Case IH’s tractor lineup has got a whole lot more crowded with the highly credentialed Optum range joining the local front row.
Announcing the new arrival at the brand’s national dealer conference today, Case IH vice president global tractor marketing, Christian Huber said the Optum CVT is expected to make Australian shores by August.
Case IH Australia predicts it will be a perfect fit in their high horsepower tractor offering.
The range is instantly recognisable with a dynamic, modern styling that is said to presage the look of Case IH tractors in the future.
The styling has also been noted by higher authorities, with the Optum 300 CVX winning the 2017 Tractor of the Year title (awarded at EIMA 2016) with judges acknowledging its efficiency, ergonomics, power, technology and sophisticated design and presentation.
Case IH product manager, Peter Elias said the Optum is in its own category combining the versatility and maneuverability of a Puma with the power offered by a Magnum.
He said feedback from owners of a variety of brands in the segment were fed into the specs for the local range.
“One key requirement Australian farming and contracting businesses focus on is the maneuverability and compact dimensions of highly versatile and powerful tractors - that is what our development engineers kept in mind.
“We are convinced that the Case IH Optum CVT will soon be appreciated as a truly versatile and reliable high performer,” Mr Elias said.
The range is built in St Valentin, Austria, and consists of two models fitted with 6.7 litre NEF engines from FPT Industrial, offering 200 or 220 kilowatt at 2100rpm and maximum power of 230 kilowatt at 1800rpm.
This engine meets Tier 4B exhaust emission standards using the patented Hi-eSCR system.
The CVT transmission is carried over from the LWB Puma range but reinforced to handle the extra power with a strengthened casting, new rear axle and double planetary final drives.
The CVT transmission has a usable speed range from 20 metres an hour to a top speed of 50 kilometres an hour, without needing to change any gears.
Like the rest of the CVT range, the transmission also has the active stop feature.
A design change where the engine sump serves as the backbone of the tractor, removing stress from the engine block, means the Optum CVT is capable of a maximum gross vehicle weight of 16000 kilograms.
“This increased weight helps ensure the additional power gets to the ground, but we’ve achieved this without compromising agility,” Mr Elias said.
Other notable features on the Optum CVT include reactive steering which assists driving at speed as the steering wheel returns to the straight ahead position.
There’s also ABS and automatic park lock, and a four-speed rear PTO, two-speed front PTO.
A closed centre load sensing hydraulic system offers 220 litres a minute flow with separate steering and transmission systems
Diesel fuel load is 630 litres and there is a 96 litre AdBlue tank.
The rear linkage offers 11,058kg maximum lifting power at ball ends while front linkage delivers 5821kg.
Implement control is via ISOBUS Class II/III and there is a headland management control (HMC II) and remote file transfer function.
Case IH said the Optum CVT will be available in limited supply during 2017.
The story Optum breaks cover in Australia first appeared on Farm Online.
