CLASS JAGUAR

For Claas, it starts and ends with the Jaguar harvester, a badge and machine that will be spotted in large numbers on any fine day in Ireland when silage is being harvested.

The Jaguar has proven massively popular with Irish contractors since the late seventies.

Currently one of the most popular ranges is the Jaguar 800 series, with the recently launched 626hp Jaguar 880 and the 860 among the most popular sellers this season.

The 880 filled a gap in the Jaguar range and essentially offers farmers and contractors the choice of two 626hp models, either the 880 or the higher specification 960.

Both are powered by a straight six Mercedes Tier 4F compliant engine which uses compound turbo technology, with the option of the fuel saving dynamic power system.

This automatically alters engine power relative to load. Drive to the front axle is through a 40kph, two-speed hydrostatic transmission.

Theaguar 880 comes with the latest colour Cebis control terminal, with function screens accessed using either the main rotary switch or the hot key which provides direct access to pre-selected functions.

Moving up the scale, all Jaguar 900 machines have made the move to Stage 5 engines developing more power and providing an increase in torque.

The 970 is the big seller in Ireland from this series and is powered by a MAN straight six engine, which develops 790hp from its displacement of 16L.

However, the most powerful offering from the Claas harvester family is, without dout, the 925hp Jaguar 990.

Co Cork-based silage contractor Mark Troy has recently taken delivery of one of these machines. It is powered by a 24L, V12 engine that is Stage V compliant for the latest European emissions standards.

Karol Duignan, the Claas area sales manager for Ireland, says the drive is for more power in a tighter market this year.

“We have sold 15 Jaguars in the Republic to date in 2020. We have regular customers who change their harvester every couple of years.

“The market is quieter than last year, but 2019 was the one off rather than this year being all that unusual.

“Farming is keeping going through the crisis and that we are here to support that with after sales support and back up.”