Jeffrey AronsonAn octahedron diamond on eBay will run you about $8,000. An octahedron fluorite on eBay comes in at $1.78. Both are gems and look great in photos.
With the announcement of the Defender OCTA (short for “octahedron”), JLR demonstrates its engineering chops by elevating the Defender’s on-road and off-road performance. The driving specifications, technical features, interior amenities and exterior “wow” features serve as a testament to the relentless quest for automotive superiority that’s been a calling card for JLR over the decades.
Why not turn that engineering and design talent toward the other end of the Defender spectrum – the one aimed at utility, serviceability, practicality and durability? The Defender 130 Outbound provides a starting point for this kind of thinking.
On the Defender 90, delete the rear seats and add the front jump seat as standard. Get rid of the bar that runs across the rear floor to provide a flat surface. Keep the rubberized floor and make the snap-on carpets optional. If necessary to reduce costs, make the seat adjusters manual rather than electric. Keep the sunroof option to help carry tall items.
The P300 i4 engine produces 296 hp/295 lb-ft, acceleration of 0–60 in 6.7 seconds, a maximum towing weight of 7,700 lbs, and 18–21 mpg. There’s no practical need for the Defender 90’s 119 mph limit; enthusiasts using their Land Rovers for work rarely approach half that speed. Lower speeds save on wheels, tires and brakes. (Maine’s Land Rover dealer reports no steelies for 2025 because “they won’t fit the bigger brakes.”)
Clearly, broadening the Defender range at the OCTA end increases JLR’s profitability, but it’s imperative to have an entry-level, practical, long-lived, durable and sensible Defender to continue the heritage of the marque. JLR has shown it can create a diamond-level Defender – let’s see the fluorite edition.
Jeffrey Aronson
Editor, Rovers Magazine
