Land Rover PH to launch Defender Octa, Range Rover Sport SV Edition 2 in 2025

MANILA: Land Rover Philippines, under the distributorship of Inchcape Philippines, will be introducing the Defender Octa and a high-performance version of the Range Rover Sport in 2025. 

The aforementioned was confirmed by Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) Philippines President Chris Ward via an interview with Zigwheels Philippines during the "Defender: Gratitude in Action" outreach event at the Animal Kingdom Foundation in Tarlac City. 

“If you hop into our website, you’ll already see some Octa videos. That’s that car, and it’s coming. We will launch or introduce it in quarter two next year,” Ward said. 

When asked more about the upcoming Defender trim, Ward shared more insights on its powertrain. 

“Today, we have the supercharged V8 in Defender. That engine will not be in the Octa. So we’ll be bringing in a twin-turbo V8 - a newer engine,” Ward added. 

Additionally, the Land Rover executive shared that the said eight-cylinder engine has a displacement of 4.4 liters and can produce up to 635 horsepower (hp). 

As mentioned above, the head of JLR’s local arm confirmed the upcoming introduction of a peppier Range Rover Sport trim next year. 

“For the Range Rover Sport, we have a very, very interesting car. We have what we call ‘Edition 2.’ It’s a car coming to the Philippines, and it’s going to be over P30 million,” Ward disclosed. 

“This is a serious performance car, a very special vehicle. Again, it will have the twin-turbo V8, but it will feature a very different suspension,” Ward added. 

To note, the second vehicle Ward talked about is officially dubbed by the brand as the Range Rover Sport SV Edition Two. Its price was disclosed, but the JLR executive didn’t share an exact date for its launch in 2025. 

As we await the official launch of the two new Land Rover vehicles for the Philippine market, let’s check out their global specifications. 

Land Rover Defender Octa

On the outside, the Defender Octa comes in a five-door configuration combined with the same wheelbase length as the regular Defender 110 version. 

To set it apart from other Defender trims, however, the Octa comes with some unique pieces, such as a set of more prominent fender flares, off-road-spec wheels, an active bumper-integrated quad exhaust setup, a set of knobby all-terrain tires, and a bulging hood to accommodate the size of its new powertrain. 

Inside the Defender Octa are Ultrafabric seats (or Semi-Aniline leather), a lot of exposed carbon fiber-style trimmings, and a new steering wheel with translucent edge-lit gear shift paddles. 

As shared by the JLR Philippines head, the Defender Octa uses a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine. At the most, it can produce up to 635 hp and 750 Nm of torque. Thanks to the said output, the model can accelerate from zero to 100 kilometers per hour (kph) in just 3.8 seconds. 

Other than the regular drive modes found on other Defender trims, the newer V8 version comes with the “Octa mode,” which the British marque said is optimized for loose gravel surfaces. 

Stopping power for the Defender Octa was improved by special brake pads, calipers, and brake discs. At the same time, the aforementioned off-road rig boasts a water-wading depth of 3.3 feet - around double the capability of the standard Defender. 

Land Rover Range Rover Sport SV Edition 2

In terms of aesthetics, the Range Rover Sport SV Edition 2 has been described by the Coventry-based brand as “assertive but impactful.” 

It wears an assertive grille with optimized air intakes, carbon fiber finishes, and a black-colored roof. The vehicle’s interior, meanwhile, was made luxurious but sporty. It uses Ultrafabrics for its well-bolsters seats, and it also has black ceramic finishes on key touch points. 

Propelling the Range Rover Sport SV Edition 2 is a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 similar to the one found on the Defender Octa. It has the same engine output, but it has a faster zero to 100 kph acceleration time of 3.6 seconds due to its lighter overall weight. 

Also read: 

Range Rover Electric prototypes undergo intense hot-weather testing

Range Rover Sport SV Celestial Collection breaks cover