John Deere has developed an 18-litre engine that develops a maximum power output of over 870hp (670kW).

Developed by John Deere Power Systems, the new block is equipped with in-house-developed engine controls, a high-pressure common-rail fuel system and series turbochargers and utilises cooled EGR. A rear gear train is said to reduce noise as well as torsional and crank stress.

To be built at the company’s engine works plant in Waterloo, Iowa, production is planned to begin in 2022. We have no details on if/when the new block will eventually find its way into an agricultural machine.

The largest in-house made engine currently used on a John Deere agricultural machine is the 13.5-litre 616hp (460kW) PowerTech PSS in the 9600 self-propelled forager, 9520R tractor (520hp/382kW) and S790 combine (543hp/405kW).

The engine in the larger 9R/RT/RX Series tractors is a 15-litre Cummins QSK and the 24-litre block in the more powerful 9000 Series forager models (9700/759hp, 9800/858hp and 9900/956hp) comes from Liebherr.