It must feel like a high point at Land Rover at the moment. We barely had time to digest our first real look at the incoming Range Rover Electric before we came across the next treat on the test treadmill: the Defender OCTA. The flagship off-roader is probably less consequential for its maker overall – but we’re almost certainly not the only ones who like the idea of a Defender that pushes itself to the limit when it comes to conquering the terrain. Especially when the Range Rover Sport SV’s twin-turbo V8 provides the boost.
While the latest missive is ostensibly intended to confirm the new model’s unveiling date (July 3) and brag about its three-year testing program, it’s actually about catching the attention of potential customers – especially those looking to get the Mercedes looked at the G 850 with the intention of buying it. This model may be electric, but you can be sure that current G-Class owners are at the top of Land Rover’s wish list when it comes to finding people willing to pay six figures for a car pay that is designed for maximum performance Work away from asphalt.
Accordingly, it comes out on top when it comes to “customer preview” experiences. Before the OCTA’s unveiling, there will be seven so-called Defender Elements events, including ones for the US, Dubai and Japan. As you might imagine, being hosted as a Land Rover guest on the day grants you privileged access to the car (it promises a “curated and immersive journey” to showcase the OCTA’s various innovations), but more importantly, it allows “Customers to complete the specification of their desired Defender OCTA in a relaxed and informal environment.” Which seems almost counter-intuitive given the flared wheel arches of a car that has reportedly endured 13,960 grueling tests in addition to the existing Defender system.
To encourage participation (and no doubt generate FOMO among existing owners), Land Rover has announced that “only” 1,070 Defender OCTAs will be available to UK buyers in the first year of production. Even assuming that this figure is based on the number of units earmarked for distribution based on global market share, rather than a mandated limit, this should serve to encourage anyone considering the idea of a ” “unprecedented breadth of performance, comfort and serenity”. Whether on the road or off-road, so as not to hang around on the sidelines for too long. For the rest of us, we’ll just have to wait for summer to see what Land Rover has achieved with the gloves off.