IVECO Daily 4x4 goes auto

IVECO Australia has released initial details of the latest update to its Daily 4x4 light commercial.

The LCV, which has found favour in the mining, energy infrastructure and emergency services sectors, along with increasing numbers of adventurous travellers, will soon be available with IVECO's eight-speed Hi-Matic automatic transmission.

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The Hi-Matic auto has been available in the Daily 4x2 range since 2015, but until now the Daily 4x4 has only come with a six-speed manual.

"Matched to the carryover Euro 6, 3.0-litre powerplant, this transmission complements the engine very well and makes great use of its 180hp and 430Nm output," said IVECO ANZ, SEA and Japan Product Manager, Marco Quaranta.

"On the road, the truck feels more responsive and off-road the experience is more relaxed as the transmission does all the work – there's no worries about selecting the wrong gear, stalling or missing gear changes in demanding off-road conditions."

The model will continue with its front, centre and rear diff locks.

The updated model will also sport four-wheel disc brakes, instead of the old front disc/rear drum arrangement, plus a boosted 7000kg GVM option.

This opens the Daily 4x4 up to more applications than those available under the current model's 5500kg upper GVM limit, such as light tanker work. It will of course also continue with a car-licence-friendly 4495kg GVM.

IVECO Australia says testing is well underway for the new model, which has been subjected to rigorous tests in the Australian outback over the last summer. In temperatures of up to 45 degrees C, the model has been run through a number of tests, including tow tests, with telematics software transmitting the data back to FPT (Fiat Power Train) engineers in Europe.

Evaluation of the new IVECO Daily 4x4 will continue, ahead of the updated model's launch later this year.