Punters heading to the Royal Highland Show later this month will get an early look at Merlo’s new TurboFarmer 30.7 telehandler.

This succeeds the firm’s popular P32.6 model (retired in 2017), with its compact design having appealed to many British farmers operating in the confines of small livestock sheds.

Those modest dimensions have been carried over to the newbie, which measures just 2m wide and 1.98m tall in low-profile “L” guise. In standard spec, the latter figure rises to 2.12m, or 2.21m when Merlo’s hydraulic cab suspension system is fitted.

See also: Ultimate guide to buying a telehandler 2023

Despite those relatively dainty proportions, it will reach to 7m and lift a maximum of 3t, with load-sensing and flow-sharing hydraulics allowing for multiple boom and headstock movements simultaneously.

A change in the engine department has seen the old Perkins block replaced by a Deutz four-cylinder of 100hp. This is 15hp shy of the current smallest TurboFarmer model – the TF33.7 (6.6m/3.3t).

As usual, the drivetrain features a two-range hydrostatic transmission that provides a top speed of 40kph.

Other features of note include the options of a 10.1in screen in the cab to control hydraulic flow rate and working limits, an auto-revving joystick function that cranks up the engine speed without having to use the foot throttle, and the automatic recognition of genuine Merlo attachments when they are hooked up.

The P variant of this model was launched at last year’s Sima show in Paris. It comes with a less pokey 75hp Kohler engine.

Prices won’t be announced until later this year.