New Holland’s policy of using a tractor’s maximum boosted output as part of its model numbering can be slightly confusing — although, to be fair, New Holland isn’t the only one. This month’s test candidate, the T7.270 Auto Command, has a rated output of 168kW/228hp/225PS at 2,200rpm.

Looking to really stand out from the crowd? A number of manufacturers are now offering a pimped version of their standard tractor, and this month’s test candidate is a prime example. New Holland’s T7.270 Auto Command, complete with Blue Edition package, gains Maserati blue metallic paint (£2,389) and a leather-clad seat (£737), along with a silver-coloured finish for both the bonnet mesh and exhaust shield. The overall effect: Smart and stylish rather than overtly flash.

Power comes from the six-cylinder, 6.7-litre Fiat Powertrain Technologies motor, which is kitted out with SCR and DOC to meet Stage IIIB (Tier 4i) emission regs. Brochure stats show the T7.270 is rated at 168kW/228hp/225PS (ECE R120). Hitched to the DLG dyno, our test tractor’s engine was able to deliver
146kW/199hp/196PS to the pto at rated speed, while extra power and a boost function — boost kicks in when speed exceeds 0.5km/hr during pto work or when on the road above 15km/hr — nudged output up to
180kW/245hp/242PS. Given usual losses, this should put engine performance somewhere close to the 270hp figure claimed on the bonnet.

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