This is how a black edition should be done
Land Rover revealed the ultimate version of its current Defender last year, known as the Defender Octa. At the heart of this towering SUV is a 626-horsepower V8, which adds breathtaking on-road pace to the Defender’s famous off-roading capabilities. Now, the manufacturer has taken the covers off the Defender Octa Black, which is murdered out to an extent that you might not see it at all in a dark alley. It follows the recent reveal of the Range Rover SV Black. Here’s what’s new for this hulk of an SUV.
30 Exterior Elements Get The Black Treatment
Land Rover
While many black editions of new cars have dark wheels and mirrors and call it a day, Land Rover has really gone all-out with the Octa Black. 30 individual exterior elements get either a Gloss Black or Satin Black finish, concealing practically every piece of brightwork found on other Defenders.
Of course, the paintwork is key to giving this Defender its menacing appearance. It’s called Narvik Black, which is the “truest black” of all the Defender colors. Although a gloss finish is standard, customers can add a matte protective film optionally.
20-inch forged wheels or 22-inch gloss black wheels are available, and even the center caps and calipers have a black finish. A Satin Black Powder Coat finish has been applied to the front under shield and rear scuff plates, while gloss black is used for the tow eye cover and quad exhaust tips.
The Defender is a large vehicle – the standard Octa stands 78.5 inches tall, is 82.8 inches wide from mirror to mirror, and is close to 200 inches long with its spare wheel – and the Octa Black’s dark exterior makes an already imposing SUV look even meaner.
Interior Gets The Black Look, Too
Inside, the Octa Black receives ebony semi-aniline leather upholstery with Kvadrat; the latter is a first for the Defender, adding an even softer finish to the seats. Seatbacks and armrest hinges have a Carpathian Grey finish to contrast with the black upholstery. The dashboard has a Cross Car Beam in a Satin Black Powder Coat, and a Chopped Carbon Fiber finish is available as an option.
Elsewhere, the Defender Octa Black retains everything that makes the Octa so special. The 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 musters 626 hp, and there’s a special Octa Mode for off-road jaunts. A 13.1-inch touchscreen is a new addition to the Defender lineup, and the 15-speaker Meridian system provides immersive audio.
“The introduction of Defender OCTA Black takes things up a notch,” said Mark Cameron, Managing Director at Land Rover. “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.”
Pricing for the Land Rover Defender Octa Black isn’t available yet, but the standard Octa starts from $152,000, so expect this one to get closer to $160k. An on-sale date is yet to be announced.
