Land Rover’s Most Powerful Defender Just Took a Power Hit
The Land Rover Defender Octa is being downgraded for 2027—at least, in part of the world.
The British SUV maker just unveiled the refreshed version of its best-selling 4×4 that will launch during the upcoming model year. Usually, that’s reason for excitement, but this year’s announcement included the news that the V-8 in the range-topping Octa will be churning out less power.
The “update,” which applies to examples sold in the U.K., Europe, and select other markets, is being made to ensure that the high-performance model meets Euro 6e-bis emissions standard. As a result, the BMW-sourced 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 makes 526 hp instead of the 617 hp it made last year, according to Top Gear. That’s a hit of nearly 90 horses. The mill, which is also used by the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport, does continue to produce an unchanged 553 ft lbs of torque, though.
2027 Land Rover Defender Octa
Jaguar Land Rover
The new Octa won’t just be less powerful than its predecessor; it will also be slower. Land Rover says that 2027 model can accelerate from zero to 62 mph in 4.2 seconds, which is 0.4 seconds slower than before. Perhaps to make up for this, the automaker promises that the engine will feature a “more characterful and deeper exhaust noise” due to changes made to its exhaust manifold.
It’s important to note the hp change will not affect Octas sold in the U.S, a representative for Land Rover confirmed to Robb Report. The American press release announcing the 2027 model year updates makes no reference to a changed output. That means that the American Octa should still make more than 600 horses and accelerate to 62 mph in under four seconds.
To make up for the European-spec Octa being a little less powerful and extreme in 2027, the company is introducing a new trim level called the Vertex. The city-centric specification of the Defender’s new face-lift, which includes a redesigned front fascia, bigger bumpers, and new lights. It will be available in the two-door 90 or four-door 110 or 130 body styles.
The move to de-power the Defender Octa in some markets may have been necessary, but it also represents another in a long list of setbacks from Jaguar Land Rover. Earlier this year, the automaker recalled over 170,000 hybrid SUVs because of an electrical issue that can cause them to lose drive power. Before that, the company lost hundreds of millions of pounds because of a manufacturing issue caused by a cyberattack, delayed the debut of the next-generation Jaguar EV, and was forced to temporarily pause production at its Solihull factory in England because of a fire.
