CLAAS XERION 12 lands in Australia

Following a summer 2023 release overseas, the CLAAS XERION 12 high horsepower tractors have finally touched down in Australia.

The CLAAS XERION 12 series is currently the flagship of the German brand’s tractor range, with output of up to 653 max hp. Its impressive tech, advanced features and innovative design has seen it sweep up numerous awards around the world, including Tractor of the Year 2024, Farm Machine Award 2024 in the high-horsepower tractor category, an AE50 award from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ASABE) and an iF design award.

The tractors were officially unveiled to local media outlets, dealers and customers last week at the Seaworks Maritime Precinct in Williamstown in Melbourne.

CLAAS’s Australian distributor, Landpower, said it has taken some time for the machines to arrive on our shores as the company needed to make sure the machines are suitable for the local market and conditions.

“We know that we are bringing in a superior product that is right for the farming conditions of our Australian customers because we have been running five evaluation units in Australia this seeding season, and they have completed over 2000 hours of work,” said Landpower chief executive, Richard Wilson.

Three models will be available in Australia, namely the 12.650, 12.590 and 12.540 offering 653hp, 585hp and 544hp respectively.

It continues the legacy of the XERION 5000 series which has been around for a number of years, but with the XERION 12, CLAAS has made the move into the bigger horsepower, draft tractor market as opposed to the multi-purpose tractor the XERION 5000 was known for, Landpower said.

The XERION 12 is powered by the same 15.6-litre six-cylinder Mercedes-Benz OM473 engine found in CLAAS’ combine and forage harvesters except the engine in the XERION 12 in Australia is low regulated, meaning it is Tier 3 engine emissions compliant and requires no AdBlue to run.

The XERION 12 features a ZF Eccom 5.5 transmission also available in the XERION 5000 series, and combined with its power output makes it the most powerful tractor on the market with a standard CVT transmission, Landpower said.

“With a maximum power output of 653 hp and 3100Nm of torque at just 1300 rpm, this is the most powerful four-wheel-drive tracked tractor on the market with a CVT transmission,” said Landpower Product Business Manager for Tractors Australia & New Zealand, Kevin Walker.

“Thanks to its balanced 50:50 weight distribution the XERION 12 Series tractors are built to exceed expectations and to stand up to any job you throw at it.  A specialist for heavy-duty pulling work in all speed ranges - whether in front of a cultivator, disc harrow, plough, airseeder or trailer."

“Despite its immense power and size, it is extremely nimble thanks to its precise twin-axle steering," Walker added.

Maximum hydraulic flow is a whopping 537l/min via three load-sensing pumps.

The XERION 12.650 and 12.590 can be specced with CLAAS’ new TERRA TRAC triangular crawler tracks with widths of 914 or 762mm or 800/70 R42 dual wheels. The smallest XERION 12.540 can be fitted with tracks, dual wheels or 900/60 R42 single tyres.

The XERION 12 has “inherited” its operator cabin from CLAAS’ LEXION combine harvesters, with a cab that’s one of the largest on the market with more than ample space for operators, Landpower added. Plenty of leg room aside, CLAAS has included plenty of features and fixtures for ultimate comfort, including a swiveling operator seat, two sets of foot pegs on the ground, a training/passenger seat and a fridge underneath the passenger seat for food and drinks storage.

Four-point cab suspension ensures ultimate driving comfort.

The operator station is chock-a-block with CLAAS’s most advanced tech, including the CEBIS terminal for control of the tractor’s key settings; a CEMIS 1200 screen for automatic steering, ISOBUS control and task management; and the CEMOS machine optimisation system.

The order book for the XERION 12 is now open, with production of the units expected to commence later this year and machines to start arriving in the country early to mid-2025.