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Saw this on Instagram - the first time a D90 OCTA development prototype has been spotted. Only thing that is questionable is that it doesn't have the fender flares, which makes me think this is a prototype for a new Defender V8 or maybe a Defender SV with the N63TU3 4.4 V8 from BMW.
I was told ~2 years ago by my reputable insider source that the OCTA (at the time referred as the SVX) would be available in both 90 and 110 models, along with a D90 convertible and a pickup being in the early stages of development. The latter two have been cancelled, but the D90 OCTA, as far as I know, is still on the way. Is this it? Maybe. Only time will tell.
I think this is an old photo of a prototype for the current V8. That ‘70’ on the number plate means the car was made in 2020.
Id be interested to see what the convertible and pickup looked like before they were cancelled though.
I think this is an old photo of a prototype for the current V8. That ‘70’ on the number plate means the car was made in 2020.
Id be interested to see what the convertible and pickup looked like before they were cancelled though.
that’s what I thought at first, but look closely and you can clearly see the larger mesh grille from the OCTA.
The conclusion I am drawing is that it was some sort of test Landrover did on an old beat up press car they had sitting around before they were going to get rid of it, since the MOT ended August 23’ and the original video was uploaded April 23’. However, I would still like to know more about what it actually was. Gosh, I’d love to see where all these cars go. Do they just have a shed full of Defenders? That’d be cool.
Ok I’ve done some research into the plate and this is how it is registered with the gov:
2020 LAND ROVER DEFENDER SE AUTO
Silver
3 doors, 5 seats
296 BHP, 400 NM, petrol (p300)
MOT expired August 23’
No tax info available
Not SORN
Cannot be found on official DVLA website
Full, original spot video (uploaded 2023): https://youtu.be/ZmtapsUCtbI?si=MUaA8YqWzYAniTRL
It appears as though this is also an ex-press car. Same plates. https://youtu.be/3exXa3l_TpE?si=zcXLlM7RqgruKGdk
The conclusion I am drawing is that it was some sort of test Landrover did on an old beat up press car they had sitting around before they were going to get rid of it, since the MOT ended August 23’ and the original video was uploaded April 23’. However, I would still like to know more about what it actually was. Gosh, I’d love to see where all these cars go. Do they just have a shed full of Defenders? That’d be cool.
Prototypes like these always get crushed once their purpose has been served. Sometimes they’ll keep a few at the JLR Classic center just to keep them around in the collection. It’s common for development prototypes to have random license plates.
Prototypes like these always get crushed once their purpose has been served. Sometimes they’ll keep a few at the JLR Classic center just to keep them around in the collection. It’s common for development prototypes to have random license plates.
So, are you saying that the one in the off-roading video is a different car to the weird OCTA thing?
So, are you saying that the one in the off-roading video is a different car to the weird OCTA thing?
that D90 P300 was a press car, but they just reused the license plate for this OCTA prototype thing. JLR Classic has a number of heritage vehicles including concept cars and development prototypes that they kept instead of crushing. There’s a Top Gear video where they had the Range Stormer concept at the Classic facility and there was an L663 and L405 prototype on the lift in the background. I’ll try to find the video tomorrow.
D90 OCTA or maybe something else is on the way
