Italy is known for being one of the most important countries in the production of agricultural tractors. It is home to over 50 percent of the industry’s brands, a percentage that further increases when homologated telescopic handlers are included. The machines manufactured in the Belpaese are also renowned for their mechanical reliability and overall build quality, attributes that contribute to approximately 70 percent of the production being sold abroad, with Europe absorbing around 56 percent of the exports and the Americas about 19 percent.
High-End McCormick Tractors: not a Country for Over 200 Horsepower
Comparing these figures with those of tractor registrations in Italy, and assuming that these correspond to sales, it can be estimated that more than 60,000 tractors are built in the country each year. However, these are predominantly tractors with power ratings well below 200 horsepower, as even the most well-known Italian brands manufacture their high-end machines abroad. The sole exception in this regard is represented by McCormick tractors, which are American by brand but actually produced in Emilia by the Argo Tractors group, the same company that produces Landini tractors.
Consequently, the high-end McCormick models, “X7.6” and “X8”, are not only the flagship machines of the Argo Tractors Group but also the most powerful tractors made in Italy. Notably, the two models “X8.627 Vt-Drive” and “X8.631 Vt-Drive” are credited with 273 and 313 horsepower respectively, generated by Fpt Industrial “Nef 67” series engines, the same units that in recreational boating deliver up to 570 horsepower at 3000 RPM. This means that the engines installed in the “X8.631” operate at 55 percent of their potential output and 60 percent in terms of RPM, data that numerically confirms the mechanical reliability that the market has always recognized in Fabbrico tractors.
High-End McCormick Tractors: Maximum Torque at 1400 RPM
The engines are, of course, Stage V compliant through the Fpt Industrial “Hi-eScr2” system, which operates without EGR on the intake, a function instead served by a variable geometry turbocharger closely linked to a flat and linear power curve that offers nearly 900 newton-meters at just 1000 RPM, about 70 percent of the maximum available torque of 1282 newton-meters at 1400 RPM. There is no doubt about the operational capabilities of the “X8 Vt-Drive” when tackling heavy and continuous soil work, advanced activities that also benefit from the sector’s lowest consumption thanks to the combination of the engine with a continuously variable transmission controlled electronically.
The group, derived from ZF but customized by Emilia’s technicians, optimizes the balance between expected performance and consumption in real-time based on four different operating modes, called “Auto Mode”, “Manual Mode”, “Pto Mode”, and “Cruise Mode”. As the names suggest, the transmission control logics adapt the functional responses of the powertrain to the current tasks, consequently relieving the operator from the need to make continuous adjustments aimed at optimizing speed and load. This is automatically managed by the onboard electronics, which also integrates “Best in Class” engine functions, extending service intervals from 500 to 1000 hours, and “Engine Brake”, enhancing engine braking action when the tractor is decelerating on roads or downhill terrain.
Thanks to these features and the digital solutions developed by Argo Tractors – such as assisted driving “Precision Steering Management”, the farm management software “McCormick Fleet Management”, and the remote connection system “McCormick Fleet Management” – Fabbrico’s high-end tractors are capable of operating with maximum autonomy, also facilitated by their readiness to communicate directly via ISOBUS with front-mounted and rear-mounted or towed equipment. A standard lift capable of 5000 kg handles the former and activates them through a specific PTO, while a three-point hitch capable of 12000 kg manages the latter. Both groups can be controlled electronically and paired with modulated electrohydraulic PTOs that give way to hydraulic systems capable of delivering up to 212 liters of oil per minute, fully usable for tasks requiring hydraulic-powered equipment.
Maximum Performance and Reliability
Weighing 11 tons and capable of traveling on roads at up to 50 km/h, the “X8 Vt-Drive” tractors can fully meet the performance, content, and reliability expectations of large farms and contractors. However, they are not the only high-end tractors offered by McCormick. They are joined by the long-wheelbase versions of the “X7.6 Vt-Drive” series tractors, three models designated “X7.621 Vt-Drive”, “X7.627 Vt-Drive”, and “X7.631 Vt-Drive”, which in terms of powertrain and digital content are very similar to the “X8 Vt-Drive” despite having reduced power, dimensions, and weights.
These three models are rated at 210, 225, and 240 horsepower respectively when the “Epm” (Engine Power Management) system is activated, which adjusts the power output when the machine is working with hydraulics and the PTO or facing high traction efforts. Like the “X8 Vt-Drive”, they feature engines and transmissions paired with a cast iron frame that absorbs all the stresses normally borne by the chassis, simultaneously isolating and protecting the engine from these stresses. The “X7.6 Vt-Drive” tractors can also compete with their higher-class cousins in terms of hydraulics if equipped with the higher capacity systems available as options, and they are not inferior in terms of digital and IT systems, supporting all the most advanced solutions developed by Argo Tractors. Similarly to the “X8 Vt-Drive”, the front axle suspension is available as an option, but their braking systems differ, with the former featuring a traditional setup where four-wheel drive engages automatically when braking, while the latter have oil-immersed disc brakes on each axle.
Stunning Cabins
All high-end McCormick tractors are now equipped with “Clever Cab” series cabins, designed by the Argo Tractors Style Center and built at the dedicated facility for all McCormick and Landini tractor cabins. These cabins boast an internal volume of approximately 2.5 cubic meters, ceiling heights that are eight centimeters higher than the category standards, and four-pillar structures that facilitate access and minimize blind spots along the horizon, allowing for a clear and immediate view in all directions. Standard features include transparent roof hatches, wipers operating over a 210-degree arc, windows that open to 75 degrees, and mounts for optional rear cameras connected to the “Dsm” (Data Screen Manager) display, which is also standard. “Dsm” is a human-machine interface that allows the tractor to communicate via ISOBUS with the equipment in use, interface with the optional TopCon terminal serving as an assisted steering system, and support all McCormick digital solutions, including the “McCormick Farm” app for smart management of the entire farm.
Air-conditioned through an automatic programmable system and sealed by special automotive-derived athermal glass developed by Saint Gobain, with a laminated front for superior robustness, the cabins house operators on pneumatically suspended seats, which are themselves raised and isolated from the chassis by automatically operating electrohydraulic units. Thanks to this solution and the soundproofing provided by Argo Tractors technicians, “Clever Cab” cabins boast internal noise levels limited to just 68 decibels and are also class two certified against dust and gas infiltration. Other notable features include interior linings made from the same plastics used in the automotive field, the ability to electrically adjust the console position, and the standard “EasyPilot” joystick that allows the main on-board functions to be controlled with one hand. Additionally, the external rearview mirrors are telescopic, defrostable, and electrically controlled, while ample LED light arrays facilitate night work, providing up to 20 high-contrast light groups similar to natural light.
Also Available with Powershift
The McCormick “X7.6” series tractors are also available with robotized powershift transmissions. These are based on six gears operating in powershift paired with five robotized ranges, a system that, when combined with a super-reducer, provides 54 speeds, 15 of which are also usable in reverse thanks to the presence of an electrohydraulic reverser operating under load and modifiable in responsiveness. The transmission can operate automatically on the road, but if manual operation is preferred, it can be done without using the clutch pedal. The electronic control system also offers the “Speed Matching”, “Smart APS Auto Powershift”, and “Stop&Action” functions, which together make the system’s use similar to that of a continuously variable transmission, and it includes an “Eco” mode for those who want to use the tractor with minimal fuel consumption.
Title: High-End McCormick Tractors “X7.6” and “X8 Vt-Drive”
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