► Surprisingly appealing retro-tastic looks
► Backed up by immense off-road capability
► Confirmed for sale in right-hand-drive
Just when we thought we were over retro special editions, along comes Iveco of all companies to blow our resolve out of the water with this frankly awesome-looking Iveco Daily 4×4 Tigrotto.
Yes, it’s fundamentally based on the same platform as a delivery van. But the 4×4 versions of this platform – which already uses a separate chassis rather than the mono-body construction of every rival – are extremely capable. Combine that with this almost astonishing level of model-specific customisation and we’re feeling the want here more than we do for most spec eds.
What exactly is an Iveco Daily Tigrotto?
The modern version pictured here first appeared at the 2022 Hannover IAA commercial vehicle show (the biggest CV Show in Europe by some margin, which takes place every two years), paying homage to the 1957 original. It was so well received that Iveco has decided to offer it for sale in both right- and left-hand drive.
Sold as a chassis cab, this one has a matching pickup bed on the back complete with rollbar and extra lighting.
It comes as a chassis cab. This means you only get the front bit. So while the groovy looking paint-matched pickup back would be a body-builder extra, it also makes the Tigrotto immediately suitable for other kinds of conversions – it could be the ideal basis for a retro-inspired off-grad campervan or luxury motorhome, for example.
The name Tigrotto mean tiger cub in Italian.
What are the stand-out features?
Iveco has done a surprising amount of work here. Not only do you get the two-tone paint, there are special wheels, round spotlights and Tigrotto badges that echo those fitted to the 1950s version.
The red paint picking out some of the off-road upgrades is standard as well, while the only powertrain available is Iveco’s 178bhp 3.0-litre turbodiesel (at a time when almost every other van is limited to 2.0-litre engines), combined with an eight-speed automatic transmission, which works very well in these vans.
The skid plate isn’t for show – the Daily 4×4 is a serious off-roader.
Meanwhile, that all-wheel-drive kit is pretty serious. The lifted suspension – seriously, don’t forget and just step out of the cab; you’ll break an ankle – is combined with three locking differentials, switchable low-range gearing and an upgraded ESC system. The Tigrotto will be offered in on-road and off-road optimised variants, about which you can find out more from our sister site Parkers’ Iveco Daily 4×4 review.
Yes, they’ve done it to the interior as well.
Finally, the retro look outside is complemented by a ‘vintage inspired’ dashboard (some might argue that’s just vans for you, but shh now) paint-matched to the exterior and logoed-up brown seats.
Plus you get a nice set of special edition floor mats.
Should you really be getting this excited?
‘Awesome’ and ‘Iveco Daily’ aren’t usually words CAR would be putting together, no. But the mods here are very unusual in the van world, and the Daily 4×4 does have genuinely outstanding off-road credentials.
The standard van is even available with all-round adaptive Airpro air-suspension system, though the separate chassis that makes it so tough also makes it a little less sophisticated than ultra-modern rivals such as the Volkswagen Crafter and latest Mercedes Sprinter.
How much does the Iveco Daily 4×4 Tigrotto cost?
At the moment, no idea, as the Tigrotto won’t be arriving in the UK until around October 2023. But don’t expect it to be cheap. It’s a lot of custom work on a 4×4 Daily that even in most basic chassis cab form costs upwards of around £70k.
Hell, we’re still looking forward to driving it…