The Claas Arion 460 tractor was viewed in Ireland for the first time at the FTMTA Farm Machinery Show in February. Its most distinguishing feature is the award-winning panoramic glass roof, but there is a lot more to this tractor.

The Arion 460 is in the pocket rocket class and has 140hp available all the time. Not looking for a forward speed or PTO or another perimeter to get the power, this tractor delivers straight up.

So what has changed in the Arion series? Previously a three-model lineup, the 400 series now has six tractors ranging from 90hp to 140hp. A big change is that the range no longer uses John Deere power. This time CNH provides power with an FPT 4.5-litre, four-cylinder engine. The engine meets tier 4 final emission regulations so it is ahead of some of the competition out there. Ad blue is required on this engine as it is built by CNH. Claas has married the engine with its own engine management software, producing un-boosted power to a maximum of 140hp in the Arion 460 on test.

The Arion 400 series boasts the cast structural sump that Claas uses on its bigger tractors. The result is a tighter turning circle because there are no chassis rails, and loader brackets can be bolted directly to the engine framework. This also allows for the tractor to come with front linkage.

Drive to the axles is through the 16 forward/16 reverse speed quadrshift transmission. Alternatively, on CIS models there is an option for Quadractiv, in which gear and range changes are all made automatically.

The key feature of the new cab is its 2.41m² windscreen. The windscreen and polycarbonate roof are connected to each other without an upper crossbar. This gives the driver a complete view of the loader right to the top of the lifting range. Normal and low-profile roofs are also available for those who are not interested in paying the premium for the panoramic roof.

At the back end there is a choice of hydraulic outputs ranging from 60 litres/min open circuit for general yard work to the 110-litres/min load-sensing circuit, which can also have Power Beyond.

Buyers can choose a maximum of three PTO speeds which, like in bigger Claas models, are engaged by B-pillar buttons. There is also an auto PTO function, which turns it on and off according to the height of the link arms. Maximum rear lift is 4,500kg on the smallest two models, but it rises to 5,750kg from the Arion 430 up.

Driving and impressions

The cab is well equipped. The test model had the panoramic roof which, apart from the obvious views, also allowed a lot of light in to the cabin. The shutter mechanism folded down easily when the spring sunshine got too hard on the eyes.

The tractor seat and the multifunction control arm are integrated to move together over the bumps. The Carraro front suspension and Claas cab suspension greatly assist in comfort. The suspension gives a solid feeling on the road. Driving at full speed with the plough behind, the tractor remained very stable.

The seat offered great back support and the new dashboard arrangement allows the driver to select just about any position to suit their needs. The controls on the console to the right of the driver are very clear, and the hydraulic remote worked at the push of a finger. Under the passenger or instructor’s seat was a conveniently located cool box to keep the drinks cold.

Controls

The test tractor came with a multifunction driving control lever. This allowed the loader, transmission, rear linkage, engine speed and two spool valves to be controlled from the one lever.

While the loader is not in use, the joystick function is turned off and the loader remains in a fixed position. This makes it safe, as any accidental touches will not affect the position of the loader.

The other feature on setting the engine speed is really simple to use – simply move the electric throttle to the required engine rpm and keep your finger on the button on the multifunction control until you hear a beep.

This is not standard on the Arion 460, but after operating the tractor with it, driving one at a lower spec might be hard to adjust to.

The options on the tractor’s display screen are easy to navigate through the thumbwheel located under the steering. Area meters, fuel consumption, remote spool settings, and the sharpness of the forward reverse gears can all be set from this menu, among other features. What is missing from the menu is a lift height position, which is useful for draft work.

The electronic control of the PTO speeds is a nice touch on the pillar of the sixpost cab. The tractor on test had three PTO speeds with the option of 1000 eco in the next range of tractors. These controls are at a nice eye level to the right of the driver on the cab. The six-post cab design has benefits – it is nice to open the side windows for some fresh air.

The field performance

Field performance is where the tractor really shone. The engine tugged calmly at 1,600rpm giving a forward speed of about 9.6 km/hr. The torque was good, as downshifting rarely occurred. Smooth operation of the gearbox is easy once you get used to the multifunction arm. The range is changed by pushing the toggle forward completely, and the gear is changed by pushing the toggle forward once.

We did a farmer’s version of a fuel test which revealed the tractor burned 15.4 litres of fuel ploughing for one hour. This means the tractor fuel tank has the capacity to work a 12-hour day continuously ploughing. Would I put a five-sod reversible on? I would not be worried if I had to for a while.

Loader work

The open hydraulic circuit giving 98 litres/minute was very fast for loader work. The task we had was filling fertilizer into the spreader – absolutely no problem with two half-tonne bags.

The panoramic cab worked a treat – sitting in the seat with multifunction control arm working the loader, the work demands on the driver are greatly reduced.

The FL100 mx loader in Claas colours was a good size for the tractor.

The tractor left a good impression – it is well thought out and boasts simple touches to make the operator’s life easy, good power and cab comfort. These qualities are reflected in the price; this is a premium tractor and comes in listed at €87,000 + VAT.