With its future seemingly secured, the HTC-owned Zetor can get on with doing the job it does best – building economically priced tractors. The maker’s mid-line models are due for an upgrade, but results are not expected until early 2003. Meantime we get to drive the current 77kW/105hp 10641 tractor.
Style is probably not a word that most industry observers associate with Zetor. Yet the Czechs are now clearly making considerable efforts to address this ‘functionality over fashion’ reputation – both on the current 10641 driven here and the yet-to-arrive models (see inset pic). Climb into the cab, and the current tractor has little in common with Zetors of old. Trim is of a reasonable quality, the steering wheel boasts a wide range of position adjustment and the operator perches upon a mechanically suspended Kab seat. Nothing too wrong there, then.
The operator view is OK, too. Well, that certainly applies out to the side, where the full glass doors present uninterrupted sight lines. Down the nose isn’t so good, though, with the combination of a central exhaust and a square-profile bonnet doing their best to obstruct. Again, a quick glance at the inset picture reveals that Zetor will answer both of these visibility criticisms on the soon-toarrive generation, the currently boxy bonnet developing a curve and the previously central stack migrating off to one side.
For more up-to-date farming news click here and subscribe now to profi and save 47%.
