EIMA 2026 Preview: Case IH’s Axial-Flow 160, New Holland’s CVT T4 and China’s 1,600-hp Hybrid Tractor

A major international farm machinery show opens Tuesday in Italy, and the two CNH brands have already laid out what they’ll have on the floor. EIMA International 2026 runs Nov. 10-14 at BolognaFiere, and both Case IH and New Holland have released previews. Meanwhile, a Chinese manufacturer grabbed headlines at its home show with a hybrid tractor that it says tops 1,600 horsepower.

This is a roundup of manufacturer announcements and published reports. US Farm News has not tested any of these machines, and several are aimed at European markets first. If one catches your eye, ask your dealer whether and when it will be offered here and with what specs.

Why U.S. buyers should pay attention

Features that show up at European shows often signal where a brand’s global platforms are headed: transmissions, cab displays, automation and connectivity tend to spread across markets over time. For anyone planning a 2027 or 2028 trade, these previews are an early look at what may be on the options list, and at the questions worth asking about subscriptions, data and service.

Case IH: connected combines and transmission choice

Case IH says Bologna is the first big international show where the public will see its new Axial-Flow 160 series combines. According to the company’s release, the combines build on its Harvest Command automation with:

• Pro 1200 dual displays so operators can see machine settings and agronomic data at the same time.
• Available guidance, automated headland turns and machine-to-machine data sharing.
• A new cross-auger clutch that lets the unloading auger empty completely, and an optional two-speed feeder drive.

On tractors, Case IH is adding the ActiveDrive 8 dual-clutch transmission to its Puma 155-185 series, which also gets new front axle and cab suspension and redesigned controls. The Puma 185 with ActiveDrive 8 is a Tractor of the Year finalist, with the winner due Nov. 10, the company said. Its Optum 440 will show Advanced Vehicle Suspension, which adjusts damping automatically based on sensor feedback and won an EIMA Technical Evolution award.

Case IH also pointed to its FieldOps farm management platform and a “Connectivity Included” offer that it says removes recurring connectivity subscription fees on qualifying machines. That’s a detail worth pinning down with a dealer, since data and subscription costs are a growing part of ownership.

New Holland: specialty tractors, compacts and telehandlers

New Holland’s preview leans toward specialty and smaller operations:

• T4 F/N/V Auto Command: brings continuously variable transmission to the narrow vineyard and orchard tractor range.
• T2S compact range: five models from 35 to 57 hp with loader capability and connectivity-ready design.
• TH7.32 and TH9.32 telehandlers: built with Faresin, with lift heights of roughly 7 and 9 meters and a 3.2-tonne maximum capacity.
• Refreshed T7 Long Wheelbase and Heavy Duty models with updated lighting and the InfoView display moved to the right-hand cab pillar.
• FR Forage Cruiser with ForageCam, which uses camera image analysis of kernel processing to support automatic adjustment.

New Holland said it has already won three EIMA awards: Technical Innovation awards for the T4F eSource mild hybrid and for its Enhanced Baler Productivity feature, and a Technical Evolution award for Smart Traction Control on combines. It is also showing a vision-based Specialty Vision Sensor that guides tractors down orchard and vineyard rows.

China’s horsepower push: Zoomlion’s 9DX

Outside Europe, Electrek reported that Zoomlion unveiled its 9DX hybrid tractor at this week’s China International Agricultural Machinery Exhibition, claiming more than 1,600 hp. Electrek said the tracked tractor uses an 800-volt hybrid electric powertrain with a continuously variable transmission, peak torque of 7,200 Nm (about 5,300 lb-ft), four 762 mm (about 30-inch) tracks, a top speed of 40 km/h and hydraulic flow of about 170 gallons per minute. Zoomlion claims the hybrid setup cuts fuel use and emissions, though Electrek noted there’s no official word yet on battery specs. Zoomlion isn’t a familiar name on U.S. dealer lots, but the machine shows how fast Chinese manufacturers are moving into high-horsepower equipment, a point an AGCO engineering director made to Xinhua, per Electrek.

What to ask before your next purchase

• Is the model or feature offered in North America, and in what configuration?
• What precision features are standard, and which carry annual subscription or connectivity fees?
• How does the machine share data with your current displays and farm software?
• What do dealer service and parts support look like near you?

For recent buyer’s guides, see our 2027 Deere 6R vs. Massey 7S comparison and our look at new hay equipment for 2027.