Land Rover’s engineers have spent more than three years testing the most extreme Defender ever
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- Powering the new Land Rover Defender will be a BMW-sourced 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 with 626 hp.
- Land Rover has also equipped the off-roader with its advanced 6D Dynamics suspension system.
- Pricing details have not yet been announced.
Land Rover will unveil the flagship Defender OCTA to the public on July 3 and has released a series of new teasers of the potent off-roader. It has also invited prospective buyers to events held around the world to test out the new Defender.
As standard, the Defender is also one of the most capable and luxurious off-roaders on sale but the new OCTA promises to take things to a new level. Those interested in placing an order can register to attend one of seven Defender Elements events held in the UK, Germany, Italy, the U.S., Dubai, and Japan, where they will be provided early access to it. Clients will also be able to spec out and order their own OCTA during these events.
Read: Land Rover Defender OCTA Is A Twin-Turbo V8 Flagship
The testing regime for the Defender OCTA has been comprehensive. The British company says its engineers have conducted more than 13,960 additional tests on top of the standard Defender’s testing regime, including handling and durability testing at the Nurburgring Nordschleife, wet asphalt testing in Ladoux, France, ice driving in Sweden, rally raid stages in France, sand deserts in Dubai, and rock crawls in Utah.
Found at the heart of the Defender OCTA will be a BMW-sourced 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 with mild-hybrid technology. This engine will deliver 626 hp and 553 lb-ft (750 Nm), giving it a healthy advantage over the Defender V8 with its 575 hp and 516 lb-ft (700 Nm).
Land Rover’s advanced 6D Dynamics suspension system will also be standard. This setup ditches traditional anti-roll bars and features air springs with hydraulically cross-linked dampers that have semi-active electro-hydraulic flow vales. The result is improved on-road handling and better wheel travel and articulation across off-road terrain.
As part of the Defender OCTA’s teaser campaign, a new video has been released capturing some of the testing that’s been performed over the past three years. In the clip, we see the off-road conquering all kinds of difficult terrain and are also provided with our first opportunity to hear the V8 in action.
