The Optum family is expanding with three additional models, the 360, 390 and 440, that apart from the cab are completely new. Having recognised that the Magnum has not been hitting the spot for European farmers and contractors wanting a more road friendly, versatile workhorse Case IH has literally gone back to the drawing board.
Although they have a longer wheelbase than the Magnum, the newcomer is shorter overall by 100cm and when ready for work it weighs 12,500kg. But it is just not these dimensions which make it better suited for a far wider range of jobs. The engineering team who started work on this project in 2021 wanted a tractor that was lighter, more compact, faster and more suited to working with front mounted kit.
Starting from the front it has achieved this with the likes of the new independent front suspension. This is a CNH axle which offers anti-roll, pitch and dive along with 250mm of travel. It is basically the brakes from a Maxxum’s back axle but on the Optum’s front axle. But that is not the only bit of stopping power, not happy with the traditional exhaust brake which equates to about 28% braking effect, they have installed a decompression system on the FPT Cursor 9 engine so that the valves open rather than allowing the exhaust gas pressure to push the piston down which results in 166% braking.
Rather than using a chassis, the sump of the 8.7-litre, six-cylinder engine forms the structural component. This not only saves weight but also helps these bigger Optums turn in a 14.5m circle. Both SCR and a DOC are used for Stage 5 emissions. Service intervals are 750 hours which ties in with the 1,500 hours for the transmission and hydraulics.
The transmission is a larger version of the 4×2 CVXDrive box found in the existing Optum 270, 300, 340. One very distinct difference though is that is capable of hitting 60km/hr at 1,900rpm, it can actually work its way to 66km/hr with engine running at 2,050rpm.
These bigger Optums also get bigger tyres with the model we looked at sporting VF650/60 R34 on the front and 750/70 R44 on the back. But it is not just about bigger rubber, CNH has also developed its own central tyre pressure system – a gear driven compressor capable of inflating by 1bar in five minutes using the gear driven compressor. The system is controlled through the screen with two field and one road pressure settings. Working weight of an Optum 440 is in the region of 12,450kg with a max permissible weight of 19t where markets allow.
Rear pto speeds are 540E/1000 or 1000/1000E and the front pto is also a two-speed unit (1000/1000E).
Hydraulic wise, the standard 220l/min pump can be teamed up with a 140l/min for a total output of 360l/min. This high output is needed when operating larger seed drills in North and South America showing that Case IH sees this as a global tractor not just one for Europe. With the double pump arrangement, one supplies oil to the couplers on the left, the other for the right, and because there are two pumps one can be high pressure, the other low pressure.
Productions should start mid-2026 and price wise it is expected to be close to a comparable power Magnum which will continue to be offered alongside, especially in the UK where it has a following with those wanting a more field dedicated tractor.
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