John Deere reckons it has produced the world’s most powerful rigid-frame tractor.

The wheeled 8R 540 and four-track 8RX equivalent are rated to a maximum output of 594hp, rising to a headier 634hp with a full 40hp serving of the firm’s “peak power” boost.

See also: Fendt unveils long-awaited Gen5 800-series Vario tractors

This means it comfortably betters the 520/550hp of Fendt’s 1052 Vario, as does its 490 counterpart (539/579hp). The third newbie on the 8-series roster, the 440, develops a not-to-be-sniffed-at 484hp plus boosty bonus.

Delivering such artic-matching pulling power – which, for the headline act, includes 2,695Nm of torque – is the 13.6-litre Deere six-cylinder used in the bigger but less versatile 9-series.

The existing clutch of 8Rs, from the 326hp 8R 280 to the 458hp 8R 410, continue with comparatively modest 9-litre displacement.

All three newcomers get an electro-mechanical stepless eAutoPowr transmission as standard, geared to 40kph on the 8RX and up to 60kph on the wheeled version.

Both variants should travel smoother thanks a new front axle with heavy duty independent link suspension.

This brings benefits such as “roll control”, which automatically adjusts stiffness to reduce lean when cornering and nose dipping under heavy braking.

Engineers have redesigned the undercarriage of the 8RX’s track system too, with a low-tension setup on the Soucy CustomFit P-series belts promising to reduce stress in what has been a troublesome area.

The cab has also had some attention, with the control-laden CommandArm armrest now featuring a second “convenience” display to adjust seat, audio and air conditioning settings.

© John Deere

Other additions include wireless phone charging, push-button start with pin code protection, and a soft-close electric door cinch.

And, on new 8RXs, there’s a claimed 15% more operator legroom and a 20% wider field of view compared with existing models.

As for vital stats, diesel tank capacities are 936 litres for 8Rs and 1,123 on 8RXs, rear lift is 10.8t and the hydraulics can be specced to provide up to 418 litres/min.