New Holland launched the CX combine harvesters 25 years ago, and it has continually developed. The latest generation is the CX series which was unveiled at Agritechnica 2025. Prior to the show we had the opportunity to get on board of the new cab.
KEEPING IT BRIEF
- Updated CX combines will be in the field this season.
- Telemetry package can provide owners with application maps based on yield data.
- The UltraFlow drum ensures smooth running and improved fuel economy.
New Holland has redesigned its CX range of combines, including the VariFeed headers that go with them. We were able to use a pre-series tracked CX8.90 last harvest to combine some oilseed rape and find out what has changed.
Five models with walkers
The CX series comprises five models, ranging from the CX7.80 with 340hp to the CX8.90 with 460hp. The 7 series are still five walkers while the 8s have six. Grain tank volumes ranges from 9,000- to 12,500-litres. Otherwise all five models are more or less identical.
Engine and transmission
Featured here is a CX8.90 with a six-cylinder FPT Cursor 9 engine with 338kW/460hp. The diesel tank holds 1,000-litres plus there is 120-litres of DEF. Thanks to the ‘on filter’ system, the exhaust emissions meet Stage V without requiring high temperatures during DPF regeneration.
The four-speed transmission is operated electrically. The CX can reach up to 40km/hr if the road rules allow. It comes with a diff lock as standard, and four-wheel drive is about £21,260 extra. On 710/70 R42 tyres the total width is 3.44m but as you will see our machine had the hydraulically suspended, 610mm wide tracks (which are now heavy-duty as standard). With these the CX8.90 sits 3.49m wide
Feeder house and threshing system
The lift cylinder diameters increased from 80mm to 85mm. New Holland says, the beefier rams offer better control of the header.
With a threshing drum diameter of 750mm and a 111° concave wrap, the concave has a surface area of 1.18m². The UltraFlow threshing drum was installed to ensure a consistent crop flow. The rasp bars on the drum are segmented and staggered – its massive weight is reckoned to ensure smooth running.
When harvest conditions get tricky, New Holland uses its MultiTresh for separation. This rotary separator drum measures 720mm diameter and is wrapped by a 0.93m² concave.
Walkers and cleaning system
The six straw walkers offer a total surface area of 6.5m². Their speed is automatically adjusted to the combine’s current longitudinal inclination by the OptiSpeed system.
With two ventilated drop steps in the cleaning shoe, the cleaning pan has a cleaning area of 6.5m². You also get the OptiClean system, which gives full level adjustment of up to 17%. OptiClean controls the entire screen pan; and the pre-sieve can also be adjusted electrically.
Grain tank and straw management
The grain tank has a capacity of 12,500-litres, and unloads at 126 litres per second according to the spec sheet. The up to 6.80m unloading auger offers a 4.66m overhead- height and there is a pivoting spout option too.
Further down, the straw chopper with its 88 blades arranged in six rows. The counter blade has stepless adjustment. The straw deflectors are electrically adjustable and can spread material up to 9.15m. The cover for the chaff spreader is now made of steel instead of plastic, another change to improve component service life.
Cab and controls
In the new cab, there has been greater focus on operator comfort. All of the main functions are controlled from the screen or simple switches in the armrest. The control layout is intuitive.
The new IntelliView 12 displays show the various parameters, and the function keys can be freely assigned. The second screen, which is standard in the UK and ROI can then be used to operate the steering system, for example. The new terminals have improved resolution and a new menu navigation including configurable screen layouts.
The joystick sits nicely in your palm allowing easy control of all the main functions without moving your hand. You accelerate the machine by pulsing the joystick control. The intelligent cruise control regulates the ground speed depending on the engine load and acceptable losses.
The new optional comfort seat is from Sears and has both ventilation and heating functions. It can also be swivelled up to 10°. Other creature comforts include a refrigerated cool box, comprehensive LED lighting package and ample storage space.
Precision Farming
There is a new telemetry package. Yield and moisture measurements are used to create yield maps, which customers can use as application maps. The telemetry subscription is free of charge. In addition, remote access to the monitor is also possible.
The IntelliSteer Cygnus receiver is also said to significantly improve tracking accuracy. When using a maize header, the row sensors work together with the GPS, with sensor data being used as a priority. If the sensor fails to detect a row, the system switches automatically to GPS. Another new feature is the optional IntelliTurn for automatic headland turns.
IntelliField also shares data with other machines in the field, for example job data including the waylines. The operator manual can be saved on the monitor in PDF format or retrieved from the telemetry portal. Error codes and settings can be saved sand shared using the screenshot function.
Field work
We used the new CX in rapeseed – field conditions were fine and the ripe crop was yielding an average of 5.3t/ha, moisture content was 7.6%. We recorded a grain throughput of 18.5t/hr or 3.5ha/hr with fuel consumption 8.7l/ha and losses as low as 0.5-0.7%. Impressive stats from the walker combine.
According to the combine’s owner, harvesting performance is 15% higher than its predecessor thanks to the UltraFlow drum, while fuel consumption has fallen by almost 10%. The smooth running of the drum without any noise is also worth noting. The same applies to the new header (see box ‘The new Varifeed header’).
Summary
The most important innovations on the CX are the screens in the cab and the smart yield recording features. The updated range is now in price lists for this season, the CX8.90 in UK specification for £522,000
Sebastian Rüther
THE NEW VARIFEED HEADER
New Holland has also redesigned the VariFeed headers. The variable knife headers are available in working widths from 4.88m to 12.5m. The CX we were using was carrying a VariFeed 7628VF (8.50m or 28 foot in old money).
New drive
The belt-drive for the cutterbar has been replaced with a driveshaft that can extend/retract, matching the movement of the knife. This change is said to ensure smoother running and lower maintenance costs. But a more obvious advantage is the faster cutting frequency, which has increased from 1,300 to 1,470 strokes per minute, allowing you to drive faster.
Conversion to rapeseed
The designers have made changing over to rapeseed a swift and easy operation. The hydraulic motors for driving the two side knives are permanently attached to the header and a dog clutch makes the connection between the motor and the knife.
Weighing less than 20kg, the knives are significantly lighter than the previous model and therefore they are locked in place by a quick-release mechanism. There are practical holders for rape knives, dividers and crop lifters on the back of the header where you will also find the toolbox.
To optimise crop flow, the height of the auger can now be adjusted in a few simple steps. Undo four bolts on each side and adjust the height to where you want it using an eccentric screw. The strippers on the feed auger can be easily adjusted from the rear.
Ground sensors
New Holland has replaced the sensor plates with compact sensor arms. These are now mounted at the front of the variable table and move in and out with the table. This means that the current cutting height is measured in a forward position from cutterbar. On the 10.70m and 12m wide models, the optional gauge wheels can now be folded in hydraulically.
Comfort
The header is designed so that the operator can do all the coupling jobs from the left side and doesn’t have to walk around the machine, saving time and effort. By comparison, on the previous models they had to fold the sensor plates and couple the drive shafts on both sides.
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