JLR has announced that the new Defender OCTA will make its Australian debut at South by Southwest Sydney (SXSW) from October 17 to 18, 2024.
Its Defender House event will return to Sydney in 2024 with a ‘Sounds of Adventure’ program alongside the futurist conference and festival.
Guests will experience the new Defender OCTA and explore its stories of substance in a 4D interactive adventure with product experts.
Defender House guests will also have bespoke sensory experiences highlighting Defender innovation and ruggedness. These include:
Body and Soul: In collaboration with P.E Nation and Humming Puppy, Sessions are designed to take guests through the Defender OCTA Body and Soul seats’ six wellness states (from invigorate to calm).
Power of nature: a wild honey, premium cheese, or whisky-tasting flight, an experience in which the natural world infiltrates the urban jungle.
Bespoke olfactory: Guests will explore Defender OCTA materiality through an individualised olfactory experience and be taken on a journey to discover their signature scent with Tom Ford Experts.
Additionally, a series of themed panel discussions will be held across the two days at Defender House; these include:
Embrace the impossible: Ant Williams, an elite athlete and dual world record holder, will inspire and discuss adventure, achievement, and dreaming big.
Power and performance: Be inspired to reach your peak performance with the Wallabies. As a partner of the Wallabies, Defender is committed to maximising power and performance in extreme conditions.
In the elements, Producer and DJ Chis Keene will demonstrate how to connect the sounds of the urban jungle with the transformational nature of technology to produce empowering and energising music.
JLR has partnered with Australian chef Sean Connolly (Gowings at QT Hotel and Cygnet by Sean Connolly), who will treat Defender House’s night guests to a sustainable menu inspired by Defender OCTA.
Guests are also invited to take over the city and embark on a unique test drive around Sydney in the latest range of Defender vehicles.
“We are excited to showcase the New Defender OCTA at SXSW Sydney, the destination which celebrates the convergence of tech, music and culture. Defender OCTA defines the breadth of capability and the ultimate companion for the urban jungle with the ability to take on nature’s most epic adventures,” JLR Australia managing director Penny Ferguson says.
Defender OCTA
Powered by a 4.4‑litre Twin Turbo mild‑hybrid V8 engine, the OCTA model is the most potent Defender yet, with 467kW and up to 750Nm of torque, enabling 0‑100km/h in 4.0 seconds. Heavily revised chassis components with innovative technologies, including 6D Dynamics suspension, ensure its dynamic capabilities are taken to new heights.
The exterior is bolder and distinct. The ride height is raised, its stance widened, and the wheel arches extended. Redesigned bumpers improve approach and departure angles. At the same time, rugged underbody protection gives drivers the confidence to explore further over rough terrain. And it will wade through up to one metre of water.
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