Plenty of pre-show hype preceded the launch of the six 9S tractors that now head Massey Ferguson’s tractor range.

The 8700 S replacements share their engine, transmission and pretty much everything else with Valtra’s S-series unveiled in late September.

The primary differentiator is the cab, with the Finnish tractors employing the setup already used on its smaller Ts and Qs, and Massey opting for the square frame of the 8S models.

See also: On test: Massey Ferguson 7S.210 proves versatile all-rounder

Beyond its abundant glazing and apparently “class leading” visibility, the stand-out feature of the quirky design is an 18cm gap at the back of the bonnet that helps dissipate heat, noise and vibrations before they reach the cockpit.

There is a barrowload of new options on the Datatronic 5 touchscreen, including control of an integrated central tyre inflation system, tractor implement management (TIM), and automated functions that allow the tractor to complete a headland turn without input from the driver.

Models are numbered according to their maximum power – 285, 310, 340, 370, 400 and 425 – with the smallest four getting a 30hp boost and the second-from-top gaining an extra 20hp when under sufficient load. There’s no boost function for the flagship model.

Changes to the 8.4-litre six-cylinder Agco Power engine include a new single turbo to replace the twin turbo setup of old, and a simplified emissions system that does without exhaust gas recirculation.

It is fed by a 660-litre fuel tank – 10% bigger than before – and runs through a Fendt-derived Dyna-VT stepless transmission.

Also new is a suspended front axle that offers a turning radius of 5.75m, a bigger 125mm diameter rear bar axle, and an uprated hydraulic system that can be specced to put out up to 400 litres/min.