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XplusYplusZ



Member Since: 16 Aug 2021
Location: UK
Posts: 507
OCTA - The Gentleman's Bowler!?
So it looks like the journos and influencers got their hands on the Octa in South Africa.
https://youtu.be/Hf_ftpRLAkg?si=AJJt8R_6f4LakGal

Engine (BMW M5 4.4 v8 ) and 6D suspension are the headlines - they seem to make it behave better off road AND ON.

I'm really pleased to see they've gone for something good offroad, rather than Nordschleife lap times.

It strikes me this is like a luxury Bowler. Coming it at modest £160k...!? Who's put their deposit down? Razz
Post #1058892 29th Jan 2025 3:59pm
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LR Nuts



Member Since: 10 Aug 2022
Location: UK
Posts: 1200
 
OK watched the video....

1/ what happened to the Dual Raised Air Intakes ? as seen in this photo ....



..... afterall they were on a DUSTY stage.

2/ Customers of JLR who use their RR SV to go and retrieve their dogs ball ?? , see recent TV advert.

3/ and finally the Cheshire group who want 6D number plates Rolling with laughter


Sorry its not for me.
Post #1058899 29th Jan 2025 4:46pm
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Chicken Drumstick



Member Since: 17 Aug 2020
Location: Near MK
Posts: 785
United Kingdom 
While I'm sure it is an awesome vehicle. The OCTA is an example of all that is wrong with JLR!
Post #1058900 29th Jan 2025 4:50pm
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J77



Member Since: 04 Nov 2019
Location: Fife
Posts: 3425
Scotland 
Homologation exercise? seeing as this will be the base for their Rally Raid entry. 24MY 90 D250 HSE, Tasman Blue
Post #1058902 29th Jan 2025 5:25pm
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Chicken Drumstick



Member Since: 17 Aug 2020
Location: Near MK
Posts: 785
United Kingdom 
Is there such a thing as homologation (as in needing a road car basis) for Dakar/Rally Raid?

These don't looks very much like production vehicles.

Click image to enlarge

Or is there a different class they are targetting?
Post #1058903 29th Jan 2025 5:33pm
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CincyRovers1



Member Since: 30 Nov 2023
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 102
United States 
They will be competing in the stock category, which is for production vehicles. Even though Bowler was bought out by JLR, Prodrive are the ones who are heading the development for the competition vehicles. 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟏𝟎 𝐒 𝐏𝟑𝟎𝟎 (Pangea Green over Acorn/Lunar)
𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐒 (Dolomite Silver over Black/Bordeaux Red)
𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟕 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐇𝐒𝐄 𝐋𝐮𝐱𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐢𝟔 (Aintree Green over Vintage Tan/Ebony) - Gone
𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟏 𝐋𝐑𝟒 𝐇𝐒𝐄 𝟓.𝟎 (Ipanema Sand over Almond/Arabica) - Gone
Post #1058906 29th Jan 2025 5:59pm
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stevemfr



Member Since: 18 Sep 2022
Location: Strasbpurg
Posts: 145
France 
I'd love the suspension and the flares (the suspension is wider than on the regular L663). If I could figure out how to disconnect the sway bar I wouldn't even need the 6D bit - the hydraulic dampers. Maybe the Octa's control arms, uprights and flares combined with modified sway bars incorporating the disconnection units from a Bronco... Whistle

I'd love unlimited hp in all my vehicles. But since I have to be somewhat responsible in this day and age I'll keep the 500+ horses in my Porsche Cool 
RRC 2Dr, RRC 4Dr,
P38, and 2 L322s,
2 FL1s and a L663 on the way
Post #1058919 29th Jan 2025 7:51pm
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XplusYplusZ



Member Since: 16 Aug 2021
Location: UK
Posts: 507
LR Nuts wrote:
OK watched the video....

1/ what happened to the Dual Raised Air Intakes ? as seen in this photo ....



..... afterall they were on a DUSTY stage.

2/ Customers of JLR who use their RR SV to go and retrieve their dogs ball ?? , see recent TV advert.

3/ and finally the Cheshire group who want 6D number plates Rolling with laughter


Sorry its not for me.


Rolling with laughter
Post #1058969 30th Jan 2025 11:30am
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XplusYplusZ



Member Since: 16 Aug 2021
Location: UK
Posts: 507
Chicken Drumstick wrote:
While I'm sure it is an awesome vehicle. The OCTA is an example of all that is wrong with JLR!


I am by no means defending it, but would you care to expand? Why shouldn't JLR be making awesome vehicles?
Post #1058972 30th Jan 2025 11:34am
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XplusYplusZ



Member Since: 16 Aug 2021
Location: UK
Posts: 507
J77 wrote:
Homologation exercise? seeing as this will be the base for their Rally Raid entry.


Perhaps, yeah - certainly with the engine. I've always assumed stuff like suspension can be fettled with considerably. Would they used "6D" suspension in a Rally?
Post #1058973 30th Jan 2025 11:37am
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XplusYplusZ



Member Since: 16 Aug 2021
Location: UK
Posts: 507
stevemfr wrote:

I'd love unlimited hp in all my vehicles. But since I have to be somewhat responsible in this day and age I'll keep the 500+ horses in my Porsche Cool


Imagine a Defender keeping up with your Porker!? (at least off the lights)

Silly Toys. I'm glad they're making stuff like this.
Post #1058975 30th Jan 2025 11:39am
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XplusYplusZ



Member Since: 16 Aug 2021
Location: UK
Posts: 507
LR Nuts wrote:


Sorry its not for me.


Those dual air intakes were a deal breaker, huh!? Razz
Post #1058978 30th Jan 2025 12:01pm
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Chicken Drumstick



Member Since: 17 Aug 2020
Location: Near MK
Posts: 785
United Kingdom 
XplusYplusZ wrote:
Chicken Drumstick wrote:
While I'm sure it is an awesome vehicle. The OCTA is an example of all that is wrong with JLR!


I am by no means defending it, but would you care to expand? Why shouldn't JLR be making awesome vehicles?

Vehicles costing as much as a house will have a very limited number of people who can buy them.

Also their most off road worthy vehicle, carries a price tag that means 9% of them will probably never go off road, making it a completely pointless vehicle.

It's a million million miles away from what the brand was/IS supposed to be about.

Its a fashion accessory for those with too much money.
Post #1058985 30th Jan 2025 1:21pm
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Chicken Drumstick



Member Since: 17 Aug 2020
Location: Near MK
Posts: 785
United Kingdom 
XplusYplusZ wrote:


Imagine a Defender keeping up with your Porker!? (at least off the lights)

Silly Toys. I'm glad they're making stuff like this.

Imagine if they actually tried to keep up with the market place and offer some more affordable utility or recreational based 4x4's more along the lines of the Wrangler, Bronco, Jimny, 4Runner.....

Instead of concentrating on stealing sales from their other product lines. Surely the "prime" customer of the OCTA is someone who'd be looking at an SVR Sport or nice FFRR. They have already successfully massacred the Disco 5 with the new Defender, as well as seeing a slump in RRS sales at the same time.
Post #1058987 30th Jan 2025 1:25pm
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MercianRover



Member Since: 07 Apr 2022
Location: Culworth
Posts: 144
United Kingdom 1998 Defender 110 300 Tdi CSW Java Black
Spot on, Chicken drumstick.

The JLR product line is a mess of models. Originally you had Defender for work, Discovery for Play and Range Rover for Pleasure - all of which had exceptional off-road ability.

Now I've no idea what any of them stand for but, importantly, they don't have anything I would buy either. I considered a new Defender Ninety but realised quickly that spending nothing on the Defender 110 I owned was a better value proposition.

As far as "The gentleman's Bowler" surely that's an Overfinch equivalent - Bowler was about off-road competition by using Land Rover parts to build (usually) lighter, event-oriented competition vehicles, not bloated 4x4 cars.
Post #1058994 30th Jan 2025 3:01pm
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