Land Rover Defender Octa Is Coming For The Raptor’s Off-Road Crown

For decades, the Land RoverDefender has been the off-roader of choice for discerning adventurists looking to get out in the wilderness. But then Ford came along with its lifted, more powerful Raptor trim on trucks like the Ranger and Bronco to show how things should be done. Now, Land Rover is promising a comeback with the new high-performance Dender Octa.

The new car, which will be the most powerful Defender ever built, will take the V8 Defender and dial everything up to 11. This means it’s going to be tougher, more capable and, apparently, even more luxurious than the current range-topping Defender V8.

To manage this, Jaguar Land Rover will fit the new Defender with a twin-turbo V8 engine that comes with mild-hybrid power. There’s no word yet on power output, but as the current Defender V8 kicks out 525 hp we can expect it to be more than this.

When it comes to the gearbox you’ll get with the Octa, JLR has remained tight-lipped. It has, however, outlined some of the suspension upgrades that will aid the new car when you head off piste.

The Defender Octa comes with 6D Dynamics air suspension, which offers improved grip and traction on various surfaces. To do this, the suspension on the Octa comes with a pitch and roll control system that JLR says will allow it to “maximize independent wheel travel and articulation” when you head off road.