Kubota M7151: The colour of the future?
When it was originally launched in 2016, Kubota’s M7001 tractor range was the most powerful ever produced by the company. Spanning the all-important 130-170hp segment, not only were these flagship prime-movers complete newcomers to the market, they bucked the trend in sticking with a four-cylinder engine to provide all the muscle.
Despite not offering a six-pot option, the Japanese firm saw some significant success with its biggest tractors and in a relatively short space of time they gained something of a name for themselves as pokey, nimble performers. But they have also undergone several revamps in a relatively short space of time. Just two years after their initial appearance the 7001-series was re-badged the 7002–ostensibly in the name of engine emissions legislation.
Alongside a ZF-sourced stepless CVT gearbox, these second generation M7002 models got the option of a new 30 forward, 15 reverse ZF powershift gearbox (replacing the 24 x 24 semi-powershift unit from the same supplier) and the cleaner, greener 6.1-litre power-plant was also leaner, able to reach max power at 1,900rpm, some 200rpm lower than previously.
Built at the company’s manufacturing plant at Dunkirk in northern France, ‘Premium’ spec. models also got a raft of updates to the touchscreen controller–a derivative of sister-company Kverneland’s Tellus terminal–enabling multiple headland turn sequences to be stored and a nudge function for the autosteer guidance package.
As if all these changes weren’t enough, barely 18 months later, in autumn 2019, Kubota announced it was superseding the M7002-series with three new M7003 models. In addition to conforming with Stage V emissions
