Land Rover Defender

The new Land Rover Defender Octa has been announced by JLR

The new Land Rover Defender Octa has been announced by JLR. The strongest Defender in recorded history.
The new Land Rover Defender Octa SUV, which features a hybrid drivetrain and improved suspension, was unveiled by British automaker Jaguar Land Rover, which rebranded itself as the more succinct JLR last year. This is the Land Rover Defender family's most potent member to date.

Under the hood, a 4.4-liter V8 twin-turbocharged mild hybrid engine powers the new Land Rover Defender Octa. With up to 626 horsepower and an eight-speed automatic transmission, it can propel the SUV from 0 to 60 miles per hour (0-97 km/h) in just 3.8 seconds.
The top speed with 22-inch alloy wheels and all-season tires is limited to 155 mph (249 km/h). The redesigned bumpers, grille, enlarged wheel arches, and quad tailpipes at the back visually identify the new Land Rover Defender Octa. Compared to the normal Land Rover Defender, it is 1.1 inches (27.94 mm) taller and equipped with larger struts, longer and stronger wishbones, and six-piston Brembo calipers for the brake system. New Performance seats with more bolstering and integrated headrests are installed inside. Next week at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the public will get a first look at the new Land Rover Defender Octa.
But now buyers can place an order for an SUV from official dealers of the brand at a price of $152,000 or about 13.4 million rubles at the current exchange rate.

Land Rover Defender 2023

What's new in 2023?

This year, the model range was supplemented with a variant of the Defender 130 with a body, which was expanded to install a third row of seats, which increased the total passenger capacity to eight people. The new 130 model is available with an exclusive Sedona Red body paint option and comes standard with the desired features that are optional in the 90 and 110 models, including an enlarged 11.4-inch infotainment display. Otherwise, Defender will not change much until 2023, except that now its Pivi Pro infotainment system comes as standard with Amazon Alexa integration. The 30th anniversary edition model will also be offered in limited quantities. Only 500 cars will be built, and they are based on the four-door model 110 and equipped with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a capacity of 296 hp. They are dressed in white, with steel wheels. The second anniversary edition is dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the Land Rover brand. The so-called 75th limited series is painted in Grasmere green, has 20-inch aluminum wheels, a fabric sunroof and a six-cylinder P400 power unit. The Trophy Edition model returns in the 2023 model year, this time based on the two-door Defender 90. Only 250 cars will be produced, and all of them will have the opportunity to participate in the annual Land Rover Defender Trophy competition; only 90 applicants will be selected.

Engine, transmission and performance

The Defender is equipped with a standard turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Of course, each model is equipped with all-wheel drive and differential lock to move through treacherous terrain. The Defender is also available with a 3.0-liter inline-six engine that uses an electric supercharger and a 48-volt hybrid system. Buyers who need extra performance can opt for the 518 hp supercharged V-8, which during our testing accelerated the Defender from 90 to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds. Unlike its predecessor, the Defender has a one-piece design rather than a body-on-frame installation, and it replaces the old one-piece axles with a fully independent suspension. The basic suspension uses coil springs, but it can be upgraded with pneumatic springs that provide height adjustment of the stroke. The Defender's ground clearance is 11.5 inches and it is capable of wading 35 inches of water, which exceeds both the Jeep Wrangler's maximum clearance and its ability to wade.

Fuel economy and real miles per gallon

The EPA fuel economy figures for different Defender models are the same regardless of what is under the hood. The Model 90 with a four-cylinder engine gets a rating of 18 miles per gallon in the city and 21 on the highway. Switch to a six-cylinder engine, and the city's 90s rating drops to 17 miles per gallon, but the highway rating rises to 22. The model 110 with a six-cylinder engine has the same ratings as the six-cylinder 90. The V-8 variant is rated at 14 miles per gallon in the city and 19 miles per gallon on the highway. On our economy highway at 75 mph, the Defender 110X with an optional six-cylinder powertrain showed a disappointing 18 mpg. For more information about Defender fuel economy,

Interior, comfort and cargo

The Defender interior crosses the line between premium and utilitarian design, which has enough design features from the rest of the Land Rover line to make those who are familiar with the brand feel at home. The protruding rivets on the door panels give the car a durable look, and the magnesium beam running across the entire width of the dashboard is not only cosmetic, but also constructive. Under the infotainment display, a trapezoidal extension of the dashboard provides space for buttons and switches of the climate control system and driving mode. The gearshift lever and ignition switch are also mounted on this central rack, not on the center console. In some models, the center console can be tilted back to create a reclining seat between the driver and passenger, similar to the bench with three crossbars in some full-size pickups. The cargo space behind the rear seat in the 90 and 110 models is limited, but on par with competing SUVs such as the Wrangler; The rear seats can be folded down to reveal a much larger cargo hold, but those who want to transport people and gear may want to take a look at a larger Land Rover Discovery or invest in a roof-mounted cargo truck. The longer 130 model offers additional cargo space when the third row is folded, but there is not much room for equipment when using it.

Infotainment system and internet connection

The Defender's dashboard features a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system that uses a new interface for Land Rover called Pivi Pro; a larger 11.4-inch display is optional. Compared to the rest of the Touch Pro Duo interface of the Land Rover line, the Defender system uses one touch screen instead of two, provides faster response time and can handle software updates over the network for future releases. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included as standard, as is the navigation system in the dashboard, a stereo system with six speakers and a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. Meridian stereo systems with 10 and 14 speakers are additional features, and buyers of more expensive Defenders models receive a digital measuring unit and a head unit display.