Tag Archives: Land Rover

News

Range Rover Sport Embraces a New Era of Luxury with SV Bespoke Commissioning Service

July 29, 2025 Francis Mitterrand

In an era where individuality is the ultimate luxury, Range Rover has taken a bold stride forward. The brand’s acclaimed SV Bespoke commissioning service—previously reserved for its flagship Range Rover—is now available for the first time on the Range Rover Sport. This marks a new chapter for the luxury performance SUV, opening up an extraordinary breadth of personalisation possibilities for discerning clients around the world.

Crafted to Reflect Personality

Range Rover’s SV Bespoke offering goes far beyond conventional options lists. At its core lies a philosophy of tailored luxury—vehicles as unique as their owners. The SV Curated Bespoke Palette includes up to 230 exterior colours in gloss, matte, or satin finishes. For those seeking the extraordinary, the SV Bespoke ‘Match-to-Sample’ service allows virtually any colour to be recreated with remarkable accuracy.

Clients may also opt for distinctive elements like an Exposed Carbon Fibre Bonnet and bespoke roof and mirror cap finishes, while every SV Bespoke gloss paint job now benefits from a new ‘glass-like’ finish. Achieved through a thicker top-coat lacquer and meticulous hand polishing, the result is a surface of unrivalled depth and clarity.

Interior Personalisation Elevated

The Range Rover Sport SV’s interior is no less expressive. Buyers can choose from over 1,500 unique combinations, including a wide range of 15 rich colour options such as Navy, Brogue, Pimento, and Raven Blue. With contrast stitching, bespoke embroidery, unique veneers, and personalised treadplates, SV Bespoke invites owners to curate an atmosphere that speaks uniquely to them.

Exclusive finishes for 23-inch wheels and new brake caliper hues—Xenon Blue and Silver—join a suite of subtle yet striking details. Clients can also select from 22 distinct combinations of the signature two-piece Range Rover script, now available in hand-forged precious metals with matching paint inserts.

Nocturne: The First of Its Kind

The first Range Rover Sport SV to emerge from the SV Bespoke programme is the evocatively named Nocturne, which debuted at Range Rover House in Mykonos. Inspired by the deep indigo twilight of the Mediterranean sky, it features a Bespoke Indigo Gloss exterior, hand polished to mirror-like perfection. Narvik Black mirror caps and a contrast roof lend it a refined edge.

Performance cues come via the Exposed Carbon Fibre Bonnet, Satin Twill Carbon Fibre accents, and Thunderball 23-inch wheels finished in Champagne Gold Satin. Inside, Ebony and Lunar Windsor leather, Light Cloud contrast stitching, Satin Forged Carbon trim, and tactile ceramic controls bring tactile opulence to the cockpit.

Global Commissioning, Personal Touch

To bring this bespoke experience closer to clients, Range Rover has launched a network of Commissioning Suites in luxury hubs including London, Antwerp, Munich, Vancouver, Beijing, Tokyo, and Dubai—with five more coming in 2025. These suites offer curated, in-person consultations with SV Bespoke experts, though virtual commissioning is also available for convenience without compromise.

A Growing Demand for Distinction

The introduction of SV Bespoke for the Range Rover Sport follows growing global demand for ultra-personalised vehicles. As Martin Limpert, Global Managing Director of Range Rover, explains:

“Clients are increasingly looking for crafted details and true distinction. With SV Bespoke, we have the unique opportunity to co-create vehicles that reflect our clients’ personalities in a truly authentic way.”

The SV Bespoke commissioning service is now available on Range Rover Sport SV and Autobiography models. With it, Range Rover continues to push the envelope in the luxury automotive space—blending artisanal craftsmanship with cutting-edge performance to deliver vehicles that are not just owned, but authored.

Source: Land Rover

Tuning

This Supercharged Defender Is the Real Off-Road Beast

July 18, 2025 Francis Mitterrand

The new Land Rover Defender Octa might be the talk of the town with its 635-horsepower twin-turbo V8, but for those who value raw character, mechanical purity, and brutal off-road muscle, there’s a more compelling alternative: ECD Automotive Design’s Project Wilder.

Built on the bones of the classic Land Rover Defender, Project Wilder isn’t just a restomod—it’s an off-road statement piece, a bespoke blend of heritage and modern aggression that makes even the Octa feel tame by comparison.

Supercharged Brute Force

Under the hood lies a supercharged GM-sourced V8, a fire-breathing engine that churns out over 700 horsepower. That’s more than enough to leave the Octa in its dust. Power is sent to all four wheels through a Tremec T56 six-speed manual transmission, offering analog thrills rarely seen in today’s digitized SUV landscape.

To ensure it sounds as wild as it looks, ECD fitted a Borla Sport exhaust system, giving the beast a feral soundtrack to match its outrageous performance.

Built for Battle

ECD didn’t just stuff power into an old chassis. The frame has been stripped and coated with Raptor Liner, a high-strength protective layer known for its resistance to scratches, chemicals, UV rays, and harsh weather. This Defender is built to conquer—and survive—terrain that would terrify most luxury SUVs.

The air suspension and Brembo performance brakes are carefully calibrated for extreme off-road duty, while the 20-inch wheels shod in BFGoodrich all-terrain tires make sure traction is never in short supply. Painted in a refined Eastnor Green with Nara Bronze accents, Project Wilder balances ruggedness with elegance.

A Luxurious Den of Detail

Inside, Project Wilder is a showcase of ECD’s coachbuilding artistry. Buffalo Distressed Cuoio leather with honeycomb stitching wraps nearly every surface, contrasted by Sapele walnut trim, Alcantara headliner, and a hand-finished wood steering wheel. Two Recaro sports seats offer firm support for both spirited driving and long expeditions.

Technology is seamlessly integrated: a modern infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Focal speakers, panoramic roof, rearview camera, blind spot monitoring, electric windows, and twin subwoofers make sure creature comforts aren’t sacrificed for old-school cool.

Legacy Reimagined

ECD’s Project Wilder is not just a throwback—it’s a defiant vision of what a Defender can be when traditional craftsmanship meets unhinged engineering. While the Defender Octa dazzles with its factory muscle, Project Wilder roars with hand-built ferocity. It’s proof that the most iconic off-roaders are sometimes those reborn with passion, power, and purpose.

Source: ECD Automotive Design

Gallery:

This Supercharged Defender Is the Real Off-Road Beast

News

Defender OCTA Black: Land Rover’s Ultimate Expression of Stealth, Strength, and Sophistication

July 4, 2025 Francis Mitterrand

Land Rover has taken the boldest member of its off-road family and given it a dark, dramatic twist. Meet the Defender OCTA Black—a brooding, high-performance machine that blends extreme capability with unapologetic luxury, inside and out.

Building upon the already formidable Defender OCTA, the new Black edition goes all-in on visual impact with a full suite of gloss and satin black detailing. Drenched in Narvik Black, the darkest and most intense shade in the Defender palette, the OCTA Black isn’t just an SUV—it’s a statement.

Design That Demands Attention

Up to 30 exterior elements have been reimagined in black, from the Satin Black Powder Coated front undershield and rear scuff plates to the Gloss Black quad exhaust tips and tow eye covers. Even functional components like the recovery eyes and underbody elements have been treated with stealth finishes, offering a cohesive and purposeful aesthetic.

Buyers can further personalize the OCTA Black with an optional Matte Protective Film, adding a rugged, industrial edge to the already intimidating profile. Wheel choices include 20-inch forged or 22-inch Gloss Black alloys, both complemented by Shadow Atlas Defender scripts and Gloss Black brake calipers etched with Sentient Silver branding.

A Dark, Decadent Interior

Inside, Land Rover continues its mission to fuse off-road grit with executive luxury. For the first time ever in a Defender, the cabin features Ebony Semi-Aniline Leather paired with Kvadrat™, a soft, sustainable textile known for its premium feel and durability.

Performance Seats have been enhanced with bespoke perforation patterns, new stitching details, and Carpathian Gray back panels and hinges. The dashboard’s Cross Car Beam now wears a Satin Black Powder Coat, and clients can opt for Chopped Carbon Fiber trim for a modern, motorsport-inspired finish.

Uncompromised Performance

At its core, the Defender OCTA Black remains a formidable beast. Powered by a 635PS 4.4-liter Twin Turbo mild-hybrid V8, it features cutting-edge 6D Dynamics suspension and a unique OCTA Mode for high-speed off-road performance. This is the tallest and widest Defender ever, engineered to devour any terrain in its path.

And it doesn’t just perform—it performs with style. The Body and Soul Seats (BASS) system, co-developed with SUBPAC™, brings music to life through vibro-acoustic feedback. Paired with a 700W Meridian™ Surround Sound System, the experience is immersive, visceral, and uniquely Defender.

Cutting-Edge Tech and Expanded Options

The OCTA Black benefits from the latest Defender upgrades, including a redesigned headlight cluster with a sharper graphic signature, flush smoked rear taillights, and a new 13.1-inch infotainment touchscreen for intuitive control.

For those who prefer a splash of color, the standard Defender OCTA is now offered in Sargasso Blue and Borasco Gray, joining Charente Gray and Petra Copper. A Patagonia White Matte Wrap is also on the way, expected in late 2025.

A New Chapter in Tough Luxury

“Defender OCTA Black takes things up a notch,” says Mark Cameron, Managing Director of Defender. “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.”

With the OCTA Black, Land Rover pushes the Defender beyond its utilitarian roots and into the realm of high-fashion, high-function off-road excellence. It’s not just a special edition—it’s the definitive expression of Defender power, precision, and presence.