Seamless acceleration to 40kph, improved fuel economy potential and new powertrain control functions come with a more sophisticated all-hydraulic transmission now available in selected Bobcat and Massey Ferguson telehandlers.

In addition, both external and in-cab noise and vibration levels are said to have been significantly reduced.

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Bobcat V-Drive and MF Dyna-CT machines feature a single pump supplying two hydrostatic motors in series, available in the 6.4m/3.5t, 7m/3.8t and 7.5m/4.3t models in both ranges.

The existing transmission – comprising a two-speed gearbox and two-speed single pump hydrostatic setup – continues alongside the new drive system.

One obvious attraction is that shifting between low and high range with the machine stationary is eliminated.

Instead, operators use a joystick button to select under load the 0-20kph “turtle” setting for yard work and maximum tractive effort, or 0-40kph “hare” mode for road travel and operations where a greater spread of working speeds is required – such as gathering and loading bales in the field.

New smart functions come with the alternative drive system, including cruise control, which adds a hand throttle and separates engine revs and ground speed, and engine speed management that allows revs to fall away if the load allows once a target speed has been hit.

Dyna-CT gives top-spec MF telehandlers all-hydro drive © Massey Ferguson

More control

Also featuring for the first time are auto engine stop/start to avoid wasting fuel when the machine is stood idle for an adjustable period, and a password-protected speed limiter that can be set to prevent an inexperienced operator from driving too fast.

These programmable functions are set up using a 7in touchscreen display in the otherwise unchanged cab.

All other aspects of the machines are also unchanged, with boom and other functions operated by a 190-litre/min variable flow hydraulics system and power provided by 135hp Doosan Bobcat engines.