Latest news with #OCTA
Hamilton Spectator
3 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
Los Angeles Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
OCTA ridership sees early 13% ridership decline amid immigration raids
Fears of masked federal immigration agents stopping people at bus stops or boarding buses in Orange County appears to be having an impact on ridership. The Orange County Transportation Authority typically sees emptier weekday buses over the summer, but recent statistics show a 13% drop after June 20 compared to the same period in 2024. 'Similar ridership declines carried over into July,' said Eric Carpenter, an OCTA spokesperson, 'so we continue to closely monitor this apparent trend of lower ridership.' The recent wave of immigration sweeps began on June 6 in Southern California. Since then, a memo to OCTA bus drivers last month instructed them to comply with any state or federal law enforcement attempting to pull over a bus. The guidance additionally noted that law enforcement present at a bus stop or transit center can't be stopped from boarding. On July 10, a masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent and a Drug Enforcement Administration agent boarded a bus in Santa Ana. They briefly questioned one passenger and left without making an arrest. Videos of the encounter spread on social media and amplified fears. OCTA released clearer footage from a bus camera, including a passing remark by an agent about the person questioned being the 'wrong guy' they were looking for. 'We are not aware of any other instance of federal agents boarding a bus in Orange County,' Carpenter said. OCTA officials stressed that the encounter was an isolated incident, but that the federal agencies involved did not notify them of the nature of the investigation before or after it happened. 'The moment an ICE agent boards a bus, trust is lost,' said Dorian Romero, project manager for Santa Ana Active Streets, a group that advocates for progressive transportation policies. 'OCTA needs to work harder to build that trust because this is not safe mobility.' The same day as the incident, an OCTA official presented declining ridership stats to the agency's transit committee. Orange County Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento, who also serves on OCTA's board of directors, noted that less ridership during the summer is normal, as students are out of school, but the stats signaled a climate of fear amid immigration raids beyond that. He urged the agency to look at responses — from adjusting the number of bus routes to informing riders of their constitutional rights — should the raids and depressed ridership trends continue. 'I want us to continue to do business as usual because we've always delivered a solid system but these are unforeseeable conditions that we may not have thought about,' Sarmiento said. 'I'm just hoping going forward, as we see now impacts to ridership, that's going to trigger a response that we make sure our riders are more informed about what's happening.' L.A. Metro, where Latinos comprise more than 60% of bus riders, saw a similar 13.5% drop in ridership from May to June, with last month being the lowest June on record since 2022. Metro has partnered with the L.A. County Office of Immigrant Affairs to distribute 'Know Your Rights' materials on buses, trains and stations. OCTA chief executive Darrell Johnson pledged to look into a possible partnership with the County of Orange on a similar initiative that could use 'public service announcement' spaces on buses for multilingual primers on riders' rights. The topic arose again during OCTA's board of directors meeting on Monday as pro-immigrant activists accused the agency of lying about the lack of ICE activity on buses and at bus stops. Santa Ana Mayor Valerie Amezcua, who serves on the board of directors, said at Monday's meeting that 'Know Your Rights' signs in English, Spanish and Vietnamese are being looked at for the county's bus fleet. 'I just want to share with the community that we, as OCTA, have been having that discussion,' she added. 'It's very important that our riders do know their rights.' Romero welcomes OCTA's efforts to look into a 'Know Your Rights' partnership, but believes more can be done to protect riders. 'Bus drivers can be trained, as first responders, on how to encounter these ICE agents, especially if they're masked and not providing identification,' she said.
7NEWS
6 days ago
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
2025 Land Rover Defender OCTA Review
In the world of luxury there are two known truths: you can't buy heritage, and you can't buy brand credibility. Both attributes come with time and consistency. It's much the same in the high-end of the automotive world, where it's as much about being part of that brand's story as the product itself. It's what the car says about you, rather than what it can do. Take the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen, an icon of the times that has earnt its place in history, starting out as a desire from the Shah of Iran to the modern-day choice of those that wish to make a statement. It's virtually impossible for a new brand to create anything like the G-Class. It would need decades of heritage and history, and it would need an unshakeable reputation for its off-road credentials and toughness. So it could only really be a Defender. In fact, now that it has happened, it's crazy to think how long it took Land Rover to create a true G-Wagen competitor, but it is finally here. Of course, the folks at Land Rover say the new Defender OCTA is not a G-Wagen competitor (because – they claim – it's just so much more capable), but given it's pretty much priced bang on G63 money, comes with a twin-turbo V8, and can take your kids to school or climb a mountain, the product brief is near identical. But is it any good? We flew to England to test the new Land Rover Defender OCTA on some ridiculous off-road courses and spend time driving it in the British countryside. First things first. The Defender OCTA (a name inspired by the octahedral shape of a diamond) looks tough as hell. Sitting on 33-inch all-terrain tyres, the body gets a new grille design, a new rear bumper with quad exhaust outlets, underbody protection, and exposed Phosphor Bronze-finished front and rear recovery points. It doesn't quiet have the same imposing stance as a G63 and the fact there are significantly 'lesser' Defender variants in the range does bring into question whether the OCTA can stretch the brand that high (unlike the G63, which is an instant object of desire), but so far strong demand for the OCTA suggests it will find its audience. The OCTA sits 28mm higher and has a 68mm wider stance than the standard Defender, making it stand out compared to the base SUV. Off-road upgrades also include unique active dampers, the fastest steering ratio of any Defender to date, and OCTA Mode – a performance-focused off-road setting with specially-honed anti-lock braking and launch control calibration. Yes, a Land Rover Defender with launch control. The folks at Land Rover set out to make the Defender OCTA blend extreme off-road capability with genuine on-road performance. This is historically the domain of the G-Wagen but after a few hours with the car we feel the Defender OCTA is not only more capable off-road, but also on-road. How much does the Land Rover Defender cost? For the MY26 model year, the Defender P635 OCTA comes in at $304,500 before on-road costs or any options. 2025 Defender 90 2025 Defender 110 2025 Defender 130 This is a significant $177,400 more expensive than the cheapest new MY26 Defender P425 X (Dynamic SE $127,100), which now uses the 5.0-litre supercharged V8 that we all love. Essentially you can buy two Defenders with the 5.0-litre supercharged V8 instead of an OCTA and still have change left over. To see how the Land Rover Defender lines up against its rivals, check out our comparison tool What is the Land Rover Defender like on the inside? As with all 2026 Defender models, the OCTA now has a larger 13.1-inch infotainment touchscreen, up from 11.4 inches, while the dash-mounted shifter has been repositioned. In addition, a revised centre console incorporates a sliding section that allows you to conceal small items in a closed cubby, while removable side pockets are available. You can have your OCTA's interior in leather or fabric, with Burnt Sienna leather fitted as standard. An Ebony leather interior is also available, as are Light Cloud and Lunar fabric options. It's a nice place to sit but the substantial price increase over the standard Defender variants is not felt on the inside as much as one might hope. We found the sound system and general cabin ergonomics to be ideal and using the screen in the car to navigate the different drive modes to be a breeze (even if we would prefer a physical button for some of the controls). The OCTA button on the steering wheel is a nice touch and is very much borrowed from the Range Rover Sport SV. Press it and things start to get serious. The media controls are simple to learn and navigate, which is helped by the crisp and responsive new touchscreen. Also worth noting is that Land Rover has no issue providing the pilot a whole plethora of information – including off-road cameras for underneath the car, whether the centre or rear differential is locked, how much load is on each airbag and shock absorber, and other stuff like vehicle dimensions. The usual stuff like wireless smartphone mirroring technology (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) worked pretty well during our time with the car. There is no noticeable compromise in going for an OCTA over a standard Defender in terms of space and practicality. One thing that affects all Defender (and G-Wagen) models is the side-swinging tailgate, which is heavy to operate and frankly a little annoying at times. We know the British love their subtlety but it would be nice if there was some more uniqueness to the OCTA's interior, to give it that super premium feel the price tag demands. Nonetheless, it's just as nice a place to sit as a G-Wagen, with arguably more usable tech and a better infotainment system. To see how the Land Rover Defender lines up against its rivals, check out our comparison tool What's under the bonnet? In order to truly compete with the G-Wagen and become the performance powerhouse in the Defender range, the OCTA could not make use of the company's ageing 5.0-litre supercharged V8, but has instead gone with a BMW-sourced 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 with a 48V mild-hybrid assistance. Mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission with high- and low-range gearing, the BMW M5-sourced engine – which also powers the Range Rover Sport SV – produces 467kW of power and 750Nm of torque. This makes the OCTA the most powerful Defender ever, as well as the fastest-accelerating, completing the 0-100km/h sprint in just under 4.0 seconds (claimed). The fact that the British brand now offers the original supercharged V8 in the Defender makes this BMW engine seem overly excessive for the price differential, but it's certainly a far more modern and performance oriented powertrain than anything ever offered in the Defender range. To see how the Land Rover Defender lines up against its rivals, check out our comparison tool How does the Land Rover Defender drive? The Land Rover Defender OCTA sits in a unique place where it's as quick as more modern dedicated sports cars, yet it can also get serious off-road. We got to experience the OCTA perform some incredibly challenging off-road courses, where it proved itself more capable than the standard Defender (although the extra width could get you stuck on narrower trails). Then we performed a high-speed jump over a ramp as part of a dedicated rally track, and if that wasn't impressive enough we also drove it on the road at full pace. In each and every one of those tasks the Land Rover Defender OCTA exceeded our expectations. Its off-road credentials don't need any validation – it's a Defender after all – but it was the on-road driving that truly impressed us. This is a much nicer car to drive at speed than a G63 AMG. It sits nicer on the road, doesn't feel as agricultural and certainly corners better. Having said all that, it has virtually no exhaust noise. Modern-day European emissions and noise regulations have made this high-performance engine rather silent. If you love your angry V8 sound – and you would have to in order to spend this much on a Defender – we suggest a trip to an aftermarket supplier to remove the petrol particulate filters and replace the exhaust with something that brings the car to life. Because it needs it. Behind the wheel and around the countryside near Goodwood, we found the Defender OCTA to be comfortable and relaxed in standard mode, before getting low and responsive to all inputs when OCTA mode was selected. Ultimately, it's not the sort of car you would enjoy driving at speed around twisty mountain roads if you didn't have to, but with the right tyres and in the right setting it can be a reasonably enjoyable experience and certainly more surefooted than its Mercedes-AMG competitor. To see how the Land Rover Defender lines up against its rivals, check out our comparison tool What do you get? The Defender OCTA gains a comprehensive set of upgrades, inside and out. 2026 Land Rover Defender OCTA equipment highlights: 6D Dynamics air suspension Faster steering ratio Launch control 33-inch all-terrain tyres Unique rear bumper Quad exhaust outlets Underbody protection Burnt Sienna leather upholstery Front performance seats with 'immersive' audio To see how the Land Rover Defender lines up against its rivals, check out our comparison tool Is the Land Rover Defender safe? The Land Rover Defender 110 scored a five-star safety rating based on testing in 2020 by Euro NCAP, although that rating doesn't apply to V8 petrol variants, presumably including the new OCTA. Standard safety equipment includes: Autonomous emergency braking Blind-spot monitoring Lane-keep assist Rear cross-traffic alert Adaptive cruise control Driver attention monitoring Surround-view camera system Front, rear parking sensors Safe exit alert Traffic sign recognition There is a helpful system to lessen the sensitivity of the safety features quickly and easily – just push a button on the steering wheel and you can set the safety systems to have moderate or minimal intervention. Dual frontal, front side, and side curtain airbags for all three rows are standard too. To see how the Land Rover Defender lines up against its rivals, check out our comparison tool How much does the Land Rover Defender cost to run? There's a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, which you might find to be an important consideration for the Defender as the reliability record for this vehicle has been questionable. In fact, if you do intend to keep it longer, extended warranty options should absolutely be considered. There's also five years of roadside assistance as part of that warranty cover, which we hope you won't ever need to use. To see how the Land Rover Defender lines up against its rivals, check out our comparison tool CarExpert's Take on the Land Rover Defender OCTA Chances are if you can afford a Defender OCTA and had wanted a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen you would have already bought one by now. In fact, you might already own one and are thinking of something a little different, perhaps with less undesired social connotations. No matter how you try and look at it, this is the most capable Defender ever and it needs to be for the price. It's fast, it's capable and it can go virtually anywhere within reason. This is what you buy if you want the best Defender in the range but, as we said earlier, as good as it is it makes the supercharged V8 Defender P425 seem like an absolute bargain. Interested in buying a Land Rover Defender? Let CarExpert find you the best deal here Pros Menacing looks that are hard to miss Excellent on-road and off-road performance A true G-Wagen competitor without the social connotations Cons
The Citizen
04-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Defender OCTA gets more sinister with newly priced Black edition
New flagship Defender doesn't get any mechanical updates, but sports a new darkened finish inside and out. Special Black version of the Defender OCTA now becomes the line-up's new limited run flagship. Image: JLR Having debuted the Black Edition Range Rover Sport SV earlier this week, JLR has removed the wraps from its second darkened model, this time based on the flagship Defender OCTA. Mechanically unchanged from the model revealed just over a year ago as the eventual successor for the supercharged Defender V8, the OCTA Black follows the same philosophy as the Sport SV Black Edition by being an appearance package inside and out. Black outside… For the exterior, this consists of standard forged 20-inch or optional 22-inch gloss black alloy wheels, a special gloss Narvik Black colour, the Defender script finished in what JLR calls Shadow Atlas, gloss black brake calipers with silver scripting, and a black Land Rover badge on the grille with silver wording. ALSO READ: Hardcore off-road suited Defender OCTA officially revealed Powder coated satin black front and rear scuff plates, gloss black exhaust tips, a gloss black finish for the grille and gloss black tow rings complete the exterior's transformation. … black on the inside Inside, the black touches consist of a satin powder coated finish with optional copper accents on the crossbeam that runs on the passenger side of the dashboard, and the Performance seats finished in Ebony semi-aniline leather with Kvadrat inlays and Carpathian Grey front seatbacks. Interior, unsurprisingly, has been finished fully in black leather and with with a powder coated black crossbeam across the dashboard. Image: JLR As part of the facelift handed to the rest of the Defender range in May, the OCTA Black, and the standard OCTA, receive the upgraded 13.1-inch Pivi Pro infotainment system, new head-and-taillight clusters, an altered grille and redesigned front and rear bumpers. Specification is also unchanged from the normal OCTA, meaning the standard inclusion of the 6D adaptive dampers, the OCTA mode as part of the reconfigured Terrain Response 2 system, the ClearSight transparent front-view camera and the 15-speaker, 700-watt Meridian sound system. Same V8 Up front, the BMW-sourced 4.4-litre twin-turbo mild-hybrid assisted V8 develops an as is 467kW/750Nm, or in the case of the latter, 800 Nm for short spells with the red OCTA diamond button at the base of the steering wheel pressed. OCTA Black can be had with 20-inch or optional 22-inch alloy wheels. Image: JLR At the same time engaging launch control, the OCTA Black will get from 0-100 km/h in four seconds and hit a limited top speed of 250 km/h. As with the regular OCTA, drive is routed to all four wheels through the ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic gearbox. Price Now available for ordering, pricing kick-off at R3 979 500, a premium of R315 900 over the standard OCTA, and includes a five-year/100 000 km maintenance plan as standard. NOW READ: JLR spruces 'Land Rover' Defender up once again inside and out
Scottish Sun
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Donald Trump plots shock UFC title fight at the White House as Dana White ‘confirms' plan for 2026 card
Dana White has broken his silence on the President's grand plans OCTA WOW Donald Trump plots shock UFC title fight at the White House as Dana White 'confirms' plan for 2026 card DONALD TRUMP has revealed sensational plans to host a UFC event at the White House next year. Trump, 79, has been a regular attendee of events staged by mixed martial arts' premier promotion over the years and is good pals with UFC headhoncho Dana White. 4 Donald Trump is a long-time fan of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Credit: REUTRS 4 The President plans to have UFC supremo Dana White stage a fight card at the White House Credit: AFP 4 Trump revealed his shock plans during a rally in Iowa Credit: MEGA And the President plans to host an epic fight night, which will include a title fight, on the grounds surrounding 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Speaking at an event in Iowa ahead of the 250th anniversary of America's independence, Trump said: "All of our national park battlefields and historic sites are going to have special events in honour of America 250. "And I even think we're going to have a UFC fight. 'Does anybody watch UFC [and] the great Dana White? READ MORE UFC NEWS TOP'S OFF Paddy Pimblett breaks silence on 'leaked' next fight after Ilia Topuria face off "We're going to have a UFC fight, think of this, on the grounds of the White House. We have a lot of land there.' He added: "A championship fight, full fight, like 20, 25,000 people.' According to the Hollywood Reporter, a UFC official has confirmed Trump and White's plans to host a fight card on the White House grounds. White seemingly did so himself by sharing a post of Trump announcing his plans on his Instagram story early on Friday morning. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 4 Donald Trump has been attending UFC events for over two decades Credit: AP Trump has been attending UFC events for the best of 25 years and even hosted a card - UFC 30 at the Trump Taj Mahal - in February 2001. Reflecting on his relationship with the President in an interview with Tucker Carlson, White said: "This guy has been so good to me it's unexplainable. Donald Trump arrives at UFC 295 to insane chorus of cheers as long-time pal of Dana White takes in historic card "He's been a very good friend to me since the day I met him. "When we bought this company it had such a bad stigma attached to it and the sport that we couldn't even get into venues, they didn't want us. "Donald Trump saw that this thing could possibly be big. "Plus he's a sports guy who loves sports, and he offered us to come do the event at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City. "He cut us a very fair deal and we went down there and did two events with him where he showed up for the first fight and stayed until the last fight. "Imagine back then; Trump brand is way up, UFC brand is way down, but he took us in and he was great."
