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Kubota M8 breaks cover in North America
As Farmers Guardian reported earlier in the year, Buhler Industries, parent company of high horsepower tractor manufacturer Versatile, and Japanese company Kubota have entered into a ‘long term original equipment manufacturer (OEM) agreement.’
The fruits of this collaboration have now come to fruition, with the M8 range being unveiled to Canadian press, the country where the new range will be built. It is heavily based on the Versatile Nemisis launched in March this year, which is also built in the Winnipeg factory.
The two model range both feature the six-cylinder, 6.7-litre, Cummins B6.7 Performance Series engine, generating 190hp and 210hp for the M8-191 and M8-211 respectively.
The Stage 5 engine is EGR-free and uses a single Holset variable-geometry turbocharger. Cleaning up emissions, the tractor has an integrated, single module after treatment system. This combines the diesel oxidation catalyst, diesel particulate filter and selective catalyst reduction in one unit.
Courtesy of ZF, transmission options extend to a 30F by 15R semi-powershift, split into five ranges with six gears in each, or the stepless KVT continuously variable transmission. The powershift comes in 40kph guise as standard, but adding a suspended front axle increases top speed to 50kph.
Backend of the tractor sees four pto speeds added, with standard 540 and 1,000rpm speeds, plus economy modes for each. Spool valves on the closed centre load sensing circuit extend to three or five pairs, the former pumping out 120l/min and the latter reaching 160l/min.
Standard lift capacity on the Cat III/IIIN rear linkage is said to be 5,560kg or upgraded to hoist 7,050kg. There is also the option to add a Cat IIIN front linkage and front pto.
A popular option over the pond will be the addition of a front loader, which may also appeal to many UK and Irish farms. The firm’s M77 front loader can lift 2,360kg at the pivot pin, to a maximum height of 4.6m, with a breakout force of 4,600kg.
Inside the cabin operators have 4.1cu.m of space. Control of the tractor’s major functions are laid out over the EZ Command Centre arm rest, with the firm’s seven inch K-Monitor as standard, or 12 inch as an option. A high visibility roof window is standard, while there are various seating and lighting package options.
Wheel base for the new range is 2,896mm while shipping weight is 8,850kg.
When or if the new range will be unveiled in the UK is still unknown, however, we would hazard a guess it may appear at Agritechnica, Germany later in the year.
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