2024 Land Rover Defender OCTA to debut in Australia this week

Following its global debut at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed in July, the twin-turbo V8-powered Land Rover Defender OCTA will make its Australian debut this week.

The high-performance hero variant will officially make its local debut at SXSW Sydney (South by Southwest), an annual conference and gathering of tech visionaries and emerging talents from the Asia-Pacific region, from October 17-18.

Attendees to the conference will find the OCTA at the Defender House, where sensory experiences and panel discussions will provide an in-depth look at the new off-road SUV. The Defender range will also be showcased at Tumbalong Park, within the SXSW precinct, from October 14-20, where guests will be able to test drive the Defender.

"We are excited to showcase the new Defender OCTA at SXSW Sydney, the essential destination for global professionals that celebrates the convergence of tech, music and culture," said Penny Ferguson, Managing Director, JLR Australia. "Defender OCTA is the definition of breadth of capability and the ultimate companion for the urban jungle with capability to take on nature’s most epic adventures.”

The Defender OCTA comes with a price tag nearing $300K in Australia, starting at $291,542 (plus on-road costs). Under the hood, it boasts a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 mild-hybrid engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, delivering an eye-watering 467kW and 750Nm. The OCTA can accelerate from 0-100km/h in just four seconds.

An innovative hydraulic suspension system, dubbed 6D Dynamics, is designed to provide superior on-road comfort and enhance off-road performance. This technology is comparable to systems found in luxury SUVs like the Porsche Cayenne and Audi RS Q8, featuring longer wishbones and specialised active dampers.

6

The OCTA also includes a performance-oriented off-road mode with Off-Road Launch. It retains familiar Terrain Response modes like Sand, Mud and Ruts, and Rock Crawl, plus ClearSight Ground View for improved visibility in tough terrain.

Measuring 28mm higher and 68mm wider than the standard 110, the Defender OCTA is equipped with 400mm front brake discs and Brembo callipers. It features 33-inch Goodyear all-terrain tyres, the largest ever on a production Defender, along with new performance seats that incorporate advanced audio technology. These seats can be experienced at the SXSW Sydney event.

SXSW Sydney will take place within Central Sydney and its surrounding neighbourhoods, from October 14-20, 2024.