New Case IH Steiger® CVXDrive™ series tractors set new frontier for power, performance and productivity

Aug. 9, 2017 09:53 AM

First-ever continuously variable transmission for an articulated 4WD tractor at 605 peak horsepower makes it easier to work year-round

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The new Steiger® CVXDrive™ series tractor is available in 17 different configurations in Quadtrac™, Rowtrac™, wheeled and scraper options to meet individual operation needs.

New for the 2018 lineup, the CVXDrive continuously variable transmission (CVT) from Case IH marks the latest advancement in a 60-year track record of innovations for Steiger tractors. The strongest CVT on the market is available in tractors from 370 to 540 horsepower — with up to 605 peak horsepower. And CVXDrive offers an all-new range of productivity enhancements with its smooth, seamless power transfer, continuously variable speed and easy shuttle operation, plus reduced fuel consumption in applications that require frequent use of roading and variable power demands.

“The Steiger is the first continuously variable transmission to be offered in a 4WD articulated tractor and delivers the highest horsepower available on the market,” said Mitch Kaiser, Case IH Steiger Tractor Marketing Manager. “This powerful package gives operators even greater control and productivity year-round over a traditional powershift tractor — from row crop applications such as planting and nutrient management to specialty work from silage packing to laying drain tile and land reclamation. It’s one more tool producers have to optimize their operation.”

Available in 17 different configurations in Quadtrac™, Rowtrac™, wheeled and scraper options, producers now have a choice between the time-tested and efficient PowerDrive powershift transmission and the intelligent CVXDrive. The Steiger CVXDrive delivers seamless performance without breaking traction to the ground for applications including slurry hauling, tile plowing and scraper work. Operating the CVXDrive is as simple as setting it and forgetting it — easy-to-use controls let the operator dial in the desired speed and power transfer from 3 feet per minute to 25 mph.

“Steiger CVXDrive is another example of the Case IH Customer Driven Product Development process,” Kaiser said. “Over a period of four years, we tested the tractor with more than 100 producers and contractors across the country to get their feedback.”

Putting the performance to work is easy for any range of operators, from novice to experienced. The CVXDrive is operated with the same intuitive easy-to-use controls found in Case IH Magnum™, Optum®, Puma® and Maxxum® series tractors with continuously variable transmissions. The integrated split-throttle on the MultiControl Armrest lets operators focus on the application at hand, and it assures farm managers the tractor is running as efficiently as possible in every situation. Once the operator sets the desired speed, CVXDrive automatically selects the most efficient transmission range.

The benefits translate to a range of traditional applications and extend beyond farming. The CVXDrive transmission produces greater precision and control over inputs, from planting to seeding to fertilizing to spraying. And the low-speed power generates increased performance and faster cycle times with reduced slippage for tile plow and scraper applications, as well as heavy-duty tillage. For uses beyond farming, like loose material handling, faster shuttle speed operation provides seamless forward and reverse movement to increase productivity and efficiency.

This perfect balance of power comes from the following CVXDrive features:

  • Exclusive split-throttle controls on the MultiControl Armrest: allows the engine to optimize the fuel efficiency and response to the horsepower required to provide a relaxed operator experience.
  • Uninterrupted power to the ground: operator is free to focus on the application at hand, improving performance.
  • Exclusive three preset speed controls: switch seamlessly between three preset speeds with the click of a button — and program one of three presets to match the needs of the application at hand; simplify grain cart operations, scraper applications and hauling heavy loads.
  • Accelerator pedal: able to control your speed more effectively, like in a pickup truck, when hooking up implements, packing/pushing loose material, loading and more.
  • Active stop: holds the tractor stationary on any grade or slope when transporting or hauling.

“Sometimes, if you don’t know what you’re missing, you just don’t know. And that would be my case,” said Brad Wade, Producer, from McLean, Illinois. “I’d never driven a CVT before, and within about 10 minutes of running the CVXDrive on the Steiger, it became apparent that this will be a game changer for my auger wagon and planter. It just really will make an operation a lot more efficient and be easier on the operator, as well.”

The low-speed power of the CVXDrive™ generates increased performance and faster cycle times with reduced slippage for tile plow and scraper applications, as well as heavy-duty tillage.

A series of design features deliver improved performance. The CVXDrive transmission was engineered specifically to fit into the rugged, heavy-duty Steiger frame and uses a simple compound planetary system featuring one input and two outputs. Four-range technology that effectively transfer power more efficiently throughout the tractor to the drawbar. And the CVXDrive is powered in Steiger tractors by electronically controlled Case IH engines from FPT Industrial. To reach 605 peak horsepower, the Steiger 540 CVXDrive is powered by a two-stage turbocharger engine. The whole system meets Tier 4 B/Final requirements with patented SCR-only emissions technology proven to deliver more power with less fuel for lower overall total cost of operation compared with competitive tractor offerings.

The CVXDrive transmission is a major innovation and one of many enhancements to the Steiger tractor lineup. Other improvements include:

  • The time-tested PowerDrive powershift transmission, which broke performance records in tests at the Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory. The Steiger 620 wheeled tractor set records for drawbar fuel efficiency, drawbar horsepower and maximum pull.¹
  • AFS AccuTurn technology — it takes the guesswork out of turning on headlands and helps you do a better job of tilling, fertilizing or planting while keeping you fresher through those long days in the field.
  • The new pre-compression hydraulic pump, extra insulation throughout cab and brake pedal, and improved door seals, which make for a quieter, more comfortable ride.
  • Brighter LED marker lights, which increase tractor visibility on the highway or side roads at dusk and night.
  • And several other additions, including improved heavier 5.5-inch axle design, even more user-friendly HVAC controls, strengthened dual wheel hubs and more.

For more information, visit your local Case IH dealer or caseih.com.

¹Steiger 620 Tier 4B (Nebraska Test 2164, September/October 2016): maximum drawbar fuel efficiency at 17.63 hp-hr./gal. and 75% of pull maximum power at 16.61 hp-hr./gal.; compared with John Deere 9620R Tier 4B (Nebraska Test 2135, November 2015): maximum drawbar fuel efficiency at 16.07 hp-hr./gal. and 75% of pull maximum power at 15.86 hp-hr./gal. Steiger 620 Tier 4B (Nebraska Test 2164, September/October 2016): drawbar horsepower at 594.08 hp; compared with John Deere 9620R Tier 4B (Nebraska Test 2135, November 2015): drawbar horsepower at 556.83 hp. Steiger 620 Tier 4B (Nebraska Test 2164, September/October 2016): maximum pull at 65,077 lb.; compared with John Deere 9620R Tier 4B (Nebraska Test 2135, November 2015): maximum pull at 60,455 lb.

Case IH is a global leader in agricultural equipment, committed to collaborating with its customers to develop the most powerful, productive, reliable equipment — designed to meet today’s agricultural challenges. With headquarters in the United States, Case IH has a network of dealers and distributors that operates in over 160 countries. Case IH provides agricultural equipment systems, flexible financial service offerings and parts and service support for professional farmers and commercial operators through a dedicated network of professional dealers and distributors. Productivity-enhancing products include tractors; combines and harvesters; hay and forage equipment; tillage tools; planting and seeding systems; sprayers and applicators; site-specific farming tools; and utility vehicles. Case IH is a brand of CNH Industrial N.V. (NYSE: CNHI / MI: CNHI).
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