When the Xerion was launched on the market 25 years ago, Claas set new standards in terms of multifunctionality and versatility in high-horsepower tractors. To celebrate this anniversary, together with its sales partners and customers, Claas has introduced a limited special edition of this remarkable tractor.
With the addition of the Xerion 2500 to its product range in 1997, Claas introduced not only a versatile high-horsepower tractor, but also its first tractor since the “Huckepack” implement carrier. After more than 20 years of development, the first production-ready Xerion, which was powered by a 250hp Caterpillar six-cylinder engine and used the HM08 continuously variable transmission developed by Claas, established a new product segment. Thanks to its four attachment and body areas, the enormous payload, the rotating cab and the two steering axles with equal sized drive wheels, as well as the continuously variable transmission and permanent all-wheel drive, the Xerion was a unique tractor from then on. Whether it was used as a manoeuvrable self-propelled liquid manure applicator with crab steering that protects the soil, as a compact self-propelled beet harvester, as a self-propelled large-area mower with a triple mower combination in reverse travel or as a powerful sowing combination with a mounted seed hopper – the Xerion opened up new fields of application.
Versatile, efficient and powerful
With the arrival in 2004 of the Xerion 3300, this saw the switch to a ZF continuously variable transmission. From then on, the Xerion was also synonymous with high tractive power – exactly at the right time for the heavy-duty intensive cultivators and short disc harrows with large working widths that were emerging at the time. Thanks to more engine power – in particular due to the Xerion 3800 with 379 hp which followed in 2007 – and a ball mount behind the cab, work with large-volume liquid manure tankers was now also possible. At the same time, the “Saddle Trac” variant with the cab positioned above the engine was added to the model range.
In 2009, the higher powered Xerion 4500 and Xerion 5000, available in both TRAC and TRAC VC rotating cab versions, were introduced at the Agritechnica in order to meet the increased demands on engine performance and traction. The two flagships with “power intelligence” are used almost exclusively for heavy and very heavy draft work, but also in front of wood chippers, snow blowers and diggers.
In 2013 a further generation change took place and the move to Daimler Benz/MTU engines for the HRC markets. The model range includes the Xerion 4000, the Xerion 4500 and the Xerion 5000. The following year, the high-horsepower Xerion was launched in North America for the first time and in 2017 set records in the Nebraska Test for the 450 to 500 hp class in terms of efficiency, low engine speed, tractive power and cab noise.
In 2019, as part of the transition to the Stage V emissions standard, the new Xerion 4200, 4500 and 5000 was launched in the HRC markets. The two most powerful Xerion models were also available as TRAC TS versions with four triangular crawler tracks.
In 2020, the Nordschleife premiere of the Xerion caused an international sensation: On August 24, racing driver Christian Menzel completed the legendary, 20.6 km long course at the Nürburgring in 25 minutes and 50 seconds – driving in reverse with the cab turned around. With almost 1 million views to date, the associated video has become an absolute click hit on the ‘Auto, Motor und Sport’ YouTube channel.
Limited anniversary edition
Today, up to 400 Xerion roll off the assembly line every year and sales figures have doubled in the last three years – in order to perform in the most diverse areas of application. They work for farmers and contractors in the heart of Europe, in the endless black earth regions of Kazakhstan, in the prairies of North America, on gigantic farms in Australia, thriving farms in Asia and even in South America and South Africa.
To mark the anniversary, Claas is producing a strictly limited special edition with a retro look for the core markets of the Xerion, based on the color scheme of the first Xerion 2500 from 1997. The limited edition will be on display at trade fairs and will be exclusively available to loyal Xerion customers. In addition, all Xerion built between July 2022 and July 2023 will carry an anniversary sticker on the cab door.
