The Defender is a representative model of the British Land Rover with a history of more than 70 years. With a price tag exceeding 200 million won, it is not a mass-market vehicle, but its distinctive design and performance have earned it a strong fan base.
Jaguar Land Rover Korea launched the OCTA in May last year with the slogan "the most powerful Defender in history," and in Apr. this year it released the OCTA Black, which adds a premium touch by designing the interior and exterior in black.
At a test-drive event held on the 15th at the Belfore Resort in Jeungpyeong, North Chungcheong, the OCTA Black we encountered was the top trim of the Defender. The color exclusive to the Black model, "Narvik Black," covered the overall exterior. It is a deep black.
A "satin black" color with a subtle sheen was applied to the front under shield, a component that protects the lower front of the vehicle, and to the exhaust pipes. The oval Land Rover grille logo is also finished in black, enhancing the premium feel.
Sitting in the driver's seat, the seat firmly hugged the upper body, as expected for an off-road vehicle that inevitably has more sway. The sightline felt higher than that of peer sport-utility vehicles (SUVs).
The interior features design elements unique to the Black. Defender vehicles have a separate storage space called the "cross car beam" on the passenger-side dashboard. The OCTA Black fills this space with satin black. The leather material and stitch design used on the seats are also firsts for the Defender, and the deep black "ebony" was applied, exuding the OCTA Black's unique sense of luxury.
The OCTA Black measures 5,001 mm in length, 2,064 mm in width and 1,995 mm in height. Compared with the previous model, the width has increased by 68 mm, and the ground clearance (the gap between the ground and the bottom of the car) has risen by 28 mm.
This is to improve responsiveness according to changes in the terrain off-road and to reduce "roll"—the body lifting or leaning—in the city.
The advantages of this design showed on-road. In the on-road track driving that day, the OCTA Black exited even sharp corners without body roll. This is the result of the body design combined with the 6D Dynamics suspension system.
Jaguar Land Rover Korea said the 6D suspension delivers stable torque to all four wheels depending on road conditions to increase grip. Also, even when hitting a curb, the active dampers absorbed the impact, making it feel smooth. It felt like an off-road vehicle had evolved a step further.
With the brake pedal pressed 100%, stepping on the accelerator delivered the engine exhaust note. As soon as the foot came off the brake pedal, the body was pushed back into the seat and the vehicle shot forward like a bullet. Credit goes to the 4.4-liter V8 twin-turbo mild-hybrid engine applied only to the OCTA among Defenders.
This engine delivers 653 horsepower and a maximum torque of 76.5 kg·m. Despite a curb weight of 2,665 kg, it takes just 4 seconds to reach 100 kph from a standstill. It is the heaviest yet the fastest among Defenders.
In off-road driving, the performance of the 6D suspension system came through. Entering rocky terrain, the passenger seat pitched skyward while the driver's seat dipped toward the ground. Even though the front passenger-side wheel was lifted off the surface, the 6D suspension system sent torque to the other wheels for a stable escape.
It was the same on gravel and muddy roads. The vehicle assists itself by adding weight so the wheels do not spin freely and it can pull through.
With the anti-lock braking system (ABS) activated, there was no skidding even on rough surfaces such as sand and gravel. Braking on a gravel road with about a 35-degree incline that day, the OCTA Black came to a stable stop.
The OCTA Black improves braking performance with large 400 mm front discs, 365 mm rear discs, and high-performance pads. It is also fitted with OCTA-specific tires developed in collaboration with Michelin and BF Goodrich.
These tires are 275 mm wide and 20 inches in diameter. The vehicle drove stably even in water deep enough to submerge the entire wheel that day. The OCTA Black can ford depths of up to 1 meter.
OCTA mode appeared highly useful in off-road driving. On hills with gradients up to 30 degrees where nothing but the sky is visible from the driver's seat, it climbed without hesitation in direct proportion to the pressure on the accelerator. It adjusts output by varying throttle according to the surface.
On steep descents, the function called hill descent control activates. Even without pressing the brakes, it goes down at the set speed on its own.
Hong Seong-jun, Defender brand manager at Jaguar Land Rover Korea, who attended the event, said, "The OCTA Black is the top flagship model," adding, "It delivers top performance both on and off road and is a highly versatile vehicle."
The price appears to be the biggest barrier. The OCTA Black is priced at 245.47 million won. It is about 15 million won more expensive than the OCTA at 230.17 million won. The rear seatback angle does not adjust, and the climate-control buttons felt somewhat crude and complicated. The hazard light button is located on the dashboard, far from the driver's seat. These seem like disappointing points for a vehicle in the 200 million won range.