JAPANES MANUFACTURER SETS SIGHTS ON SHARE OF MAINSTREAM MARKET

DETERMINED TO capture a share of the mainstream agricultural tractor market, Kubota has launched its 105hp M105-S.

Standing at under 2.7m and with a turning circle of 3.6m, the tractor is likely to particularly appeal to livestock farmers who have cramped buildings, says the company.

A 3.8 litre Kubota 4-cyl engine with turbocharger and intercooler provides the power, but it is the transmission that sees the most impressive developments.

The gearbox is a 32 forward/32 reverse unit. Four manual changes are made through a standard H-pattern gate, knocking the lever right or left duplicates these manual changes through an electro-hydraulically operated clutch-pack to give a total of eight.

A clutchless gear splitter doubles the number of speeds to 16, all of which operate in either high or low range. Priced at £28,500, the tractor will receive its first public airing at the Smithfield Show (Dec 2 to Dec 5).

In the USA, the Kubota range extends to tractors of 120hp, but it was not until last year that the Japanese giant made its first foray into the UK marketplace with its 86hp and 94hp ME series tractors.

Since then the firm has made a strong effort to make its presence felt at shows and demonstrations around the country.