By Fredalette Uys
Claas’s eight-wheel monster, the Xerion 12.650, stole the spotlight during Kempston Agri’s launch event at the Fairview racecourse in Gqeberha, where the company unveiled its new Claas and Deutz Fahr product range for 2025. The Xerion tractor showcased at the exhibition is the first version of its kind in Africa.
“This is a very special machine for us. We regularly introduce new products in South Africa, but this tractor is spectacular,” says Hendrik Leege, Claas’s South African manager. He believes the tractor has the potential to transform farming in South Africa.
“You find many tractors with wheels of similar size, and we had a previous version of the Xerion tractor, but the new Xerion 12.650 features streamlined components, including its engine, hydraulics, transmission, and axles while maintaining excellent performance.”
It is currently the only four-wheel-drive tractor of its size in South Africa without an articulated axle, which can sometimes present a drawback. The Xerion is also the only 480 kW tractor in the country equipped with a CMatic gearbox that provides continuously variable transmission instead of a PowerShift gearbox. This means the tractor delivers power and sufficient oil at 1,600 rpm to produce 3,100 Nm of torque, resulting in significant fuel savings.
Leege says the maximum hydraulic oil flow is 540 litres per minute, which is exceptional for a large tractor. Additionally, this machine is powered by a new-generation six-cylinder Mercedes-Benz engine with a capacity of 15.6 litres.
Dustin Bishop, product specialist for Claas at Kempston Agri, adds that the tractor’s turning circle is something to behold.
“The tractor turns but doesn’t tilt. It’s something to get used to. The tractor’s weight is well distributed – 50% at the front and 50% at the back – which means the tractor is very stable. Thanks to front and rear steering, three-point implements can be used. The Xerion 12.650 TT displayed on the day boasts 800 mm wide dual tyres, but the tractor can also be equipped with Terra Trac crawler tracks. The tractor’s wheelbase is 3.5 m. The tractor can lift 13.6 tons at the rear and 5.6 tons at the front.
“Thanks to a modular ballast design, the weight load can be quickly adjusted, with weights that can be removed within 15 minutes. The Xerion 12.650 TT weighs just under 30 tons. It is equipped with a Cebis 12-inch touchscreen. The tractor is also guidance-ready, and a GPS Pilot CEMIS 1200 system can be installed as an option. The Xerion range boasts a new cabin and engine hood.”
It indicates a new direction for Claas’s tractors. The spacious cabin offers 4 m³ of space with a wide view around the cabin. The Xerion 12.650 is the first tractor in the range, with the next generation in this form to be unveiled later this year at Agritechnica in Germany.
According to Bishop, the Xerion, like any Claas machine, can be customised in terms of oil flow, tyres, and weight according to a farmer’s needs. Thanks to its good power delivery and three-point hitch, this monster is ideal for farmers working large tracts of land. According to Leege, the Xerion 12.650 displayed at the launch has already been sold, and a new version unveiled in March also already has an owner.
Good feedback
Feedback about the tractor from Australia is excellent, with test tractors that began being used in Australia eight months ago. The tractor is already available there. “The results are excellent from a heat perspective and in terms of fuel consumption and traction,” says Bishop. “The tractor is designed for the Canadian and American market and is suitable for South Africa’s large farms.”
In South African conditions, the service intervals for a regular engine and oil service are 500 hours and 1,000 hours for the major service of the rest of the components. The tractor comes with a three-year and 2,000-hour warranty, which can be extended to 5,000 hours and five years.
Training
Claas offers training for tractor operators, and its demonstration teams and technicians are already familiar with the handover procedure. All dealers selling the tractors are also ready. The tractor used for the demonstration was sold for just under R10 million. “That’s a lot of money for a tractor, but thanks to the savings the tractor offers, the numbers work,” adds Bishop.
More new machines
Kempston Agri displayed several other implements and tractors in this year’s Deutz-Fahr and Claas presentation. The new products include Deutz Fahr’s new Agrofarm 5-series, which now boasts the new FARMotion engine that has already received several awards for fuel consumption.
The range features a new front face and cabin. It is a good entry- to mid-level tractor. For 2025, the Claas Arion 640 C and Claas Arion 620 C are two new additions. The range now comes guidance-ready from the factory. These tractors are user-friendly and perform very well compared to their fuel consumption. The Claas Rollant baler is no newcomer to the South African market. The new Claas Rollant 520 has only been adapted to better transport it on the road.
