Latest news with #LandRoverDefender
Toronto Star
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Toronto Star
For real off-roading or navigating potholed Canadian streets, this SUV brings it. It really can go anywhere
GATEWAY, COLO.—The ultrafine dust — it's so fine, it's caked our vehicle and made for a dangerous particulate in the cabin, forcing me to switch to recirculated air — swirls off the vehicle ahead, and, mercifully, just to the right, thanks to some favourable winds. As a result, we aren't completely blinded; just partially. The clay-red dirt below forms a stark and beautiful contrast with the blue sky above and while cloudless, the horizon is punctuated by fortress-like buttes as far as the eye can see. In my hands is the gorgeous two-tone leather-wrapped wheel of the all-new Defender OCTA performance SUV. It's a no-holds-barred take on the latest incarnation of the famous Land Rover Defender off-road vehicle.
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Hamilton Spectator
For real off-roading or navigating potholed Canadian streets, this SUV brings it. It really can go anywhere
GATEWAY, COLO.—The ultrafine dust — it's so fine, it's caked our vehicle and made for a dangerous particulate in the cabin, forcing me to switch to recirculated air — swirls off the vehicle ahead, and, mercifully, just to the right, thanks to some favourable winds. As a result, we aren't completely blinded; just partially. The clay-red dirt below forms a stark and beautiful contrast with the blue sky above and while cloudless, the horizon is punctuated by fortress-like buttes as far as the eye can see. In my hands is the gorgeous two-tone leather-wrapped wheel of the all-new Defender OCTA performance SUV. It's a no-holds-barred take on the latest incarnation of the famous Land Rover Defender off-road vehicle. Defender tested the OCTA in conditions just like this over hundreds of thousands of miles during its development and all that sweat equity has brought us here — to beautiful desolation. We'd put it through its paces on sub-five-mph rock crawls, a fast off-road circuit and a water crossing or two. There would also be some 'normal' highway driving, but when you consider the spec, it becomes tough to focus on how well it tracks through a gentle right-hander on a divided highway at 100 kilometres-per-hour. While the OCTA is clearly a Defender 110 variant, there's so much more going on underneath it all. For starters: just look at those wheels and tires! Defender turned to Goodyear to develop an extra-durable tire for the OCTA, and they answered the bell by embedding Kevlar, a material used in everything from boat sails to bulletproof vests, into the tires' sidewalls. That makes it very hard for sharp rocks to punch through, which is a big deal when off-roading or navigating potholed Canadian streets. Under the hood things get more interesting still. The OCTA is the first Defender model to get a new 4.4-litre, twin-turbocharged V8 engine. It's good for 626 horsepower and 553 pounds-feet (motive force) of torque, both healthy increases over the 5.0-litre, supercharged V8 the Defender currently uses. It's an incredible engine that revs quickly and gives you its full slug of torque at just 1,400 rpm. That's the kind of quick power delivery you want when off-roading, as it helps pull you through steep, rough terrain. To prove its worth, we went for a 4,000-foot climb on unforgiving mountain trails littered with rocks (average size equals a softball), loose gravel and jagged outcroppings poised to tear many a tire's sidewall and gash many a fender. Even the desert bushes are foreboding, their lives hard lived in harsh, dry, hot conditions, forcing them to develop branches with arthritic tendrils that sound like nails on a chalkboard as they 'brush' — if you can call it that — against the fenders, doors and roofs of our OCTA. With a selection of drive modes (we chose Rock Crawl for this jaunt) and an all-new '6D Dynamic' suspension system that provides massive wheel articulation, the OCTA clambered over everything with no complaint. To help further instil confidence, the central display inside can be set to show a camera that looks over each front wheel. That's handy when you have a panel-shearing rock wall on one side, and about a foot between said wheel and a 100-foot drop on the other. Even through a three-foot-deep river crossing in 'Wade' mode, the OCTA plowed on, the powerful engine having no problem neutralizing the water resistance. Defender says the OCTA can wade in up to a metre of water and I have no reason to think otherwise. The fast off-road course did have me holding on that much tighter only because I wanted to see what the OCTA could do, how far I could push it. One of the drive modes is called 'OCTA,' and it allows for just a little more slip, and a little more ability to control the rear end with the throttle. Back on the road — surprisingly quiet and comfortable, even with knobby off-road tires — I had the chance to enjoy the interior environs of this most hardcore of showroom-spec Defenders. The OCTA has heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats (cooled if you spec the captain's chairs), Meridian audio, digital rear-view mirror, automatic climate control, 11.4-inch infotainment display and the very unique Body and Soul Seats (BASS). More than just being heated, cooled and providing a massage feature, BASS seats, developed in conjunction with Subpac, a Toronto-based company, are tuned to vibrate with your music. Or, they can use the seat's built-in actuators and heating controls to help provide a relaxing environment if you need a break. Through all of this I never noticed my knuckles whitening or my brow sweating (even with ambient temperatures rising to 40C) because the OCTA is so darn good at what it does. With the hardware on-hand, the computers that aid with traction and the cameras, you just don't need to think as hard to progress. I am no off-roading expert, but that just didn't matter so much here. Indeed, few people buying an OCTA will ever make full use of all that. But if you're dealing with harsh Canadian winters or pockmarked gravel roads to the cabin, it's nice to know that you can. Type: Five-door, four-wheel-drive, mid-size SUV Engine: Twin-turbocharged, 4.4-litre V8; 626 horsepower, 553 pounds-feet of torque (motive force) Fuel: TBA Transmission: Eight-speed automatic Cargo: 786 litres, or 27.75 cubic feet; 1,875l, or 66 cu. ft. with rear seats folded Towing: 3,719 kilograms, or 8,200 pounds Price: $200,884, as tested
Sunday World
3 days ago
- General
- Sunday World
Daughters of man killed in motorbike crash say farewell to ‘best dad in the world'
LAID TO REST | Michael O'Sullivan (55) was killed when he collided with a car while riding his motorbike last week. The late Michael O'Sullivan of Cullencastle, Tramore. The congregation at the Church of the Holy Cross, Tramore learned on Tuesday morning that Michael O'Sullivan could fix anything and that his life's purpose was first to be a dad, and then a grandad to eight, which was the title he treasured the most. He died aged 55 on Friday, July 11 having collided with a car while riding his motorbike at Monvoy, Tramore on the evening of Wednesday, July 9. Michael's family singled out the staff of University Hospital Waterford and the intensive care unit for the care they gave to him in his final hours last week. Fr Tadeusz Durajczyk told mourners at the funeral mass this week that 'Michael was a person of many qualities – kindness, generosity, love for family'. He added: 'For 55 years, he lived with joy, with love. Though his time on Earth has ended, the legacy of his life continues in the hearts of all who knew him.' The late Michael O'Sullivan of Cullencastle, Tramore. Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 18th From Cullencastle, Tramore, he was born on March 3, 1970, in Waterford, to parents Mary and Michael. His first home was the Glen Road, Tramore. He grew up in Waterford living in Lisduggan, Lismore Park, and Lauradell. 'He had a wonderful childhood with his parents and siblings, Margaret, Clare and Declan,' said Fr Tadeusz. 'Michael met his wife Lillian in 1989 and fell deeply in love. They got married in 1991 and were married for 34 years. They raised four beautiful children, Nicholas, Fiona, Heather and Rebecca, surrounded by love. His family was the most important thing in his life, and he dedicated every waking minute to them.' Michael had eight grandchildren, Mya, Maisie, Dolly, Frankie, Gustav, James, Katie and Finn. 'He was at his happiest surrounded by them and having fun. Michael was amazing at making and fixing things. There was nothing he couldn't turn his hands to.' The funeral congregation heard how Michael had a collection of tractors which he restored. His latest endeavour was bringing a Land Rover Defender back to life, which he took for a spin at weekends with Lillian. Michael worked as a fitter in many companies over the years, including GSK in Dungarvan. The late Michael O'Sullivan of Cullencastle, Tramore. He also loved to swim and could always be found helping swimmers in and out of the water, and he loved to watch hurling. 'He would watch every match, no matter who was playing, but was a true Waterford supporter.' Michael also took November 1 off every year for the start of the shooting season. He and his friend Jimmy would be in the fields for the day, shooting pheasants. After Fr Tadeusz's address, Michael's daughters, Fiona, Heather and Rebecca, recalled the love they received during their childhoods from their dad. 'From the moment he became a father, his whole life's purpose was being a dad,' said Fiona. 'From spending his days bringing Nicholas around with the lads, to welding car seats to the back of a van to travel around Ireland. 'He was very bad at remembering special days, but was over the moon when his youngest grandchild, Gustav, was born on the first day of the shooting season, an easy month to remember.' Michael had a very different relationship but special bond with each of them. Some of Fiona's best memories were playing outside in Westbrook, checking the time on a Saturday afternoon. By the time six o'clock came it was time to run inside and cuddle up with him to watch the big movie. 'Dad was the one to call when something went wrong, or you needed something to be done,' said Fiona, who recalled a time when her first car nearly broke his heart because it broke down once a week. 'To which he would say, 'no bother, I'm on the way'.' When she told him of a new romance, he once joked: 'I just hope he's a mechanic.' Michael was always playing practical jokes on them, hiding and then jumping out at them. Or hiding a Santa mask between the curtains, to which they woke up and were 'scared stiff to move'. Read more 'It was a privilege to call you our dad, and all the memories we have of you,' said Fiona. Fiona's sister Heather said everyone knew a different version of their dad. 'He was a loving husband to our beautiful mother, an amazing father, a kind and caring son and brother, and a wonderful friend and work colleague. 'He had a huge impact on the lives of everyone he met. But the title that meant the most to him and the one he truly treasured was that of Grandad. He really was the best. 'I feel so incredibly blessed to have had the childhood I had with my dad. I was blessed all over again by being able to relive it, by being able to watch my own children get the same incredible memories he gave us.' Heather said everyone could see Michael was simply made to be a grandad from the way he held his grandchildren in his arms. 'He is the reason I still believe true love exists, because the love for my mother could be seen and felt.' Michael learned how to cook a roast for the family dinners. His advice was worth its weight in gold, and he was the smartest man we knew, said Heather, who added that her girlhood memories include being brought to bike shows and hunts. Heather also said that everyone's stories about Michael, showed his 'big heart' and 'kind soul was felt by everybody that he met.' Rebecca said he was the kind of dad who let her play Hannah Montana and Justin Bieber songs in the car. They would go to Kenmare, and from the moment the family left Tramore they would be playing their CDs – by end of the trip Michael would be singing along with them. He had the patience of a saint, and he showed his children how to be independent and strong. 'We have all these amazing memories of Dad, from him bringing us off on adventures on the weekend, to him bringing me for lunch on a Friday after school and always supporting and caring for us. Dad did everything for us.' Rebecca said Michael showed them how to be kind to everyone. 'He always said, 'it's nice to be nice'.' 'My dad was the best dad in the world and I couldn't imagine a life without my dad,' said Rebecca. 'We love you and I know I will see and feel your presence in the sunrise in the morning, at the sunset at night, that I will feel you in the waves at the beach and in the calmness of the water. As our dad would have always said, 'lovely stuff, see you later'.' Michael's sister Margaret recited the well-known poem by WH Auden Funeral Blues, which is also often called Stop all the Clocks. As per Michael's wishes, a private cremation will take place on Wednesday, July 16.
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
The money and magic of Suaalii Inc
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii made the short walk to his parked matte black Land Rover Defender on Lansdowne Street in Sydney's trendy inner-city suburb of Surry Hills. He'd just spent the day at a photo shoot for GQ magazine, dressed in more than $35,000 worth of luxury fashion goods and was carrying three tangerine-coloured Louis Vuitton shopping bags full of clothes back to his car. In a video uploaded to his Instagram from that day, the 21-year-old flashed more than $140,000 worth of goods in just one minute and 49 seconds. Though he's paid millions to play rugby, he likely kept the clothes for free. He'd arrived at Debut Studios earlier that day wearing a $225 jumper – a bargain compared to the outfits he would change into. In one shot, Suaalii wears a $3,500 baby-blue mohair sweater paired with jeans worth $3,150 and sneakers that cost $845 for each shoe. On his wrist, a stainless-steel watch worth $35,000. In another, a rugby polo, only this one costs $2,620, described as taking a 'chic twist' on the sportswear. In an ironic detail from that day, Debut Studios sits in Suite 61 on the sixth floor of the building. As Suaalii walks into frame, he looks out of an open window, offering a direct view of the Sydney Roosters club grounds he left last year for a deal with Rugby Australia worth $5.4 million. He turns back around, fixes his $2,000 shirt and faces the camera. Although being a teen sporting prodigy and achieving early career success on the field has increased the commercial value of Suaalii's name, there's more that separates his brand's capacity for profit from his teammates. Professor in sport management Adam Karg said what you look like, who you know, and how you behave are also significant in a brand choosing you to work with, especially one worth as much as Louis Vuitton's $51 billion brand. 'In order to be able to commercialise that brand, you do need, rightly or wrongly, a really strong set of eyeballs. Essentially, you need to be able to generate media interest,' Karg said. 'Now, that can come through physical appearance. It can come through, obviously, on the field, performance being a degree of that as well, and then really you need a brand to see something in you that connects with them and their audience.'
The Age
3 days ago
- Business
- The Age
The money and magic of Suaalii Inc
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii made the short walk to his parked matte black Land Rover Defender on Lansdowne Street in Sydney's trendy inner-city suburb of Surry Hills. He'd just spent the day at a photo shoot for GQ magazine, dressed in more than $35,000 worth of luxury fashion goods and was carrying three tangerine-coloured Louis Vuitton shopping bags full of clothes back to his car. In a video uploaded to his Instagram from that day, the 21-year-old flashed more than $140,000 worth of goods in just one minute and 49 seconds. Though he's paid millions to play rugby, he likely kept the clothes for free. He'd arrived at Debut Studios earlier that day wearing a $225 jumper – a bargain compared to the outfits he would change into. In one shot, Suaalii wears a $3,500 baby-blue mohair sweater paired with jeans worth $3,150 and sneakers that cost $845 for each shoe. On his wrist, a stainless-steel watch worth $35,000. In another, a rugby polo, only this one costs $2,620, described as taking a 'chic twist' on the sportswear. In an ironic detail from that day, Debut Studios sits in Suite 61 on the sixth floor of the building. As Suaalii walks into frame, he looks out of an open window, offering a direct view of the Sydney Roosters club grounds he left last year for a deal with Rugby Australia worth $5.4 million. He turns back around, fixes his $2,000 shirt and faces the camera. Although being a teen sporting prodigy and achieving early career success on the field has increased the commercial value of Suaalii's name, there's more that separates his brand's capacity for profit from his teammates. Professor in sport management Adam Karg said what you look like, who you know, and how you behave are also significant in a brand choosing you to work with, especially one worth as much as Louis Vuitton's $51 billion brand. 'In order to be able to commercialise that brand, you do need, rightly or wrongly, a really strong set of eyeballs. Essentially, you need to be able to generate media interest,' Karg said. 'Now, that can come through physical appearance. It can come through, obviously, on the field, performance being a degree of that as well, and then really you need a brand to see something in you that connects with them and their audience.'
