[Taboni] Tough Luxury for Both Everyday and Off-Road: Defender OCTA Black

Equipped with a 4.4-liter V8 twin-turbo engine, delivering a maximum output of 635 horsepower

6D Dynamics minimizes body roll... Effortlessly fords water up to 1 meter deep

Advanced features abound, including facial recognition camera and Body and Soul Seat

Priced at 245.47 million won in Korea... Combining driving performance and safety

"If you take your foot off the brake, it will go down on its own."

Defender OCTA Black is driving off-road. Photo by Choi Youngchan

On April 14, at the off-road course prepared at Bellforet Moto Arena in Jeungpyeong-gun, North Chungcheong Province. Just as the instructor riding along suggested, when I took my foot off the brake, the Defender Octa (OCTA) Black began to smoothly descend a steep slope. Although it was my first time experiencing off-road driving, there were no major issues. Thanks to Adaptive Off-road Cruise Control, all the driver had to do was steer, and the limited visibility on the downhill was supplemented by the ClearSight Ground View feature.

The Defender Octa Black is the most powerful and luxurious vehicle among the Defender lineup. It is an all-wheel-drive model that maximizes the performance of the Defender 110, and its redesigned bumper has improved both approach and departure angles. The name Octa is said to be inspired by the octahedral structure of diamond, the hardest and one of the rarest minerals on earth.

As befits an off-road vehicle, this car can ford water up to 1 meter deep. On that day, I was also able to cross a water course just under 1 meter by activating the wading mode. When crossing water, a variety of information—including current water depth—is provided via the central 13.1-inch screen. After driving through different off-road courses, I found that the Defender Octa Black delivered both power and safety, even on rocky terrain, gravel, and steep slopes.

The Defender OCTA Black is running on the track. Photo by Youngchan Choi

The appeal of the Defender Octa Black is not limited to off-road conditions. Compared to previous models, its ground clearance has been increased by 28mm, and despite its weight of 2,665kg, the hydraulic interlinked continuously variable semi-active damper network minimizes body roll on regular roads. The 6D Dynamics system further proves that the Octa Black is not a vehicle confined to rough off-road tracks.

Driver convenience has also been enhanced. The newly added Driver Attention Monitor uses a facial recognition camera to support safe driving. By monitoring the driver's gaze and providing audiovisual alerts, it helps the driver focus solely on road conditions. The Body and Soul Seat—a next-generation tactile audio system that converts sound into physical bass—is included as a standard feature. This system incorporates a 700W Meridian Surround Sound System with 15 speakers.

The Defender OCTA Black is descending a steep slope using Adaptive Off-Road Cruise Control. Photo by Youngchan Choi

The Defender Octa Black is equipped with a 4.4-liter twin-turbo mild hybrid V8 engine that delivers a maximum output of 635 horsepower. The maximum torque is 76.5kg·m, and it accelerates from 0 to 100km/h in just 4 seconds. The front features large-diameter 400mm discs and 6-piston monoblock aluminum Brembo calipers, while the rear discs measure 365mm. High-performance pads have been used to enhance braking power and durability, ensuring stable braking performance even under high-temperature brake fade conditions.

The tires were developed in collaboration with Michelin, BF Goodrich, and Goodyear, and their performance has been optimized through integration with the 6D Dynamics, Vehicle Motion Control, and Traction Control System. The Defender Octa Black is priced in Korea at 245.47 million won, including the One Care Package and reflecting the reduction in individual consumption tax.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.