The second-generation McCormick X7 Series six-cylinder tractor range made its Scottish working debut with the most powerful model in the line-up at the recent Tillage-Live 2018 event, near Dunbar.

Representing an expanded five-model series, the McCormick X7.690 P6-Drive worked with a five-furrow (4+1) Maschio Unico M NSH auto-reset plough which was also making its Tillage-Live debut.

Borders dealer, AB Wight Engineering, St Boswells, staged the demonstration to give farmers and contractors a chance to see the combination in action, although Adrian Winnett, the new general manager at McCormick distributor, AgriArgo, emphasised the only place to appreciate the performance and driving ease of the McCormick X7 Series was from the driver’s seat.

Powered by a 6.7-litre BetaPower from FPT Industrial, this meets latest Stage IV/Tier 4 Final emissions rules using a more sophisticated SCR urea exhaust injection system and a diesel oxidising catalyst (DOC), but without a diesel particulates filter (DPF).

Power-wise, it hits 206hp for draft work with an engine management boost of up to 225hp for pto and transport applications. Unusually, this is also available for static pto applications such as a slurry pump or feed mixer).

The P6-Drive semi-powershift ZF transmission has more ratios than the model it replaces (30 x 15 or 54 x 27 with creep), more powershift steps (six instead of four) and improved auto-shifting patterns regulated by the McCormick control software and determined by engine load.

Other standard features include an engine exhaust brake to supplement the service brakes, resulting in reduced wear and lower running costs; new semi-active hydraulic cab suspension; and increased functionality for the 12-inch touch-screen Data Screen Manager display, which can also be used as an ISOBUS virtual terminal.

They can be ordered with factory-installed ‘GPS-ready’ infrastructure for easier installation of Topcon Agriculture precision farming systems.