Land Rover has unveiled its new top-of-the-line Defender, the Defender OCTA. It’s even more powerful than we had guessed when Land Rover teased it last year. Thankfully, the limited edition 4×4 is also equipped with the right tools to keep all those horses at your command.
The Defender OCTA is powered by a 4.4-liter twin-turbo mild hybrid V8 engine. It produces up to 626 horsepower and 553 lb-ft. of torque, allowing this rugged off-roader to go from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds. You can hit that peak torque at just 1800 rpm, and even boost to 590 lb-ft. when you switch to the Dynamic Launch Mode.
Based on the Defender 110, the Defender OCTA sits 1.1 inches higher and is 2.7 inches wider. To further augment its stability on all types of terrain, the Defender OCTA also has longer and tougher wishbones and even has Brembo calipers on its massive 15.7-inch front brakes.
Land Rover’s 6D Dynamics suspension system – a series of hydraulic interlinked continuously variable semi-active dampers and height-adjustable air springs – should also keep the passengers inside relatively unshaken even in tough conditions.
The Defender OCTA also features a unique drive mode aptly called OCTA Mode, which is optimized for accelerating on loose surfaces. Combine that with low traction control settings and you get grippy braking on loose terrain as well.
The Defender OCTA is limited to 1,000 units in the US, and there’s an even more limited edition variant. Available only in the vehicle’s launch year, the Defender OCTA Edition One has exclusive 33-inch tires all-terrain tires and 20-inch wheels, Faroe Green body paint and chopped carbon fiber interior accents. The standard Defender OCTA on the other hand will start with 22-inch wheels and all-season tires.
It also seems like Defender owners love bass as much as off-roading, seeing as Land Rover added “Body and Soul Seat audio technology” to the Defender OCTA’s front seats that vibrate in sync with music. I love how they go to great lengths to prevent rumble, only to add it back.
The 2025 Land Rover Defender OCTA should be available to order soon. The base model starts at $152,000, while the Edition One starts at $167,800.