Did you hear about Land Rover’s latest-gen Defender? It’s making waves for its ability to powerslide like a pro. The footage, courtesy of Car Spy Media, has been circulating on the World Wide Web, and recently, photographers shared more scoops from the same testing session.
Seeing the Defender OCTA in static shots is one thing, but the video showcases its prowess. Even with multiple reasons to ignore this batch of scoops, it’s hard not to be impressed by the snapped prototype’s cool factor.
Dubbed the Land Rover Defender OCTA, this model packs a punch with its V8 heart. However, it’s not the usual JLR’s supercharged 5.0L engine, which delivers 518 hp (525 ps/386 kW) and 461 pound-foot (625 Nm) of torque, but a 4.4-liter unit with twin turbos and mild-hybrid assistance sourced from BMW’s portfolio.
Curious about its power output? Us too. Reports suggest it churns out 617 hp (626 ps/450 kW) and 553 pound-foot (750 Nm) of torque. If accurate, this marks a significant increase of almost 100 horsepower (101 ps/75 kW) over the regular Defender V8, with an additional 93 lb-ft (126 Nm) of torque.
The standard model clocks 5.2 seconds for the 0-62 mph (100 kph) sprint, but we expect the OCTA to shave off about half a second. Its top speed should also surpass the current Defender V8’s 150 mph (240 kph), possibly reaching around 155 mph (250 kph), further distinguishing the two models.
Scheduled for a July debut, the potent SUV is expected to hit the United States as a 2025 model, competing against the likes of the Mercedes-AMG G 63 and Ford Bronco Raptor (as the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 faces its demise).
