The mechanical transmission in the New Holland T6 and equivalent Case IH models can sometimes leave you wanting in the ratio department, or at least that’s what we found during our Maxxum 130 test in the 01/2014 issue. To provide more choice and performance flexibility CNH has added its own CVT to these middleweight tractors, including to the T6.160 Auto Command featured here.
To stand out from the New Holland tractor crowd, our test T6.160 Auto Command came with the Blue Powrr package, a £2,297 optional extra that extends to Maserati blue paint alongside silver rims and grille to create a Basildon beauty. No question, it looks the part.
Digging through the spec sheets to see what we are dealing with, the stats for the four pot T6.160 point to a rated output of 96kW/131hp (to ECE R120, excluding the fan), and this figure boosts by nearly 14kW/20hp during demanding pto or hydraulic work once travelling over 0.5km/hr or when using the
higher speed range on the road. Unboosted, the T6 engine tops out at 105kW/140hp and, when boosted, at 120kW/163hp.
This all sounds very promising, but we were keen to see how much of this power actually arrives at the tail end, so we handed over our test steed to the boffins at the DLG. With the boost function deactivated (for test purposes and carried out by the manufacturer), the DLG staff measured 76kW/102hp at rated speed and 88kW/120hp at max speed with the engine revving at 1,800rpm. Then you need to add to this the boost function during pto work, which reached 14kW/20hp at max engine speed. As a result, our test T6 was able to deliver up to 101kW/138hp to the pto. An acceptable figure, though still a
fair shout from the 160 badge on the bonnet. If nothing else it underlines how important it is for buyers to understand what all the different hp ratings actually mean — see profi 04/2011.
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