It’s hard to believe that Land Rover introduced the modern-day Defender over five years ago, and in that time, the model lineup has continued to evolve to include three flavors (90, 110, 130). Now, in what is one of Land Rover’s brightest financial years, the British marque has just unveiled something equally dramatic: this is the Defender OCTA Black, which can be best described as a murdered-out, muscled-up edition of what is already Land Rover’s most extreme off-roader to date.
For those unaware, the Standard OCTA was introduced exactly a year ago in July 2024, and is available in Sargasso Blue, Borasco Grey, Charente Grey, and Petra Copper. It sits at the top of the refreshed 2026 Defender lineup, which introduced revised LED headlights, a 13.1-inch touchscreen, and smoked rear lenses.
The easiest way to spot one is with its wider stance (2.7-inches) thanks to those pronounced fender flares. The OCTA Black, based on growing demand for a blacked out variant, arrives as the British marque celebrates its best sales streak in over a decade, and the model that is leading that charge is, you guessed it, the boxy Defender. With 10 straight profitable quarters and over 115,000 Defenders sold, JLR is doubling down on what’s already working and joins the lineup bolstered by new adventures, like the Defender Trophy global challenge and Land Rover’s return to rally-raid racing with the D7X-R Dakar prototype.
Underneath the stealthy skin lies the same fire-breathing BMW-sourced 4.4-liter twin-turbo mild-hybrid V8 engine with 635 horsepower, found in the standard OCTA. But here, the 155 mph, near 6,000 pound 4×4, is paired with an all-black treatment, applied to over 30 exterior elements. While the base coat is Narvik Black, which Land Rover describes as its truest black in the Defender color palette, you can further customize the exterior of the OCTA Black by choosing the optional matte protection film.
Components like the front and rear scuff plates and recovery eyes are also finished in satin black, while the tow eye cover and quad-exhaust tips finished in gloss black, serve as contrasting elements. Even stuff on the underbody, like the exhaust silencer and the center box, features a satin finish. Upfront, while the Land Rover logo on the grille is also black, there’s a hint of silver in the darkened script. Choose from either 20-inch forged wheels or the 22-inch Gloss Black ones if you intend on running this rig on the pavement, which pair with black center caps and gloss black brake calipers set against contrasting Sentient Silver script.
While the exterior exudes a tough image, the vibe shifts on board, going from utilitarian to luxurious. It’s no surprise that Dubai’s Royal Family, who have traditionally stuck with the Mercedes G-Wagen, have now switched to the OCTA. On the OCTA Black, the stealth theme continues with Ebony Semi-Aniline Leather that pairs with Kvadrat textile, debuting on the Defender for the first time.
These performance seats feature unique perforations with Carpathian Grey accents on the seat backs and hinges. Land Rover’s new Body and Soul Seats (BASS) system, developed with SUBPAC, lets you feel your music as much as hear it, using tech normally reserved for elite composers and DJs. Additionally, the Cross Car Beam is finished in satin black, with the option for a chopped carbon fiber roof.
But above all else, where any Defender truly shines is off-road and just like with the standard OCTA, the OCTA Black also gains all the heavy-duty hardware, including the 6D Dynamics air suspension, updated wishbones, increased ground clearance and wading depth, the all-terrain tires, a dedicated OCTA mode for high-speed action on the rough stuff, and a faster steering rack, all of which complement the beefed-up bodywork. For now, Land Rover hasn’t announced official pricing, the standard OCTA starts at $152,000. With the added blacked-out bits, you should be looking at somewhere in the ballpark of $170k, which is roughly what the Edition One costs.
Source: Land Rover