Upgrades to CNH’s long-serving full powershift gearbox have enabled engineers at the Case IH factory in Austria to start installing it in combination with a more powerful engine to create a new model – the Puma 240 PowerDrive.

Previously available only with the CVXDrive stepless transmission, the Puma 240’s six-pot FPT motor develops 240hp at its rated speed, up to 260hp for draft work and a peak of 271hp when the boost function kicks in for pto-driven implements and road transport.

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PowerDrive, meanwhile, is available with a choice of 40kph Eco or 50kph configurations across 18 or 19 forward powershift speeds and six in reverse, with a 29×12 setup resulting from adding a creep box.

Previously, this transmission was available only in the long-wheelbase Puma 185, 200 and 220 AFS Connect models, the latter providing 240hp (draft) and 260hp (boost) outputs, so the newcomer provides 8% and 4% power increases, respectively, for anyone wanting to trade up.

© Case IH

More options

Also providing different price and equipment levels is a choice of 120- or 150-litre/min variable flow pump supplemented by a 66-litre/min unit dedicated to the steering and ancillaries such as clutch packs.

Manual or electric spool valve operation can also be chosen according to budget and driver preference, whereas the higher-spec Puma 240 CVXDrive has a 150- or 170-litre/min hydraulics and electric spools only.

Other major specification details across the powershift and stepless transmission variants are shared – both have 10.4t capacity rear implement linkage, for example, and a 6.2t front linkage as standard, although it is a deduct option.

Standard-fit cab and front axle suspension are other common features.

All four Puma PowerDrive AFS Connect tractors can be equipped with the heavier-duty Class 4.5 front axle, which increases load capacity by 13% to suit front-mounted equipment and loaders, while gross vehicle permissible weight increases to 14t.