Land Rover debuts Defender OCTA in China

Beijing (Gasgoo)–On July 18, Land Rover officially unveiled in China the Defender OCTA —its most powerful Defender to date. The model will hit the Chinese market in the third quarter of this year. 

Named after the octahedral shape of a diamond, the Defender OCTA symbolizes versatility and strength, reflecting the vehicle's formidable capabilities both on and off the road.

As the performance pinnacle of the Defender family, the Defender OCTA preserves the series' iconic boxy silhouette while integrating aggressive design upgrades. A blacked-out honeycomb grille dominates the front fascia, accentuated by gold tow hooks and a titanium octahedral badge, giving the rugged exterior a precision-cut, jewel-like edge.

The body has been widened by 68mm and raised by 28mm. Paired with flared wheel arches and standard 20-inch all-terrain tires (with optional 22-inch highway tires), the Defender OCTA projects a commanding stance. Key off-road specs include a 40.2° approach angle, 42.8° departure angle, 323mm ground clearance, and 1,000mm wading depth—numbers that visually and mechanically assert its all-terrain dominance.

Inside, the Defender OCTA continues Land Rover's philosophy of "functional luxury". A 13.1-inch curved touchscreen and fully digital instrument cluster anchor the cockpit's tech suite. Exclusive "Body and Soul" seats feature AI-driven haptic sensors that adjust support based on driving conditions. These seats also work in tandem with the Meridian sound system to deliver an immersive acoustic experience. The cabin also includes OCTA-exclusive design cues, such as a coin-shaped emblem with a circular exterior and square core, as well as a DEFENDER wordmark on the passenger-side dash.

The Defender OCTA's core strength lies in its powertrain. Under the hood is a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine sourced from BMW's S68 series, paired with a 48V mild-hybrid system. This setup produces 635 horsepower and 750Nm of torque, with a temporary boost to 800Nm in OCTA mode. Despite its 2.7-ton mass, the Defender OCTA accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 250 km/h. Power is delivered via ZF's 8HP automatic transmission, optimized for both low-speed crawling and high-speed cruising, with shift times 15% quicker than those of standard Defender models.

Further enhancing its performance is Land Rover's 6D Dynamics system, a hydraulically linked semi-active suspension that replaces traditional anti-roll bars. This system enables real-time body control, limiting roll to just 3.2° in road mode—on par with sports sedans. Off-road, it allows for a generous 550mm of wheel articulation. Combined with electronic locking differentials, the Defender OCTA can navigate sand, mud, and other challenging terrains with "contactless" traction recovery capabilities.