Spanning the Puma, Magnum and Quadtrac and Steiger ranges, there’s a total of 19 new tractors in the new Case IH offering.

There are some pretty fundamental changes to each range, the most notable being the decision to use FPT (Fiat Powertrain Technologies) Cursor engines fitted with Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology on all models over 100hp. This, says the company, not only improves fuel efficiency by between 10% and 15% on the Puma and Magnum ranges, and 9% on the larger articulated models, but also increase peak power.

New engine technology for Case IH

With the deadline for emissions legislation looming (January 2011), Case’s announcement that it intends to go down the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) route to meet the new regulations is no surprise. Since 2006, Case’s sister company FPT has made 100,000 SCR engines for its truck business, however further development and testing has taken place at the FPT in Burr Ridge, Illinois for powerplants destined for the agricultural market. For lighter applications, tractors with less than 100hp will retain Exhuast Gas Recirculation (EGR) technology.

According to marketing manager Sylvain Blaise, despite the extra cost of using AdBlue, it’s possible for every euro spent on the fluid to save up to seven euros in fuel. But, while each of the new Efficient Power engines will result in the customer using less fuel, there will be a premium of between 7-10% on the purchase price of each of the new models.

Quadtrac pushes horsepower boundaries

Consisting of four models, the new Quadtrac line-up now ranges from 502hp to 670hp, meaning the range-topping Quadtrac 600 is the most powerful production tractor on the market, by quite a distance. It’s also the first articulated tractor to offer four-point cab suspension as an option.

The Quadtrac in action

Each is fitted with a 12.9-litre FPT powertrain with SCR, however 550 and 600 models get a two-stage turbo instead the standard wastegate arrangement on the 450 and 500 tractors, the secondary unit providing the boost for the Power Management feature. Drive is through a 16×2 powershift with powershuttle. Tests suggest that the new engines represent a 9% improvement in efficiency over their Stage 3a predecessors, says Case, in addition to running cooler in high horsepower applications.

In the cab, the Quadtrac gets a MultiControl armrest with new AFS Pro 700 screen. On this, it’s possible to configure the six run screens that can be configured as the operator wishes. The new range also gets higher capacity axles, with beefed up transmission to cope with the extra horsepower. Three-point linkage and pto is also available.

For those who opt for the Steiger, the non-tracked version, it’s possible to have RCI 49 tyres fitted, although these tractors will be a rarity in the UK. Although the Steiger is available as a 600 – it would need triples to transfer this power to the ground.

Built in Fargo, North Dakota, both Quadtrac and Steiger tractors are also the first tractors to get car-grade paint jobs.

Quadtrac line-up

VIDEO: Watch the launch

More grunt and enhanced cab for Magnums

First launched in 1987, the Magnum has been the workhorse of choice for large scale farmers and contractors. Now each of the five new models which range from the Magnum 235 with 274hp peak engine power to the Magnum 340 which peaks at 389hp, get an 8.7-litre FPT Cursor powertrain, the same used in the Axial Flow 7120 combine. Every model gets more horsepower, more power growth and 35hp Power Management (boost) in transport over 16th gear, hydraulic and pto modes.

The Magnum now boasts a biger box design-cooling arrangement.

To cope with the extra power, there’s a bigger box-design cooling arrangement and to improve efficiency further the new engines use an overhead camshaft with less moving parts, hence less friction. The bonnet is noticeably fatter; and the chassis, drive-line and rear axle has been altered to withstand the increased power.

The MultiControl Armrest with new AFS Pro 700 colour display is now standard in the new Magnums (and in the larger Quadtracs and Steigers), and whereas suspension came in the form of a semi-isolated seat before, the Magnum now gets mechanical two-spring and damper adjustable cab suspension as well as the existing front axle suspension.

Although the 19×4 50km/hr and 23×6 40km/hr with creeper transmissions remain broadly the same, things have been strengthened to withstand the extra torque and power. Other new features include increased lift capacity, a 274 litre/minute hydraulic pump and an optional pressure release brake which will make transport downhill safer and reduce wear and tear on both tractor and trailer brakes. Factory-fit front linkage and PTO, as well as six remote valves, are also available.

According to Uli Sommer of Case IH, by going down the SCR route, preliminary DLG results suggest that compared to the fluid costs of the previous Tier 3 engine in the Magnum, there’s a 15% reduction in fluid use, which includes diesel and AdBlue. Service intervals have been increased to 600 hours, due to the fact that SCR doesn’t polute the engine oil with soot as EGR did before, Mr Sommer adds.

It’s rumoured that a CVT Magnum will be on show at Agritechnica next year, with models available on farm from spring 2012.

2011 Magnum line-up

CVT available on all Pumas

Three, short wheelbase tractors have been added to the Puma range, taking Case’s total offering in this sector up to eight. The Puma 130 CVX, 145 CVX and 160CVX span the 131hp (171hp max power) to 160hp (203hp) bracket and, as the name suggests, are all available with CVT transmissions meaning Case now offers 131hp to 230hp with its own CVX gearbox. All eight models use a 6.75-litre FPT engine, and in recent DLG tests the top-of-the-range Puma CVX 230 showed an improvement of 10% in fuel use over the previous 225 model.

Short wheelbase 130, 145 and 160s have two mechanical forward and one reverse range versus four and two on the longer wheelbase machines, however Case maintains that the two mechanical ranges still give the smaller models a large amount of mechanical drive for field work.

Already available on the larger Puma tractors, the Multifunction armrest now has the option of being fitted with the new AFS Pro 700 screen, rather than the 300 on existing models, and it’s now possible to get AFS AccuGuide steering as a factory option. Case also announced that any tractor purchased over 165hp in the UK with AccuGuide would come with VRS RTK free of charge for the first year.

Until January 2012, UK dealers will continue to offer the semi-powershift Puma 125, 140 and 155 models alongside the new, CVX-equipped Puma 130, 145 and 160, as these smaller-hp tractors don’t fall under the emissions legislation until January 2012.

2011 Puma line-up