Growing demand for forage harvesters with outputs around the 1,000hp mark has led to Krone to expand its range with a brace of new models.

The new machines – the Big X 980 and Big X 1080 – are powered by the same V12 Liebherr engine that features in the 1156hp 1180 model.

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They have a modified powersplit, which gives operators the option of selecting “eco-power” mode for better fuel economy, or the so-called “X Power” mode, which engages the engine’s full output.

Krone is also offering its XtraPower system on the new foragers. Based on an online platform, this allows operators to temporarily book extra engine power into the machine for a specified time period, to suit particular harvesting conditions.

This comes by way of the XtraPower 100 for the 980 and 1080 models, and an XtraPower 200 package is also available for the 980.

Krone has added its VariLoc mechanism to the new machines.

This gearbox sits inside the pulley that drives the chopping drum, and enables drum speed to be reduced from 1,250rpm to 800rpm, thus increasing cut length by up to 50%.

Currently, only the new Big X 980 is available for the 2023 season in the UK.