Building My Dream Defender: A Modern Take on a Classic

If I had to build my dream defender in my head, it would be a modern take on the old 130 double cab pickup with the V8 under the hood. Unfortunately, that's not happening with modern trucks, so my second version of a dream defender would be one that is more capable both on and off-road and has a rip-roaring V8 stuffed in the nose. Land Rover is going to build just that, and this is the all-new Defender OCTA.

I've talked about this one previously, but in the prior video, I didn't have all the specs well known. The numbers are out now, and the camo Livery has been removed. This thing is a monster with some wicked specs to chew on. We knew it would have power and we knew it would arrive packing Land Rover's interesting 6D Dynamic suspension setup.

Let's talk about the power first though. The speculation here was correct; the defender OCTA uses a 4.4 L twin-turbocharged V8 with a mild hybrid system. Power is rated at 626 horsepower and 553 lb feet of torque, which allows this Defender to run from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 3.8 seconds. If you opt for the 22-inch wheels with performance tires, you can unlock a top speed of 155 miles per hour. Personally, I don't need to go that fast in a Defender, and I think the truck looks better with the 20-inch wheels wearing 33-inch all-terrain tires because this beast is built to be excellent off pavement.

The 6D Dynamic suspension system uses hydraulics and semi-active dampers to deliver excellent on-road balance but supreme levels of articulation when you're in the dirt compared to the standard models. The OCTA also gets larger 15.7-inch front brakes with six-piston calipers, runs 2.7 inches wider, has an extra 1.1 inch of ground clearance, and has a quicker steering ratio. The exhaust system is active so that you can have it loud or quiet, depending on your preference. Land Rover extends the wheel arches, reworks the bumper designs, and includes recovery points front and rear. There's also a bit of extra underbody protection when you need to drive across a stream.

The defender OCTA can deliver a wading depth of up to 3.3 feet in terms of an available color palette for some reason. Land Rover is still allergic to offering proper fun and interesting hues; it's all dark and moody. The available options look good, but so would a nice bright red or blue, and then definitely an option for a certain sandlow yellow perhaps Pharaoh green does look good. That color is only available on the Edition One models more on that in a second.

In the cabin, there's a mixture of semi-anal leather and Land Rover's kavad trim; it's great to see them bring the kadr back because it appeared only for a moment before seemingly disappearing. The kavad is almost like an upscale cloth trim, comfortable and stays neutral with respect to temperature far better than leather. The addition one is a first-year-only special edition this one gets that green paint and the excellent-looking 20-inch wheels there's also some addition one badging and chopped carbon fiber Trim in the cabin.

Certain models appear specked with an optional roof rack overhead and a raised snorkel style intake; all versions get the OCTA badge, which signifies there's a lot going on here beyond the standard Defender 110. The name and badge are a bit on the goofy side; the name is taken from a diamond as Land Rover States it's a rare combination of extreme toughness and luxury hence OCTA refers to an eight-sided Diamond yet the badge has four sides. I honestly think this could just be called a Defender SV or svr, and it would be fine regardless.

The tougher stance awesome power and the 6D suspension setup should all prove to provide a true Defender experience that people who buy into the defender world are looking to experience. It definitely going to cost you if you want one of course; the starting price is $3,475 for the standard OCTA, a first edition adds $15,800 to the starting price which is more than a bit silly also silly how badly I want one and to take it through the desert at a high rate of speed or up into the mountain or through puddles of mud these need to be covered in dust and dirt and driven hard hard. Here's the hoping that actually happens if you buy one of these, please abuse it properly and smile while doing so.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enif I had to build my dream defender in my head it would be a modern take on the old 130 double cab pickup but with the V8 under the hood that's not happening with the modern truck so my second version of a dream Defender would be one that is more capable both on and off-road and has a rip roaring V8 stuffed in the nose Land Rover is going to build just that this is the allnew defender OCTA I've talked to you about this one previously but in the prior video I didn't have all the specs well the numbers are out and the camo Livery has been removed this thing is a monster with some Wicked specs to chew on we knew it would have power and we knew it would arrive packing land Rover's interesting 6D Dynamic suspension setup let's talk about the power first though the speculation here was correct the defender OCTA uses a 4.4 L twint turbocharged V8 with a mild hybrid system power is rated at 626 horsepower and 553 lb feet of torque which allows this Defender to run from 0 to 60 M hour in just 3.8 seconds if you opt for the 22-in wheels with performance tires you can unlock a 155 mph top speed but personally I don't need to go 155 in a Defender and I think the truck looks better with the 20in Wheels wearing 33-in allterrain tires because this beasy is built to be excellent off pavement the 6D Dynamic suspension system uses Hydraulics and semi-active dampers to deliver excellent on-road balance but Supreme levels of articulation when you're in the dirt compared to the standard models the OCTA also gets larger 15.7 in front brakes with six piston calipers runs 2.7 in wider and has an extra 1.1 in of ground clearance and has a quicker steering ratio the exhaust system is active so you can have it loud or quiet Land Rover extends the wheel arches rework the bumper designs and included recovery points front and rear there's also a bit of extra underbody protection when you need to drive across a stream the defender OCTA can deliver a waiting depth of up to 3.3 ft in terms of an available colar palette for some reason Land Rover is still allergic to offering proper fun and interesting Hues it's all dark and Moody the available options look good but so would a nice bright red or blue and then definitely an option for a certain sandlow yellow perhaps Pharaoh green does look good but so with some brighter shades of green too and that color is only available on the Edition One models more on that in a second in the cabin there's a mixture of semi analan leather and land Rover's kavad trim it's great to see them bring the kadr back because it appeared only for a moment before seemingly disappearing the kavad is almost like an upscale cloth trim it's comfortable and stays neutral with respect to temperature far better than leather the addition one is a first year only special edition this one gets that green paint and the excellent looking 20-in Wheels there's also some addition one badging and chopped carbon fiber Trim in the cabin certain models appear to be specked with an optional roof rack overhead and a raised snorkel style intake all versions get the OCTA badge which signifies there's a lot going on here beyond the standard Defender 110 but the OCTA the name and badge are a bit on the goofy side the name is taken from a diamond as Land Rover States it's a rare combination of extreme toughness and luxury hence OCTA refers to an eight-sided Diamond yet the badge has four sides I honestly think this could just be called a Defender SV or svr and it would be fine regardless the name aside this thing looks like an absolute Ripper the tougher stance awesome power and the 6D suspension setup should all prove to provide a true Defender experience that people who buy into the defender world are looking to experience it's definitely going to cost you if you want one of course the starting price is $3,475 for the standard OCTA a first edition adds $15,800 to the starting price which is more than a bit silly also silly how badly I want one and to take it through the desert at a high rate of speed or up into the mountain or through puddles of mud these need to be covered in dust and dirt and driven hard hard here's the hoping that actually happens if you buy one of these please abuse it properly and smile while doing soif I had to build my dream defender in my head it would be a modern take on the old 130 double cab pickup but with the V8 under the hood that's not happening with the modern truck so my second version of a dream Defender would be one that is more capable both on and off-road and has a rip roaring V8 stuffed in the nose Land Rover is going to build just that this is the allnew defender OCTA I've talked to you about this one previously but in the prior video I didn't have all the specs well the numbers are out and the camo Livery has been removed this thing is a monster with some Wicked specs to chew on we knew it would have power and we knew it would arrive packing land Rover's interesting 6D Dynamic suspension setup let's talk about the power first though the speculation here was correct the defender OCTA uses a 4.4 L twint turbocharged V8 with a mild hybrid system power is rated at 626 horsepower and 553 lb feet of torque which allows this Defender to run from 0 to 60 M hour in just 3.8 seconds if you opt for the 22-in wheels with performance tires you can unlock a 155 mph top speed but personally I don't need to go 155 in a Defender and I think the truck looks better with the 20in Wheels wearing 33-in allterrain tires because this beasy is built to be excellent off pavement the 6D Dynamic suspension system uses Hydraulics and semi-active dampers to deliver excellent on-road balance but Supreme levels of articulation when you're in the dirt compared to the standard models the OCTA also gets larger 15.7 in front brakes with six piston calipers runs 2.7 in wider and has an extra 1.1 in of ground clearance and has a quicker steering ratio the exhaust system is active so you can have it loud or quiet Land Rover extends the wheel arches rework the bumper designs and included recovery points front and rear there's also a bit of extra underbody protection when you need to drive across a stream the defender OCTA can deliver a waiting depth of up to 3.3 ft in terms of an available colar palette for some reason Land Rover is still allergic to offering proper fun and interesting Hues it's all dark and Moody the available options look good but so would a nice bright red or blue and then definitely an option for a certain sandlow yellow perhaps Pharaoh green does look good but so with some brighter shades of green too and that color is only available on the Edition One models more on that in a second in the cabin there's a mixture of semi analan leather and land Rover's kavad trim it's great to see them bring the kadr back because it appeared only for a moment before seemingly disappearing the kavad is almost like an upscale cloth trim it's comfortable and stays neutral with respect to temperature far better than leather the addition one is a first year only special edition this one gets that green paint and the excellent looking 20-in Wheels there's also some addition one badging and chopped carbon fiber Trim in the cabin certain models appear to be specked with an optional roof rack overhead and a raised snorkel style intake all versions get the OCTA badge which signifies there's a lot going on here beyond the standard Defender 110 but the OCTA the name and badge are a bit on the goofy side the name is taken from a diamond as Land Rover States it's a rare combination of extreme toughness and luxury hence OCTA refers to an eight-sided Diamond yet the badge has four sides I honestly think this could just be called a Defender SV or svr and it would be fine regardless the name aside this thing looks like an absolute Ripper the tougher stance awesome power and the 6D suspension setup should all prove to provide a true Defender experience that people who buy into the defender world are looking to experience it's definitely going to cost you if you want one of course the starting price is $3,475 for the standard OCTA a first edition adds $15,800 to the starting price which is more than a bit silly also silly how badly I want one and to take it through the desert at a high rate of speed or up into the mountain or through puddles of mud these need to be covered in dust and dirt and driven hard hard here's the hoping that actually happens if you buy one of these please abuse it properly and smile while doing so\n"