10 top tractors to see at Lamma
Last year was a busy one for tractor manufacturers, with companies continuing to push power outputs to the limit. Oliver Mark and Andy Collings round up the latest models to look out for at Lamma.
Valtra S-series
Valtra’s highest horsepower tractor range – the S-series, pictured right – will also be on show. Having had its first major outing at Agritechnica late last year, visitors to Lamma will be able to have a closer look at the new colour screen controls and updated dash layout.
Changes have been made under the hood, too, with a new six-cylinder, 8.4-litre Agco Power engine that will push out a maximum 370hp. The twin turbo block will also generate 1,590Nm of torque and the boost function adds another 30hp.
Massey Ferguson 6600-series
The manufacturer of what is currently the biggest four-cylinder tractor in the world is Massey Ferguson, with its 6600-series. The range promises to bring the power and comfort of a six-pot down into the four-cylinder tractors.
There are five models, with outputs starting at the 120hp 6612 and topping out with the 175hp 6616. Power comes from a 4.9-litre motor sourced from Agco Power, and transmission options include Massey’s simple Dyna-4 on the smaller-engined machines, the popular Dyna-6 and smooth shifting Dyna-VT.
Same Deutz-Fahr 9-series
Making its UK debut will be the four-model Deutz-Fahr 9-series, which takes the manufacturer into the high-power league with models up to 340hp.
The 7.8-litre Deutz engine drives through a ZF Terramatic TMT 32 CVT transmission, which has four indistinguishable ranges. At the back there’s a 210-litre/min load-sensing hydraulic system and 12t lift capacity. Tractor weight is closer to 10t, which should make it a solid tillage tractor.
There will also be the new Virtus, along with the Explorer, Dorado and Tiger ranges.
New Holland T8s
New Holland’s US-built T8s are some of the most powerful conventionally shaped tractors in the world. The six-model CVT line-up ranges from 273-419hp and means the biggest T8 model has more power than the smallest T9 articulated-steer tractor.
Power comes from an 8.7-litre FPT and the latest models have a 500mm longer wheelbase to improve stability and traction in the field.
John Deere 7R- and 8R-series
Following its European launch last year, when a wide range of different tractors, combines and implements were introduced, there will be plenty of first-time viewing to be had on the Deere stand.
New tractors include the range-topping 7R- and 8R-series, which have been given more power and the option of a new mechanical transmission, claimed to offer greater efficiency and save fuel. The 7R range spans the 210-310hp power band and the 8R extends from 270-370hp.
The new E23 transmission is 100% mechanical and, as such, is more efficient than a CVT, which uses an element of hydrostatic drive. To create smooth changes between gears there are 23 closely grouped powershift ratios – 14 of them operative between 2.5kph and 16kph.
Kubota MGX, M6060 and M7060 ranges
A wide range of tractors and ground-care machinery is to be lined up on the Kubota stand, including the higher horsepower MGX range and the recently launched M6060 and M7060 tractors. These pump out 60hp and 70hp respectively and have 18 speeds spread across three ranges. A common rail system has replaced direct injection and a DPF has been attached to the 3.3-litre four-pot to help meet the latest emissions regs.
The main thrust of the manufacturer’s Lamma display, though, will be the launch of Kubota Care – a five-year warranty plan for tractors. The scheme requires customers to decide on the service hour usage required over the plan period and to pay an appropriate fee – 2,000 hours is free, with charges applied for selecting 3,000, 4,000 or 5,000 hours.
Case Magnums and Quadtrac
Case IH plans to show its new six-cylinder Magnum CVX and four-cylinder Maxxum CVX tractors. The three-model Maxxum CVX range is the first set of four-cylinder Case IH tractors to use stepless transmissions and comprises the 110 CVX EP, 120 CVX EP and the 130 CVX EP, which are rated at 110hp, 121hp and 131hp respectively.
The 404hp Magnum 370 CVX employs a four-range CVT and features an “active-stop” function, which enables hillside stops without applying the brakes. Power is provided by an 8.7-litre FPT engine rated at 367hp and peaking at 419hp, while max torque of 1806Nm is achieved at 1,400-1,600rpm.
The Case IH stand will also be home to the 692hp Quadtrac 620 – the world’s most powerful tractor in series production.
Like all other machines in its range, it is powered by a 12.9-litre, six-cylinder FPT Industrial Cursor 13 engine with fuel drawn from a 1,900-litre diesel tank. Transmission is a 16×2 Powershift – an automatic selection system that should help pick the most suitable gear and engine speed.
McCormick X7
McCormick is set to launch the X7 Pro Drive tractor at Lamma – a six-model range comprising four and six-cylinder builds with up to 212hp.
The six-cylinder versions – the X7.660, X7.670 and X7.680 – are rated at 151hp, 166hp and 175hp, which is boosted for pto and transport operations to 175hp, 188hp and 212hp.
Three four-cylinder versions are rated at 131hp for the X7.440, 150hp for the X7.450 and 160hp for the X7.460 with boosted increases taking them to 160hp, 166hp and 175hp.
Fitted with the McCormick’s new Premiere cab, the manufacturer highlights the MySwitch feature positioned on the seat-mounted console. It is used to perform four different functions – transmission declutch, four-wheel drive, diff-locks and auto powershift – and keeps the number of individual control switches to a minimum.
Challenger E-series
Another manufacturer on a mission to up horsepower output is Challenger. The latest version of its rubber-tracked crawler is the MT875E, which pushes out a rated power of 590hp and maximum 640hp – 30hp more than the MT875C.
It’s also thought to be the first time a 12-cylinder engine has been fitted to a tracked tractor – a 16.8-litre Agco Power motor that uses both SCR and water-cooled EGR. It’s the most powerful tractor the company has ever made and is the third most powerful on the market.
Claas Axion and Jaguar 800-series
Among the new machines exhibited on the Claas stand will be the company’s award-winning Axion 800-series tractor and the new Jaguar 800-series forage harvester.
The four-model Axion 800 range is powered by 6.7-litre FPT Cursor 9 engines rated from 215-264hp and driving through either a four-range Hexashift or Cmatic CVT transmission.
Two spec levels are on offer – the CIS with mechanical spools and a drivestick for changing gear, or the more high-tech Cebis.
