Land Rover Defender Octa Treatment Arrives For Classic Models With 400 HP V8, And £190K Price Tag

Land Rover is giving classic Defender fans something pretty special: the chance to take an older Defender and rebuild it with the colors, trims, and materials introduced on the new Defender Octa. It’s part restoration, part customization, and very much aimed at buyers who want old-school character with modern touches.

The program uses donor vehicles built between 2012 and 2016. Customers can choose a 90 or 110 Station Wagon, or the 90 Soft Top if they want the open-air look. From there, things get far more personalized than what classic Defenders usually offered.

One of the biggest updates is the paint catalog. Colors that were reserved for the Octa - like Petra Copper, Faroe Green, Sargasso Blue, and Narvik Black - are now available. They join long-running shades such as Carpathian Grey, Patagonia White, and Borasco Grey. Buyers can pick a gloss or satin finish, and Land Rover says the satin option takes around 300 hours of paint work per truck, which explains the price tag.

The exterior options don’t stop at color. There are five different wheel designs in 16- or 18-inch sizes, crystal-style headlights, a gloss black grille, and even a chopped carbon fiber finish for the Defender lettering on the hood. A list of bolt-on accessories is also available for people planning to actually take these trucks outdoors.

Inside, the classic Defender finally gets the kind of upholstery choices modern buyers expect. There are Ultrafabrics in several colors, semi-aniline Burn Sienna leather, or the black leather from the Octa Black edition. Recaro seats with heating can be added as well. The infotainment system gets upgraded, though not to the level of the giant screen in the new Defender.

Underneath, the SUVs are far from stock. A reworked 5.0-liter V8 now makes 400 hp and is paired with a ZF automatic gearbox with a sport mode. The ladder-frame chassis remains, but the suspension has been retuned with new springs, dampers, and anti-roll bars to make the truck feel more composed on the road. The brakes and steering have also been updated to match.

Pricing starts at £190,000 before any extras, which actually makes these restored models more expensive than a brand-new Defender Octa. But that’s the appeal: this is a classic Defender, rebuilt by Land Rover itself, with modern power and a finish level the original trucks never had. For the right buyer, that combination is worth the premium.