit, expected to be the same as that fitted to the SV, and Land Rover has confirmed the 6D air suspension system will also be fitted. That system works to great effect in the flagship Range Rover Sport, keeping the body almost completely level in corners while still providing enough axle articulation for off-roading.
Ah, yes. I remember that being announced now. So what’s new?
Well, aside from some cool shots of the car in its testing process, which has incorporated work in Utah, Sweden and Dubai, among other places, Land Rover has now confirmed a release date. Having first confirmed the car in March, we’ll have to wait until July 3 for the final unveiling.
So what’s all this about previews?
Selected prospective customers will be invited to one of Land Rover’s special preview events, which will take place in seven locations around the world. Land Rover likes to do these to get orders in early and make customers feel more special. Those in Europe will be offered events in the UK, Germany and Italy, while there will also be events in the USA, Dubai and Japan.
Do we know how much it'll cost?
Not yet, but we expect more to be announced either on or before July 3. It’ll almost certainly command a six-figure price tag, though.
James Fossdyke - 25 Apr 2024