Land Rover has officially launched its most powerful and rugged Defender to date — the Defender Octa — in India with prices starting at ₹2.59 crore (ex-showroom). First showcased internationally last year, the Defender Octa signals a new chapter in the company’s off-road performance range. Not only does it receive a serious boost under the bonnet, but also an aggressive exterior look, premium-grade interiors, and improved off-road capability.
Bold New Design with Off-Road Emphasis
Available only in the 110 (5-door) body form, the Defender Octa features significant differences over the normal version. Land Rover has raised its ride height by 28 mm and expanded it by 68 mm, enhancing both its road presence and off-road reputation.
The SUV receives redesigned bumpers, enhancing approach and departure angles, and enabling it to wade through water up to 1 meter deep — the deepest ever for a Defender. A bigger front grille improves cooling and provides it with a bolder, meaner appearance. Customers can opt for 20-inch alloy wheels as standard or optional 22-inch wheels. Color options include Charente Grey and Petra Copper for the standard Octa, while the special Octa Edition One offers Faroe Green and Carpathian Grey, both paired with a black contrast roof.
The rear continues the off-road-ready theme with a tailgate-mounted spare wheel, towing hooks, and a quad-exhaust system that comes alive with a unique sound in the Octa mode.
Massive V8 Power Under the Hood
The largest point of discussion on the Defender Octa is its 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine sourced from BMW, churning out an astonishing 635 PS and 750 Nm of torque (up to 800 Nm with launch control). Paired with a 4WD system and an 8-speed automatic gearbox, the Octa accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in a mere 4 seconds, becoming the fastest Defender to date.
It also boasts a refined 6D suspension system, which improves off-road performance by minimizing pitch and roll but also enhances on-road dynamics for high-speed handling.
Premium Yet Practical Interior
Within, the Defender Octa maintains the stripped-back yet purposeful interior of the base model. It adds sporty front seats for enhanced support during energetic driving, though. Main interior highlights are:
- 11.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system.
- Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
- 15-speaker Meridian surround sound system with haptic feedback seats.
- Three-zone automatic climate control.
- Keyless entry and more.
- Safety and Advanced Tech.
The Defender Octa is filled with safety and driver assist features, including:
- 360-degree camera.
- Adaptive cruise control.
- Hill hold assist.
- Traction control.
- Tyre pressure monitoring.
- Unique Wade Sensing feature, showing real-time water depth on the infotainment screen.
Defender Octa Edition One
For fans, Land Rover is launching a limited Octa Edition One at ₹2.79 crore (ex-showroom). This model will be sold for a short while and features special paint schemes and bespoke detailing.
Competitors in India
The Land Rover Defender Octa competes with other performance SUVs such as the Lamborghini Urus and the Aston Martin DBX, so it is a sought-after vehicle for customers who want luxury combined with unparalleled off-road capability.
