Appropriately enough for a beast ready to conquer for the post-apocalyptic world of Mad Max, the Defender Octa has landed in a fuel crisis.
This weaponised off-roader shapes up as one of the toughest and most capable four-wheel-drives on sale.
Sure, it makes roughly as much sense as Mel Gibson’s hero choosing to drive a supercharged V8 Falcon in a world where petrol is as precious as gold.
But there is an undeniable pull to an impossibly tough-looking truck with other-worldly ground clearance, limitless power and seriously clever tech.
Even if you need to spend about $330,000 to get hold of one.
Like the fantasy of a Hollywood blockbuster, maximum enjoyment of the Defender Octa requires a certain suspension of disbelief.
And suspension is a great place to dive into what makes this car cost three times as much as a regular model.
MORE: Musk’s massive call on our robot future
The car has what the brand describes as six-dimensional suspension that combines reasonably conventional air springs with a fascinating network of hydraulically interlinked connections similar to what you find in a McLaren supercar.
Essentially, it uses hydraulic pressure rather than metal linkage to control body movement, which translates to a car that combines strangely supple ride with a rare lack of roll.
That’s a rare combination – cars that are super soft over bumps usually fall over in the bends, but that’s not the case here.
The suspension’s flexibility results in 500mm of wheel travel and 323mm of ground clearance that translates to a maximum wading depth of 1000mm.
Which means you can take it just about anywhere you might care to go in a car.
And you’ll do so in comfort, with plush and supportive seats, a spectacular stereo, and clever screens capable of displaying all you need to know.
MORE: Car giant’s ‘petrol’ fix to EV crisis
It looks and feels like a proper luxury car capable of taking the fight to big-dollar rivals such as the Mercedes-AMG G-Wagen, or to win the production class of the infamous Dakar Rally. Named after the “octahedral” eight-faced structure of a diamond, the range-topping Defender is presented as a machine that is beautiful and tough.
Huge snorkel intakes either side of the windscreen appeal on three fronts.
Practically, they help the car breathe clean air when tackling wet, muddy, or dusty territory.
Visually, they look properly sharp thanks to carbon fibre trim that elevates the car’s appeal.
And aurally, they amplify the induction roar of its mighty V8 motor – especially turbo boost sound effects enjoyed by many enthusiasts.
This engine plays a starring role. Sourced from BMW, and normally found streaking along the autobahn under the long bonnet of an M5 sports sedan, the 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 kicks out a whopping 467kW and 750Nm.
Those are strong numbers for any car, let alone a family off-roader.
MORE: Inside Jaguar’s vital rebrand
It translates to a 0-100km/h dash dispatched in just 4.0 seconds, though its top speed varies from 160km/h to 250km/h depending on whether you pick mud-friendly tyres or road-focused rubber.
The good news is that the Octa goes hard. Honestly, it sets a new standard for four-wheel-drives.
It rears up on its haunches and lunges toward the horizon like a dragracer, using that soft suspension and all-paw traction to maximum effect. Active differentials, a snappy eight-speed transmission and electronic toys such as launch control help get the job done.
The bad news? It doesn’t have a traditional muscle car soundtrack.
It sounds purposeful enough, but you don’t get the bellow and crackle of the supercharged 5.0-litre engine found in older Jaguar Land Rover models.
And then there’s the fuel consumption.
It officially uses 13.1L/100km, but that number comes from careful driving in a laboratory environment.
Real-world use is higher.
And if you really lean on that mighty V8, enormous brakes and oh-so clever suspension, you can expect to drink more than double that.
Then again, you would be mad not to take it to the max.
Defender Octa
PRICE: About $330,000 drive-away
ENGINE: 4.4-litre V8 twin-turbo, 467kW and 750Nm
WARRANTY: 5-yr/unlimited km
THIRST: 13.1L/100km
SPARE: Full-size
CARGO: 972L
