Land Rover is proudly stating that the Defender Octa is “the fastest and most capable Defender ever made,” so it makes sense it will serve as the base for the racer. Not only

Land Rover Defender 110 is positioned between the more compact Defender 90 (which offers urban agility thanks to a smaller wheelbase), and the more spacious Defender 130, designed for those who need more space for people and cargo.

The Defender is the best-selling member of the JLR family, and the one that has been steadily gaining in popularity for the past five years—a rare occurrence in the auto industry, where models normally lose ground as they age.

This remains largely familiar from the core Defender, and that’s a very good thing. This is still a fantastic SUV interior; chunky and industrial in its design but rendered luxurious by the hushed refinement, strong fit and finish and high-quality materials.

The Octa is a phenomenally capable 4x4, and for Land Rover to have executed it by extending the already fathoms-wide breadth of the Defender’s capability, rather than narrowing or focusing it, is a very rare and singular tribute to the talents and determination of its engineers.

With 626 hp, the Octa is the most powerful Defender ever, but it is also the most capable. To understand the auto industry, always follow the money. When the current Land Rover Defender launched for 2020 it was targeting those in search of rugged,