XERION continues to turn heads after 25 years

CLAAS is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its revolutionary XERION tractor with the production of a special edition sporting the colour scheme of the original XERION 2500. In addition, all machines manufactured this financial year will carry an anniversary sticker on the cab door.

CLAAS Harvest Centre General Manager – Product, Tim Needham, says XERION set new standards in versatility, efficiency, performance and comfort when it was launched in 1997. “The XERION is Helmut Claas’ vision of what a tractor should be and it spearheaded CLAAS’ entry into the mainstream tractor market six years later,” he says. “Launched after more than 20 years of development, it boasted four equal-sized wheels, permanent four-wheel drive, all-wheel steering, a continuously variable transmission and a rotating cabin.”

Since then, CLAAS has continued to refine the platform with the introduction of the 3000, 4000 and then the 5000 series, which was named Agritechnica Machine of the Year in 2009. The 1000th machine rolled off the assembly line the following year, with sales growing since. Sales have doubled in the past three years alone, with more than 400 units rolling off the assembly line at Harsewinkel each year.

Although best-known for its VC TRAC rotating cab configuration, XERION is also available in the SADDLE TRAC variant, whereby the cab is positioned above the engine. “This turns XERION into a self-propelled mower, sprayer, spreader or windrower – with the option of placing a tank or bin on the back,” Tim says. “More recently, the fixed cab TRAC configuration has found ready application broadacre markets, particularly in eastern Europe, North America and Australia. CLAAS Harvest Centre Esperance has delivered 10 machines in the past 12 months, with another 10 on order."

“Local testing has shown the new XERION 5000 is more than capable of towing a 24-metre airseeder at just 1100 rpm, even fitted with single wheels.” Whereas the original XERION 2500 was powered by a 250 hp Caterpillar six-cylinder engine, today’s top-of-the-line XERION 5000 with Stage 5 emissions control technology has a 12.8 litre six-cylinder Mercedes-Benz engine that delivers a 2600 Nm of torque at just 1300 rpm. This is teamed up with a ZF continuously variable transmission and selectable longitudinal and transverse differentials for optimal power transfer to the axles or PTO, even at low speeds or under heavy operating conditions.

The new model has a slightly longer wheelbase, a new frame design with a load capacity of 15 tonnes per axle, the choice of single or dual tyres up to 2.2 metre diameter and three metre wheel spacing. The modular ballast system allows up to 3.4 tonnes of ballast to be added to either axle in 400 kg increments. It can be fitted with optional front linkage, up to nine hydraulic circuits with a maximum flow rate of 422 L/min split over a twin-pump system.

On-board technology includes the CEBIS operating system, which features an integrated armrest, multi-function control lever and new 12” touchscreen, TELEMATICS remote monitoring and GPS Pilot automatic steering system.