The world’s most powerful production tractor has landed on European shores.

Officially unveiled last week in Holland, the Challenger MT975-B pumps out a whopping 615hp at maximum power.

That makes it a clear leader ahead of its closest competition – John Deere’s 9620 and Case’s Steiger STX530 which peak at 564hp and 597hp, respectively.

But, aside from awesome power – which will, no doubt, quickly be exceeded by other manufacturers in the race to reach the 1000hp mark – the MT900-series tractors signal a change in tack for Challenger.

Up until now the Agco-owned brand has stuck to rubber-tracked machines for its high-horsepower offering – a system originally developed by Caterpillar in 1987.

Demand

But due to demand from the US and the important emerging markets of central and eastern Europe, the Challenger name is, for the first time, emblazoned across the bonnet of an articulated, wheeled tractor.

Under that bonnet lies a monster 18.1-litre Caterpillar six-cylinder power-plant which, according to its engineers, has plenty more capacity should extra power be required when the competition decides to up the ante.

But keeping its thirst quenched requires a cavernous 1500-litre fuel tank – a useful counter-balance on the rear half of the tractor.

The 16-forward x 4-reverse powershift transmission is also provided by Caterpillar and is borrowed from the firm’s equally mammoth dump-trucks.

Challenger MT900-B range
Model	Engine	Transmission	Power (Rated/Max)
MT945B	15.2-litre Caterpillar 16F x 4R	16F x 4R, 40kph	430hp/475hp
MT955B	15.2-litre Caterpillar 16F x 4R	16F x 4R, 40kph	460hp/502hp
MT965B	18.1-litre Caterpillar 16F x 4R	16F x 4R, 40kph	510hp/584hp
MT975B	18.1-litre Caterpillar 16F x 4R	16F x 4R, 40kph	570hp/615hp

But the driveline and axles are Agco through-and-through – built in Beauvais, France by GIMA – a specialist transmission plant joint owned by Agco and Claas.

The cab is standard Challenger fare, shared with the firm’s current tracked machines.

As yet no prices are available but interested parties should note that the MT975 is a true road-hog, covering 5m of road when dualled up and weighing in at over 27t.

Did you know?

To protect its own tank manufacturing industry, the Kazakhstan government imposes a hefty 25% import tariff on any tracked vehicles entering the country. As a key developing market for agricultural machinery, this has proved a significant barrier to Challenger distributors trying to sell the rubber-track concept. However, in an ironic twist that happens to coincide with the launch of Challenger’s new wheeled machines, the country has temporarily reduced the tariff to 5%. So Kazakhstan, expect to see a flood of mustard-coloured tracklayers making its way across your country in the next four months.

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