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detail shot of the new defender front showing the headlamp and the first three letters D E F

DEFENDER OCTA BLACK: Built to roar, dressed to kill

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Sprache wechseln: German

The temperature’s soaring. Cologne’s cooking under a blistering July sun, and somewhere between the tarmac and the treetops, the air’s thick enough to chew. But in the world of tough luxury 4x4s, something even hotter just rolled off the production line.

Meet the Defender OCTA Black – the all-black apex predator of the Defender family. Not a limited edition. Not a styling pack. This is the top-spec, twin-turbo V8 performance machine reimagined as a stealth weapon. It’s as if Land Rover dropped it into a vat of Narvik Black and let it crawl out angrier, bolder, and louder than ever.

This isn’t “black pack” badge filler. We’re talking 30 individual components redressed in Satin and Gloss Black – from the quad exhaust tips to the recovery eyes, grille badge, tow hooks, and even the underbody silencer cover. The result? A presence that doesn’t just turn heads – it owns the room before it even arrives.

profile shot of the new defender octa black on a stony background

Blacked Out. Maxed Out.

The Narvik Black paint is the deepest, darkest shade in the Defender catalogue – finished in gloss as standard, or optional Matte Protective Film if you’d rather keep the vibe more tactical. There’s no chrome, no contrast, no apology. Just black-on-black aggression.

It’s not just the top coat that got the treatment. Satin Black powder-coat covers the front undershield and rear scuff plates. The exhaust cover? Gloss black. Centre box and tow eye? Black. Even the Defender script and brake calipers play along – the latter in gloss with a whisper of Sentient Silver branding.

Want more grip or more drama? Choose between 20-inch forged alloys or 22-inch gloss black wheels – both wearing black centre caps and wrapped in all-terrain confidence.

Tough Luxury, Re-Engineered

Step inside and you’ll find Defender’s most luxurious interior to date. Not posh. Purposeful. The new OCTA Black debuts Ebony Semi-Aniline Leather with Kvadrat™, giving the performance seats a soft, textured finish that still laughs in the face of rough weather.

new defender octa black dashboard and steering wheel

The stitching is unique. The seatbacks and hinge arms are finished in Carpathian Grey. Even the exposed Cross Car Beam is coated in Satin Black powder, keeping the inside as stealthy as the shell. And if you want to notch things up a bit? Opt for the Chopped Carbon Fibre trim – lightweight, sculpted, and pure Bond villain theatre.

OCTA Power: Performance, Not Pretend

The powertrain’s untouched – and rightly so. Because underneath all the black lies a 635PS 4.4-litre Twin Turbo mild-hybrid V8, backed up by 6D Dynamics hydraulic suspension and a purpose-built OCTA Mode for hardcore off-road antics.

It’s fast. It’s sharp. And it handles like no Defender before it – flat through corners, smooth over ruts, and grinning on the downslope.

And just in case you forgot this thing’s rock-star DNA: look at the Body and Soul Seats (BASS). Developed with SUBPAC™, they use AI-enhanced audio signals to let you feel the music through your back. Basslines become bodylines. The 700W Meridian™ Surround Sound System does the rest. No nightclub required.

Yes, It’s Going on Tour

You’d expect a vehicle like this to make a statement. But Defender OCTA Black is literally hitting the road with Oasis Live ’25, acting as the official automotive partner for the band’s long-awaited world tour. Because if there’s one thing that screams British rock-and-roll with a side of gravel, it’s a murdered-out V8 Defender with quad pipes and a bone-rattling sound system.

You might not be Liam Gallagher, but in this thing, you won’t exactly go unnoticed.

close up of new defender octa headlamp
close up of new defender octa body panel behind front wheel arch
close up of new defender octa rear window logo
close up of new defender octa alloy wheel

More Than a Pretty Black Face

OCTA Black isn’t just a cosmetic remix. It inherits the full raft of 2025 Defender upgrades too:

  • New signature LED headlights
  • Smoked rear lights
  • Revised grille details
  • Updated 13.1″ Pivi Pro touchscreen for cleaner, sharper infotainment
  • Enhanced interior materials and functionality

It joins the growing OCTA line-up, including Sargasso Blue and Borasco Grey variants. Charente Grey and Petra Copper also stay on the books, with Patagonia White Matte Wrap due later this year for those brave enough to try white on an off-roader.

But for now? Black is king.

Mark Cameron, Defender’s Managing Director, puts it like this:

There’s no denying the presence and purpose of Defender OCTA: it’s the tallest and widest Defender, enabling it to tackle even more extreme terrain.

We know our clients love giving their Defenders all-black finishes, so our designers have applied this principle to every possible surface – inside and out – to create the ultimate tough luxury Defender OCTA.

In short: this is Defender in full beast mode. Not domesticated. Not diluted. Just refined enough to make you feel like a gentleman while still picking gravel out of your tread.

Who’s It For?

Let’s be honest – OCTA Black isn’t aimed at casual SUV owners. This is for people who want to make a statement without shouting. Who like their gear tough, their music loud, and their tracks unpaved. It’s for those who know where low range is, but still want their interior to feel like a high-end lounge. And yes, it’s also for those who want to arrive like thunder.

DEFENDER

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Mike Brailey
Mike Brailey

Born in the UK, Mike went to school in England and France before hiking across most of Europe in his early twenties. With a background as a photographer and engineer in the automotive industry, he has worked in Europe, the Middle East, South Africa, Southeast Asia and the Americas. His heart beats for classic cars and motorcycles, favouring an expedition equipped 1963 Land Rover Series IIA for overlanding. He is an outdoor enthusiast and, in 2016, followed his vocation to become an adventure journalist.

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