Land Rover Defender Octa unleashed for PH market

MANILA: Inchcape Philippines, the authorized distributor of Land Rover models in the local market, has unleashed the all-new Defender Octa P635. 

For the Philippines, the newly introduced model comes in two different trims, which are both based on the Defender 110. 

The higher-end trim is the Defender Octa Edition One, a limited model retailing at P26.59 million. The “regular” Defender Octa, meanwhile, commands a price of P24.59 million. 

Exterior

On the outside, the Land Rover Defender Octa exudes a commanding presence that builds on the boxy silhouette of the original ride. It has plenty of road presence, but Land Rover shared that its visual enhancements are all purposeful and are meant to improve its performance when driving out in the boonies. 

For starters, the newly launched model’s front section received a heavily revamped fascia that sports a new, tougher bumper and a grille that will allow for better powertrain cooling. Plus, its front underside section is protected by a graphite-coated and aluminum undershield. 

From the side, the model is visually heftier and more stolid-looking compared to the regular Defender 110. The aforementioned comes courtesy of its wider wheel track width and slightly higher (maximum) ride height. Plus, it rides on a set of 22-inch alloy wheels. The aforementioned can be wrapped in 33-inch Goodyear all-terrain tires or a set of road-going all-season tires from Michelin. 

Other notable exterior features of the Land Defender Octa include the following:

• Phosphor bronze recovery points
• LED exterior lighting
• Front and rear fog lamps
• Darkened LED taillights
• Automatic headlamp levelling
• Soft-close tailgate
• Puddle lamps
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Quap-tip active exhaust

Interior

Inside the Land Rover Defender Octa is a plush cabin decorated with leather-wrapped soft touchpoints combined with Ultrasuede seats (Defender Octa Edition One) or semi-aniline leather. 

Dominating the dash of the high-performance off-roader is an 11.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The driver, meanwhile, gets to use an interactive digital gauge and a heads-up display. 

Sound for the Defender Octa is fed into its cabin by a 29-piece Meridian sound system. And just like the Range Rover Sport SV Edition Two, the off-road model has Land Rover’s “Body and Soul” seats, which allow occupants to feel haptic feedback that’s in sync with the music currently being played on the infotainment system. 

Cooling everyone inside the vehicle is a dual-zone automatic air-conditioning system with rear vents and rear independent controls. 

Additionally, the Defender Octa has the following amenities: 

• Electronically adjustable steering column
• Heated steering wheel
• Trunk luggage hooks
• Power-adjustable front seats
• Electronic parking brake
• Drive mode selector
• Push-to-start button
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Keyless entry
• Wireless smartphone charging pad
• 12-volt accessory outlet
• Domestic plug socket

Safety

Per Land Rover’s Philippine website, the Defender Octa comes with a similar safety kit found on the Defender X-Dynamic SE. Its basic safety gear is likewise reinforced by numerous advanced driver assist systems, such as automatic headlamp levelling, emergency braking, 3D surround camera, 360-degree parking aid, adaptive cruise control, rear collision and traffic monitor, and traffic sign recognition - among others. 

Powertrain

Similar to the all-new Land Rover Range Rover Sport SV Edition Two, the newly introduced Defender Octa is propelled by a 4.4-liter twin-turbo mild-hybrid V8 gasoline engine. It is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, which sends power to all four wheels. 

And like its high-performance Range Rover Sport cousin, the no-holds-barred version of the Defender was also kitted out with the same 6D Dynamics air-suspension system. 

To recall, the said system utilizes active anti-roll bars to help stave away unwanted vehicle body movement. The aforementioned means less pitch and roll when going fast on gravel or muddy roads. 

Speaking of which, the all-new Defender Octa also has the “Octa Mode” - an all-in-one drive mode that Land Rover says maximizes the vehicle's performance on loose surfaces. 

As mentioned above, the Defender Octa is significantly taller compared to the regular Defender. Specifically, it now boasts a maximum height of 323 millimeters, which equates to a wading depth of up to one meter. The aforementioned goes along with the SUV’s wade sensing feature, which is touted to help navigate safely even in murky water. 

Last but not least, the Defender Octa utilizes carbon ceramic disc brakes and eight-piston Brembo calipers for optimum stopping power. 

Engine	4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 mild-hybrid
Drivetrain	All-wheel-drive
Transmission	Eight-speed automatic
Horsepower	626
Torque	750 Nm
Suspension system	Air suspension with active anti-roll bars
Brakes	Carbon ceramic front and rear discs

 

Also read:

Range Rover Electric prototypes undergo intense hot-weather testing

Land Rover Defender 110 S D250: King of versatility

JLR global H1 sales up by 3%

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