From now on, customers will be able to purchase Claas’ Arion 500 and 600 tractors with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) technology which the company successfully developed in-house.
According to Claas Tractors group product manager Dave Knowles, the new CMATIC transmission is a “game changer” for the manufacturer’s most popular tractor series.
Claas reportedly spent more than €40 million (approximately AUD 56 million) and 30,000 hours testing and developing the new transmission at its factory in Paderborn, Germany.
“This means CVTs are now available on 15 different models across three series spanning 145 to 410hp,” Knowles says.
“More importantly, it signals that Claas is developing its own capabilities in CVT design and manufacture.”
Until now, Claas has utilised third-party CVT units for its existing Axion 900 and 800 CMATIC models. However, the company elected to develop a bespoke transmission for the Arion 500/600 platform.
“Claas has shown remarkable commitment to this project,” Knowles says.
“I doubt any other manufacturer can boast this level of R&D into a single component.
“The end result is arguably the most efficient CVT transmission on the market.”
 |
According to Knowles, the new transmission is outstandingly efficient in delivering power to all four wheels and front and rear PTO at all engine speeds and in all directions.
“It automatically maintains constant power across a range of ground speeds from anywhere from 50m/h to 50km/h,”he says.
“Being able to transmit more of the engine’s power to the driveline means less power is lost and less fuel is consumed just driving itself.
The transmission offers three driving modes – automatic, drive stick or manual, all of which can be activated on the move.
The new CMATIC configuration is available across the entire Arion 600/500 series which includes four six-cylinder models (158 to 184 hp) and three four-cylinder models (145 to 165 hp).
“All told, Arion 600/500 offers a range of technology, comfort and user-friendliness normally only found in high-horsepower tractors,” Knowles says.