First taste of the new 1- and 2-ton excavators

At this year's Bobcat Demo Days, which took place from May 26 to June 4, 2025 at the Doosan Bobcat EMEA headquarters in the Czech town of Dobříš, customers and dealers had the opportunity, as usual, to learn about a number of new machines and new technology. The highlight was the presentation of the new 1- and 2-ton excavators of the R Series and the updated E88, the top model of the same series. 

"Ever since 2011, the Demo Days have been a meeting place for customers, dealers and Bobcat employees," said Jan Moravec, vice president at Bobcat EMEA. "They can get to know each other, exchange experiences and also see and try out almost all machines, attachments and new technology. The site featured not only compact machines such as loaders, mini-excavators, telehandlers, compactors, tractors, mowers and lawn care machines, but also a large number of attachments. In addition, compressors, generators and light towers from the Portable Power program were demonstrated as well as forklifts and warehouse equipment for material handling and logistics. 

The Bobcat Campus in Dobrˇíš, where the Demo Days were organized, is a unique location. The site houses the EMEA region headquarters, the Innovation Center and a training center. A significant portion of the compact machines for the European market are produced at the on-site factory. In short: there is a lot for visitors to see.

SmartFlow hydraulic system  

One of the highlights of this year's Demo Days was the presentation of the new generation of 1 to 2 tonne mini excavators of the R2 series, which consists of the E16, the E17z, the E19 and the E20z. They replace the previous E17, E17z, E19 and E20z machines from the M series. 

The new models not only have a different look, but also offer excellent performance and numerous convenient features. The main innovation is the SmartFlow hydraulic system, which uses a load-sensing pump combined with a flow-sharing main control valve. This maximizes hydraulic flow for the machine and attachments. The operator can perform heavy work while still reducing fuel consumption by some 18%. The redesigned, hydraulic system allows multiple hydraulic functions to be operated simultaneously. For example, the operator can simultaneously drive, slew and operate the excavator arm without sacrificing power and speed.

The very compact E16 has an operating weight of 1,612 kg, which allows the mini-excavator to be transported on a trailer. The same applies to the E17 with an operating weight of 1,712 kg. Like all Bobcat machines, the new excavators are equipped with the Machine IQ telematics system, which allows operators to monitor the machines remotely.

The top model, the E88

Bobcat also presented an upgraded version of the R-Series E88 excavator. This 9-ton machine offers improved operator comfort, a high-quality finish and a comprehensive package of standard options. The E88 is available in several predefined configurations. The improved operator comfort is due to the comfortable Fritzmeier cab, which reduces noise and vibration while offering additional functionality and options. The new E88 has compact dimensions yet delivers exceptional performance, high lift capacity and excellent stability in all conditions.

Machine IQ 

The new mini-excavators - like many other Bobcat machines - are equipped with the Machine IQ telematics system, which allows operators to monitor machine performance remotely. Visitors to this year's Demo Days were able to see for the first time the new feature on the Machine IQ platform to remotely turn the engine off and on. That feature is activated using the Machine IQ app or through the Owner Portal. 

Collision Warning System

As always, a number of innovations were presented at the Bobcat Demo Days. This year these included the Collision Warning and Avoidance System, which can prevent collisions. This system, mounted on an S76 skid-steer loader for the demos, uses radar sensors to alert skid-steer and compact tracked loader operators to risky situations. The operator can then swerve in time or the machine is automatically stopped. The technology can be adapted to site-specific conditions to provide real-time obstacle and hazard detection and various response options.

Compactor with V-Drive

The Demo Days also featured the new telehandlers with the V-Drive continuous transmission system. The machines with V-Drive are the premium models of Bobcat telescopic handlers and they therefore have a very comprehensive standard equipment. Thanks to the luxurious cab and smart features such as cruise control and ECO-Ride, operator comfort is optimal. The new telehandlers reach a speed of 40 km/h and offer great comfort to the operator, as there is no need to change gears and the machine runs very smoothly. Also still available on the V-Drive models are the hydrostatic gears "tortoise" and "hare", which can be selected with the joystick. Thanks to two back-to-back hydraulic motors, the new machines have the same performance as the existing machines. The hydraulic motors are rubber-mounted, reducing vibration by 60%.