Land Rover has confirmed that the Defender Octa will be launched in India on March 26, 2025. Revealed in July 2024, the Octa is touted to be the most powerful and off-road-capable version of the Defender courtesy of numerous mechanical upgrades. The carmaker did announce a Rs 2.65 crore starting price for the Defender Octa last year, but no units were delivered to customers. With the Defender Octa’s formal India launch slated for later this month, prices will likely be slightly higher.
- Land Rover Defender Octa gets a beefed-up suspension system with a higher ride height
- The SUV has flared wheel arches, a reworked fascia, new alloy wheels, and more
- Interior features include 11.4-inch screen, centre console fridge, performance seats, etc.
Land Rover Defender Octa off-road upgrades
One of Defender Octa’s most notable additions is its 6D Dynamics suspension system, which forgoes the need for a physical anti-roll bar by hydraulically linking the dampers. Land Rover claims that this “virtually eliminates” pitch and body roll when driving on-road, and the system enables greater wheel articulation on harsher terrain.
The Defender Octa also gets longer and tougher wishbones, more extensive underbody protection, a 28mm increase in ground clearance, a 100mm improvement in wading depth, a bespoke drive setting with off-road launch mode, and the quickest steering rack of any Defender yet.
Angles and articulation enhanced as well
The new front and rear bumpers help increase Defender Octa’s maximum approach angle by 2.5 degrees, departure angle by 2 degrees, and breakover angle by 1.1 degrees. The SUV’s maximum articulation has also been upped to 569mm from the standard Defender 110’s 430mm.
Land Rover Defender Octa exterior design
Exclusively available in the 110 body style, the Octa differentiates itself from the vanilla Defender with flared wheel arches, fewer perforated sections in the front skid plate, a more open front grille, and a bumped-up 319mm ground clearance. It also gets bespoke 22-inch alloy wheels with all-season tyres, an ‘Octa’ badge on the C-pillar, and a gloss black roof and tailgate.
Defender Octa buyers can choose from exclusive colours: Carpathian Grey, Charente Grey, Faroe Green, and Petra Copper. These can also be had with matte finishes, which include a protective film.
Land Rover Defender Octa interior and features
Comes with Body and Soul haptic seats
Inside, the Defender Octa sports new performance seats with a 3D-knit texture, an integrated headrest, and more supportive bolstering, along with Burnt Sienna semi-aniline leather upholstery, an 11.4-inch infotainment system, and a fridge embedded in the centre console. Land Rover has also equipped the Defender Octa with Body and Soul Seat audio technology, which uses haptic motors that vibrate in tune with any music playing in the car.
Land Rover Defender Octa engine and gearbox
The Defender Octa is powered by the same 4.4-litre BMW-derived mild-hybrid V8 as the Range Rover but with an enhanced output of 635hp and 750Nm, which can be dialled up further to 800Nm when using the off-road launch mode. Coupled with an 8-speed automatic sending power to all four wheels, the Defender Octa can hit 100kph from rest in a brisk 3.8 seconds and achieve a top speed of 250kph.
Land Rover Defender Octa rivals
In India, the Defender Octa will directly compete with the Mercedes-AMG G63. The V8-powered Mercedes off-roader starts at Rs 3.6 crore (ex-showroom).
Also see:
