As JLR prepares the primary electric Range Rover for launch, it is usually gearing as much as reveal essentially the most excessive V8-powered 4×4 it has but produced.
The Defender Octa shall be revealed on 3 July as a extremely unique and very succesful super-off-roader, which is ready to make use of the twin-turbocharged, mild-hybrid 4.4-litre V8 from BMW, as deployed within the X5 and X6 M super-SUVs.
Just 1070 examples of this hardcore particular version will come to the UK in its first 12 months of manufacturing, that includes “tough luxury material choices, striking exterior and interior design enhancements, and the options available to make every adventure epic”, based on JLR.
The newest spherical of preview photos present the Octa being subjected to “the most extreme” check programme of any Defender variant but, with engineers conducting a claimed 13,960 further assessments on prime of the usual Defender check programme.
So far, it has carried out numerous laps of the Nordschleife, tackled Michelin’s wet-weather dealing with circuit in France, had its traction management put to the check on Swedish ice and brought on a few of the world’s most difficult off-road trails in Dubai and Utah.
It has additionally, JLR says, “conquered every extreme trail” on the firm’s 4×4 check monitor in Eastnor, Herefordshire.
Interested clients are being invited to join one in every of seven ‘Defender Elements’ preview occasions being hosted worldwide within the coming weeks, however the agency has given no indication of pricing but. It’s protected to imagine the Octa’s restricted, excessive billing will take it properly away from the £114k requested for at present’s costliest Defender.
Previously thought to hold the long-dormant SVX branding, the novel new off-roader has been noticed testing a number of instances, however solely now – just a few months earlier than its debut – has the agency given the primary official particulars of the brand new mannequin.
It would be the first automobile to put on the brand new Octa badge, which JLR says shall be used for all future range-topping Defender fashions. The title is claimed to come back from the octahedron form of a diamond, the toughest naturally occurring mineral on Earth – a mirrored image, little doubt, of each the automobile’s sturdiness and worth.
The new electrical Range Rover has been all however revealed as final-stage testing will get underneath approach forward of its launch later this yr.
New pictures present JLR’s second manufacturing EV testing within the Arctic Circle – following a yr of element and digital assessments – the place temperatures fall as little as -40deg C.
Unusually, the Range Rover EV has been proven fully uncamouflaged – a choice made to “underline the build quality of the initial prototypes”, in line with JLR.
Painted all in black and with out the contrasting matt trim components that JLR has beforehand advised will mark out the EV powertrain, the prototype seems all however equivalent to the ICE Range Rover that has been on sale since 2022.
JLR stated these new pictures present how the prototype’s “modernist design language stays true to the Range Rover bloodline”, suggesting that the Range Rover Electric – as it’s formally named – will solely be subtly differentiated from the straight-six, V8 and plug-in hybrid derivatives.
Mercedes-Benz is taking the same strategy with the electric version of the G-Class, which will likely be revealed this week on the Beijing motor show, and is tipped to stay largely equivalent to the fuel-burning variants.
The focus at this stage of the Range Rover Electric’s growth programme is claimed to be the efficiency of its gearbox, electrical motors and electronics in excessive circumstances. JLR highlighted that that is the primary automotive to make use of a battery and electrical drive unit (EDU) assembled in-house.
The firm additionally revealed that, quite than a standard ABS-based traction management system, the brand new EV makes use of new software program to exactly handle slip at every wheel – claiming to have diminished the “torque reaction time at each wheel from around 100 milliseconds, to as little as one millisecond”. As a outcome, “traction is maximised on all surfaces with exceptional response and composed refinement, significantly enhancing the Range Rover drive experience”.
Luxury SUV marque Jaguar Land Rover retailed 854 items within the final quarter of the FY23-24 in India
Tata Motors-owned Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has introduced its outcomes for the earlier monetary 12 months (FY) that simply concluded, FY 2023-24. The luxurious model dispatched 4,436 items within the interval of April 2023 to March 2024, a year-on-year (YoY) bump in gross sales by a formidable 81 %. JLR bought 854 items within the final quarter alone of the mentioned monetary 12 months.
Model-wise Sales Details
It looks as if the star performers these previous 12 months for JRL had been the brand new Land Rover Range Rover flagship SUV and the Land Rover Defender, every having fun with a YoY retail gross sales progress of a mammoth 160 % and 120 % respectively. Meanwhile, the 2024 Land Rover Discovery Sport noticed a 50 % progress in YoY demand, whereas the smallest SUV of the luxurious lineup – the Range Rover Evoque – witnessed a YoY uptake of 55 %.
Recapping JLR’s India Run In FY23-24
While the Jaguar a part of JLR has had a comparatively silent journey in FY23-24, Land Rover introduced out a couple of new launches and updates to a few of its India-spec fashions. It launched the facelifted Velar in July 2023 and adopted it up with the V8 powered variants of the Range Rover Sport in December 2023. In the final quarter of the mentioned monetary 12 months, the luxurious marque launched the up to date Discovery Sport and Evoque – each that includes slight beauty tweaks and minor function updates – to Indian shores.
Jaguar presently has solely three fashions on sale in India: the F-Pace SUV, I-Pace electrical SUV and the F-Type sports activities coupe. The trio is priced between Rs 72.90 lakh and Rs 1.56 crore with the latter more likely to be discontinued quickly in India. On the opposite hand, Land Rover affords greater than 5 SUVs in India together with its line of Range Rover fashions. Its fashions are priced within the vary of Rs 67.90 lakh to Rs 4.47 crore.
Later this yr, Land Rover will launch the brand new, high-performance Defender Octa. It’ll be essentially the most highly effective Defender ever, however we don’t know the mannequin’s particular output but. The firm did reveal that the off-road SUV will pack a twin-turbocharged, mild-hybrid V-8 engine.
The new Defender might electrify the 518-horsepower 5.0-liter V-8 already provided within the mannequin. However, final yr, Land Rover did add mild-hybrid expertise to its twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8 within the Range Rover SV, cranking output to 606 hp.
Regardless of powertrain specifics, the Defender will maintain every little thing neat and cozy with its 6D Dynamics hydraulic interlinked air suspension. It can maintain the Octa at “a near-level stance during acceleration, braking, and cornering on-road.” It’ll even have Brembo brakes.
The Defender Octa will stand out from different variants with diamond-inspired badges inside and outside. The badge on the outside signature graphic panel encompasses a gloss-black diamond on a machined and sandblasted titanium disc. Inside, photographs reveal a purple, illuminated diamond badge on the base of the steering wheel.
Land Rover will host the Octa’s full reveal someday later this yr. It’s additionally encouraging consumers to contact their Defender retailer now if they need one from the primary batch.
Nearly a yr in the past, Jaguar Land Rover introduced a significant rebranding. It switched its title to JLR, launched a brand new badge, and introduced it’d flip Defender, Discovery, and Range Rover into distinct brands. The SUVs will proceed to wear honorary Land Rover badging, however distinctive fashions just like the Octa could possibly be an excellent first begin at distinguishing the Defender model from its siblings.
The Ineos Grenadier and Land Rover Defender 110 share a number of similarities, together with sharing a religious ancestor. However, they’re constructed in a different way from the bottom up and designed for contrasting functions. As such, we have considerably up to date this content material to dive deeper into the variations between the 2 SUVs.
We definitely embrace change; nonetheless, we additionally consider that, in some situations, the old-school means is the best way to go. This additionally appears to be the imaginative and prescient of Sir Jim Ratcliffe – the person behind the extremely interesting and nostalgic Ineos Grenadier.
This isn’t usually talked about, however the Ineos Grenadier is the religious successor to the outdated Defender. When the outdated Defender was axed, Sir Jim Radcliffe needed to buy the mannequin, however Land Rover refused to make one. Since he couldn’t get it, he decided to build an SUV that is heavily inspired by the original.
Now, the query that continues to be is whether or not the Ineos Grenadier is a worthy competitor to the brand new Land Rover Defender whereas additionally being a worthy successor to the outdated one. We consider that many individuals view this battle the mistaken means. Therefore, on this article, we’re going to examine the 2 automobiles as instruments for off-road exploration and on a regular basis use.
UPDATE: 2024/03/05 07:00
The Ineos Grenadier and Land Rover Defender 110 share a number of similarities, together with sharing a religious ancestor. However, they’re constructed in a different way from the bottom up and designed for contrasting functions. As such, we have considerably up to date this content material to dive deeper into the variations between the 2 SUVs.
If you benefit from the attraction and persona of the erstwhile Defender, the Ineos Grenadier will make you drool
In order to provide the most recent and correct data potential, we have relied on data sourced from Ineos, Land Rover, Fueleconomy.gov, NHTSA, IIHS, and hands-on expertise. For data relating to our rating and grading procedures, please seek advice from our methodology coverage.
Performance And Capability
The BMW B58, which within the Grenadier produces 282 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque, is an engine well known for its stunning potential. The mid-spec engine within the Defender is an analogous unit to the B58 as it’s also a 3.0-liter six-cylinder.
Base Powertrain Comparison
The B58 engine powering the Grenadier is extremely tunable: it’s protected to say that 400 horsepower will likely be comparatively straightforward to attain within the gas-powered Grenadier. The Defender’s inline-six mill pairs with 48-volt hybrid system for a mixed output of 395 horsepower. This, however, makes it more complicated.
Land Rover additionally affords a turbocharged inline-four mill paired with an eight-speed slushbox and a supercharged V-8 that makes 518 horsepower and imbues the Defender with efficiency credentials. Rumor has it that Land Rover is creating a stronger model of the V-8-powered defender to rival the likes of the Ford Bronco Raptor.
Full Performance Specifications
Model
Land Rover Defender 110 S
Land Rover Defender 110 X
Land Rover Defender 110 V-8
Ineos Grenadier
Engine
Turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four
Supercharged and turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six
Supercharged 5.0-liter V-8
Turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six
Horsepower
296 horsepower
395 horsepower
518 horsepower
282 horsepower
Torque
295 pound-feet
406 pound-feet
461 pound-feet
332 pound-feet
Transmission
Eight-speed automated
Eight-speed automated
Eight-speed automated
Eight-speed automated
Driveline
4WD
4WD
4WD
4WD
0-60 MPH
7.0 seconds
5.8 seconds
5.1 seconds
8.6 seconds
Top Speed
119 MPH
119 MPH
149 MPH
99 MPH
(Specs: Land Rover, Ineos)
Fuel Economy
The gas economic system on each the Grenadier and the Land Rover Defender 110 is fairly poor within the grand scheme of issues. Ineos . All Land Rover Defender 110 engines are thirsty, so if in case you have the cash, go for the V-8. It is essentially the most highly effective, and subsequently, essentially the most thrilling – and it’ll price you across the identical to gas a turbocharged inline-four Defender and a supercharged V-8 instance. V-8s are dying out at an alarming charge, so get one when you can.
Model
Land Rover Defender 110 S
Land Rover Defender 110 X
Land Rover Defender 110 V-8
Ineos Grenadier
Engine
Turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four
Supercharged and turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six
The Defender 90 is an irrational and comical engineering train that ought to be cherished within the security involved and rational market of at present
Ineos Grenadier Vs. Land Rover Defender 110 Towing And Off-Road Capability
Land Rover
The rugged Ineos Grenadier has a good towing capability of seven,716 kilos. It additionally packs a most of 12,125 kilos of winching energy, which may turn out to be useful when somebody will get caught on a muddy or snowy path. You additionally get 70.6 cubic toes of cargo area on your tenting tools and instruments.
You might assume that the body-on-frame Grenadier would out-tow the unibody Defender 110 – and you would be mistaken. The 110 S and 110 V-8, powered by a turbocharged inline-four and supercharged eight-cylinder, respectively, match the Grenadier’s towing restrict. The 110 X, however, will increase the Land Rover’s towing restrict to eight,201 kilos.
Towing And Payload Capacities
Model
Land Rover Defender 110 S
Land Rover Defender 110 X
Land Rover Defender 110 V-8
Ineos Grenadier
Payload
2,030 kilos
1,940 kilos
1,940 kilos
1,841 kilos
Towing Capacity
7,716 kilos
8,201 kilos
7,716 kilos
7,716 kilos
Off-Road Capability
Ineos Grenadier
In a world the place most fashionable off-roaders have traction management programs, the Grenadier is obtainable with two lockers. This is an old-school setup that mixes wheel articulation with locking differentials to make a truck that’s unstoppable when the going will get significantly tough. The Ineos may not be extra succesful than the Defender in inventory kind, however it can easily be modified to become a much more impressive off-roader. Its strong axles permit for giant suspension lifts but additionally massive tires. Modifying the unbiased suspension on the brand new defender and putting in bigger tires is a way more tough course of that isn’t as efficient.
The New Defender follows the present norm however with extra off-road skills infused into it. The Defender comes with four-corner unbiased suspension that has airbags (or coilovers on cheaper variants) that may alter the automobile’s experience peak. This gives nice off-road clearance but additionally good on-road manners.
The Defender additionally affords a locking rear differential that depends on a brake-based digital design. No entrance diff locker is out there; nonetheless, Land Rover’s traction management system may be very efficient in distributing energy to the wheels that want it essentially the most. The Land Rover’s unbiased electronic air suspension irons out road imperfections, providing a plush ride for its occupants.
Criticisms have been made concerning the Ineos Grenadier’s engine, however, is it actually that dangerous?
Interior Design And Technology
The Grenadier’s inside is easy, up to date, and slightly enticing. It combines myriad knobs with a 12.3 touchscreen that serves because the infotainment heart. As there isn’t any gauge cluster in entrance of the motive force, the display screen relays data like gas stage, pace, and revs. The Recaro seats within the entrance row and the bench seat forming the rear row are lined by water -, stain-, and dirt-resistant materials.
The Defender’s easy but enticing inside combines utility and luxurious. Design cues like uncovered rivets function reminders of the Defender’s rugged previous. Like the Grenadier, the Land Rover combines dials, knobs, and switches with a digital infotainment display screen.
Ineos Grenadier Vs. Land Rover Defender Technology Comparison
Ineos Grenadier
The Grenadier’s infotainment display screen is an outlier in a cabin stuffed with knobs and switches. You can management the display screen through menu buttons on the decrease interface, buttons on the steering wheel, a rotary controller, or through the touchscreen. It affords Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and relays vehicle-related data. Plastered on the roof are swithces controlling equipment like gentle bars and winches. They imbue the Grenadier with a refined airplane cockpit vibe.
Land Rover
The normal 10-inch display screen on a Land Rover Defender 110 runs on a software program dubbed Pivi Pro, which additionally options over-the-air updates. It affords Android Auto, Apple Carplay, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and navigation as normal. Pricier Defenders get a HUD and a digital gauge cluster.
Interior Room And Cargo Capacity
Ineos
The Grenadier and Defender provide loads of room for cargo and passengers. Some Defender 110 trims characteristic a 3rd row of seats, which will increase passenger capability, however reduces cargo room. The Grenadier only comes with two rows of seats. You can fold the seats behind the entrance row in each automobiles to extend cargo quantity.
With a popularity for constructing dependable, robust go-anywhere automobiles, these are Toyota’s 10 most completed off-roaders ever
Pricing And Availability
The Defender 110 is much more customizable than the Grenadier. For occasion, Land Rover affords seven Defender 110 trims, costing between $60,600 and $111,500. Furthermore, you may equipment their Defender 110 based on your wants and preferences. For occasion, you may go for a brand new Country Exterior bundle that provides a novel wheel design, inside decorations that match the inside, and a two-tone paint scheme.
The U8 isn’t a cute kitten, wanting extra like a cross between a Land Rover Defender and the Kia EV9’s evil twin. What it’s as an alternative is a group of all of the gimmicks your coronary heart might presumably need.
Aside from being semi-amphibious (the U8 does it in emergencies solely and must be checked over by a workshop after any swim), it might do tank turns, has energetic hydraulic suspension and its armrest cubby will be set to temperatures of between 60deg C and -5deg C.
The precise mechanical specification is kind of spectacular. It’s a ladder-chassis off-roader with a 295bhp electrical motor for every wheel and method, departure and breakover angles which might be near an Ineos Grenadier’s. It’s not an EV, however a range-extender plug-in hybrid, as a result of with a form like that, a weight like that (round 3500kg) and 4 motors drawing energy, it might want an infinite battery to have any type of usable vary. Instead, it has a 49kWh battery (much like what you may discover in a BYD Dolphin), with a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine powering a generator. On the Chinese economic system cycle, it has a 112-mile electrical vary and can do someplace between 20 and 30mpg.
Inside, it’s a reduce above regular BYDs. This is the most effective the corporate has to supply. So relatively than the standard imitation leather-based, this has actual nappa leather-based and wooden veneers. Despite a dashboard design that’s very harking back to Bentleys’, it’s less than that degree – there’s a bit an excessive amount of plastic for that and the wooden is a bit Allegro Vanden Plas – however that is undoubtedly a high-quality cabin. The chairs are broad, adjustable and cozy, and there are acres of room.
And, in fact, there are screens, many screens. None of them rotates, however the centre one is curved to evolve to the dashboard’s form. Given this was a Chinese-market automobile, it couldn’t entry any of its streaming companies, and the interface had been rapidly translated to English. It’s clearly associated to the interface in BYDs we’ve tried, however with a couple of upgrades. There’s now a everlasting bar on the backside with shortcuts and local weather controls, and that makes all of the distinction to usability. It ought to make its option to present BYDs over the air in some unspecified time in the future.
JLR (previously Jaguar Land Rover) will introduce hands-free, eyes-on driving in 2025 with the launch of the primary mannequin on the brand new electrical EMA platform, understood to be the alternative for the Range Rover Velar.
Hands-free, eyes-on functionality, recognized within the trade as stage two-plus, is the ultimate step in the direction of autonomous driving, the place the automobile absolutely takes over. Currently solely the Ford Mustang Mach-E offers level two-plus within the UK, though BMW is poised to roll out the characteristic on new fashions such because the i5.
The functionality for better autonomy comes with JLR’s adoption of US tech specialist Nvidia’s Drive chip and software program mixture. The new Range Rover mannequin, to be in-built Halewood close to Liverpool, is the primary to make use of the brand new tech, a spokesperson instructed Autocar. They didn’t, nonetheless, affirm that this mannequin is the Velar.
Car makers consider hands-free functionality will grow to be more and more well-liked amongst prospects, with many keen to pay month-to-month for the comfort. Ford fees £17.99 a month for BlueCruise stage two-plus within the Mach-E, whereas BMW fees from £55 to obtain the hands-on improve Driving Assistant Plus.
JLR has additionally dedicated to providing level-three hands-off, eyes-off expertise sooner or later. Tom Stringer, product technique director, stated: “I think for the modern luxury customer, level three will be a really important part.” He added that it’s a “possibility” by the top of the last decade.
The first prototype for the electrical Velar was noticed testing just lately, forward of a reveal within the coming months.
A sibling to equally sized replacements for the Land Rover Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque, it is tipped to enter manufacturing as early as this 12 months, as the present mannequin approaches the pure finish of its life cycle, having been launched in 2017.
Details of the next-generation mannequin stay firmly below wraps, however clearly the corporate stays dedicated to the Velar’s extra overt road-going focus than the opposite fashions within the Land Rover line-up.
Land Rover’s newest large new mannequin must have been a candidate for the highest of this chart; as a result of, whereas it is costly, the automotive’s cleverly configurable inside presents the choice of as many as eight passenger seats.
Buy a longer-wheelbase, five-door Land Rover Defender 110 and the agency will give you a selection of five-, six- or seven passenger seats, whereas the elongated 130 seats eight in a two, three, three formation.
Sadly, for legislative causes, you’ll be able to’t order the latter with the soar seat in between the motive force and entrance seat passenger, which might in any other case have made it a nine-seater (and, within the UK a minimum of, in want of registration as a minibus).
However, that most likely will not cease some folks from retrofitting soar seats to secondhand examples (and even seven-seat 110s) in years to return.
Even with out this as an official possibility, although, this automotive has spectacular versatility. The seven-seat Defender has third-row chairs which can be a little bit smaller than these of the associated Discovery’s, however nonetheless completely usable by kids, youngsters and smaller adults. In the 130 you’ll be able to have all eight on board and nonetheless have a really usable 400-litre boot, though the trade-off is the automotive’s huge 5358mm size that makes it one thing of a squash and a squeeze in most parking areas.
This can be an costly automotive, with even the very most cost-effective five-door passenger-car fashions pushing £50,000 – however, in contrast to the previous Defender, it drives almost in addition to nearly any luxurious SUV of its dimension and sort, has a broad vary of contemporary electrified powertrains, and has off-road functionality to spare.
As an enormous, fascinating household workhorse, you could not ask for significantly better.
JLR (previously Jaguar Land Rover) is slowing down its electric car launch plans throughout all its manufacturers, partly to permit additional growth time but additionally to cater for a current spike in demand for its plug-in hybrid autos.
Speaking to reporters not too long ago, CEO Adrian Mardell hinted at a slight scaling again of the EV launch plan detailed by his predecessor, Thierry Bolloré, in 2021. Mardell stated: “We talked about six Land Rovers by 2026. The actuality is we’re more likely to have six JLR merchandise by 2026.
“We’re taking our time to ensure we put the most effective autos we’ve ever developed into {the marketplace} with that new know-how.”
The first of JLR’s new electrical vehicles is the Range Rover EV, for which it has already taken greater than 16,000 expressions of curiosity forward of its launch later this 12 months.
Mardell stated the launch date of that automotive might be moved again to make sure it’s totally prepared for the market: “That’s important for us, and if that takes a number of extra months to get to that time, then the workforce shall be allowed to get to that time, as a result of we are able to’t put these great new merchandise within the market that loses among the magic that we have now in these autos at the moment.”
But one other consider JLR’s resolution to decelerate its EV roll-out is an increase in demand for plug-in hybrid autos. “The other thing that’s clear is that the industry has evolved over the last three years,” Mardell stated, “and there’s been plenty of shock when it comes to acceptance of the PHEV autos, and we’re working laborious within the interim to make extra PHEVs obtainable to {the marketplace}.”
The Land Rover Discovery is more likely to be too far into its present life cycle to warrant the pricey re-engineering programme vital for the addition of a PHEV possibility. This similar applies to the Jaguar XE and XF, which can each be retired quickly to make manner for Jaguar’s way more upmarket new-era EV fashions.
Ex-Jaguar and Land Rover designer Massimo Frascella has been introduced as the brand new head of design for Audi, changing Marc Lichte, who has held the function for 10 years.
Frascella’s appointment at Audi comes only a month after his departure from JLR, the place he had led the styling of a number of core mannequin traces, together with the Land Rover Discovery, Defender and Range Rover.
Prior to his arrival in Gaydon in 2011, the Italian had labored at Kia and Ford.
He takes the reins at Audi’s design studio on the cusp of a transformative period for the model, with a wave of recent electrical vehicles and overhauled combustion fashions due within the coming years.
Frascella stated: “Joining Audi is a really particular second for me. I’m deeply honoured to imagine the function of chief artistic officer and to information such a proficient crew in shaping the way forward for the model to new heights of innovation and distinction.
“I imagine within the emotional energy of design to encourage, join and drive change, and I’m right here to nurture and promote creativity because the beating coronary heart of our model.”
He cited “simplicity” as a key pillar of his method to automotive design and stated he was “passionate about creating designs that are free from superfluous ornaments and do not merely follow trends”.
“Instead,” he stated, “we will rely on a timeless and sophisticated design language.”
That ethos tallies neatly with that of his predecessor Lichte, who defined to Autocar in 2021 his guiding rules for designing an Audi for the trendy period: “Design-wise, an Audi may be very easy. It’s aesthetic intelligence, which has lengthy been a part of Audi. We’re looking for the proper symbiosis between progressive and progressive design.
“That’s the key to Audi: it was in the past and will remain so in the future.”
Unlock Your Automotive Passion and Explore the Road Ahead
