Thread: Iveco 4x4

It's called the MASSIF - because Italians don't like to be reminded of (H)anibal. EDIT - see below for the Iveco/Santana deal - but it's a Santana - I still think the quip about Hannibal is pretty good.---.Not to be confused with the MASTIFF - which apparently is an armored wheeled vehicle

Originally Posted by langy

It's called the MASSIF - because italians don't like to be reminded of (H)anibal. Apparently Santana sells it's Anibal (It's licensed copy of the series/defender) to Iveco, who put Iveco engines in them and re badge them as the Massif.Not to be confused with the MASTIFF - which apparently is an armored wheeled vehicle

Close but not quite. The Iveco Massif is a cosmetically altered version of the Santana PS10 Anibal. The differences are in molded panels AFAIKS. The Santana is not a licensed copy of any Land Rover product, the license arrangement ran out in the 80s sometime I think it was. Santana production of their own Series LR clones continued till they effectively went broke in about 94 from memory. The Spanish Govt stepped in & rescued them & in about 2001 the PS10 was announced. This was bought by the Spanish Armed forces & is simply a development of the earlier Santanas which in turn derived from license produced Land Rovers. Iveco has always supplied the engines for the PS10, a 2.8 turbo IC direct inj OHC engine, similar to what Fiat Ducatos have in them. Iveco seem to have some interest in Santana now, at least for their 4x4. The Massif has a 3.0 common rail euro 4 development of the earlier engine. A SWB version is imminent too. The PS 10 & Massif still retain the Parabolic leaf suspension of the Santana derived Land Rovers & they also have a lot of features that Land Rover could well have emulated in their own vehicles & indeed have done so in some cases in the 2007 Defender. Google Santana PS10 for a heap of sites for more info.
Steve.