Man crush aside, the Octa is a winner for Land Rover. Yes, it will cost you the equivalent of a division two Lotto win at $337,990, but 27 Kiwi buyers have found the dough to purchase the first batch. There is now an order book for 2026. Land Rover’s limited run heritage models have always struck a chord, and the G4 Challenge Editions are now sought after collector’s items.

If you’re like me, this is the point when you stop and contemplate the absurdity of a vehicle worth as much as a house in Buller driving up rocky paths and bushwacking through back country. I would flinch if it encountered a stone chip let alone an off-road panel mishap.  

Octa is short for octahedron (note: not octagon), a three-dimensional, eight-sided diamond in its natural shape, “one of Earth’s toughest and most desirable minerals.” Which is why Octa is the designator for the top of the range Defender. You won’t miss the encircled diamond graphic – it features inside, outside and even under the bonnet.

The Octa is no ordinary four-wheeler. It took the development team three years and 14,000 individual tests to reimagine what was already a capable off-roader.

Visually, it’s the regular Defender 110 (L663) if you fed it protein powder for three years. It’s a brawny, utilitarian head-turner. Flared guards cover a 68mm wider track, twin snorkels adorn each side pillar, and glossy black Brembo callipers peek through the 22” forged alloys. The quad tip active exhaust finishes the rear and sounds as good as it looks; switching to Octa Mode will treat you to a supercar burble.

Under the bonnet there’s another radical shift. This is the most powerful Land Rover ever built. The previously decent Jaguar powered 5.0L Supercharged V8 is replaced by a BMW sourced M-specific S68 V8, 4.4 litre twin turbo 48v mild hybrid, matched to an eight-speed transmission.

It’s a stonking piece of kit, pushing out 626 horsepower (467kW) and 750Nm. It’s capable of reaching 0-100km in four seconds. With kerb weight tipping in at over two and a half tonnes, this makes the experience surreal. Power delivery is effortless, the BMW engine is responsive and smooth through the gear shifts, belying its physical dimensions. As a comparison, the Lamborghini Urus S will do 0-100km in 3.6 seconds but weighs over 300kg less and probably wouldn’t keep up with the Octa through a swamp.

Underneath is where the R&D team has invested heavily. Testing protocols included several trips to Nürburgring in Germany, the Mecca of racetracks usually reserved for vehicles much lighter, lower and, frankly, faster. The result is a new suspension setup called 6D Dynamics, the same system that is featured on the flagship Range Rover Sport SV line-up.

6D is an adjustable, hydraulic air suspension which eliminates traditional anti-roll bars. One benefit is that ground clearance is now 323mm, a 28mm improvement over the previous model. Wading depth is one metre, 100mm better than standard Defender and Discovery models. The R&D has clearly paid off; on-road handling and ride comfort is flawless, with minimal roll and superbly controlled stability. 

The Octa represents a statement for the Defender brand. It’s an unapologetically bold enhancement. Engineering, performance, styling and detail have been maxxed out to create an iconic masterpiece.

Even the eye-watering price tag has not appeared to put a dent in order numbers, giving Land Rover the incentive to innovate the nameplate further into other automotive domains.

So… what’s next Octa?