TRACTOR TEST: The Arion 400 range accounts for around 20% of Claas tractor sales in the UK and Ireland, and, since its 2021 makeover, the range has been topped by the Arion 470 — 107kW/155hp of four-cylinder power in a reasonably lightweight package. There’s a lot to like, as we found out during our full tractor test.
The original three-model, 70kW/95hp-86kW/115hp Arion 400 tractor line up hit the ground in 2010, with an update coming in 2014 to extend
the range to six units and hike max power to 104kW/140hp.
Indeed, Claas engineers have been kept busy and on their toes, introducing the latest range topping Arion 470 as part of the 2021 series overhaul as it made the move to Stage V — we had a quick look at the main changes in profi 8/2021.
What may come as a surprise, though, is the Arion 400 is actually the most popular range from the French tractor factory with German farmers, who are especially smitten with the new Arion 470. Closer to home, the Arion 400 accounts for 20% of Claas tractor sales
with British and Irish farmers, and within the range it is the 90kW/120hp (maximum power rating) Arion 440 and 100kW/135hp Arion 450 that have proved to be the firm’s big bread winners.
So, what’s the appeal of the 470? And are we missing a trick? To answer those questions this month’s tractor test is on the Arion 400 kingpin.
155hp with boost
According to the brochure stats, the Arion 470’s engine produces 103kW/140hp rated and 107kW/145hp maximum power. On top of these figures is the Claas Power Management (CPM) boost, which kicks in for pto operations and when bundling along at speeds above 8km/hr (gear B6 or higher). This boost is reckoned to hike the maximum power to 114kW/155hp.
To see whether these claims are on the ball or well wide of the mark, we packed our test 470 model off to the DLG test station to get measured up. With power boost engaged, 102.9kW/138.0hp arrived at the pto at rated speed. As it climbed to maximum power this increased to 106.1kW/142.3hp at 1,900rpm. Both very good results.
A look at the performance characteristics reveals an eye-catching figure — 600Nm of maximum torque. This is accompanied by a 34% increase in torque with a 36% drop in engine speed which proved to be always good enough and convenient in the field and on the road
Record fuel savings
The fuel consumption tests also produced some great results: 242g/kWh (+25g/kWh of AdBlue) at rated speed and only 224g/kWh (+25g/kWh AdBlue) during pto work are both brilliant returns. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the practical Powermix tests also turn out well for Claas. In almost all of the work categories, the 470 is more or less significantly below the average rate for all of the tractors tested to date.
The 470’s Powermix total value is 270g/kWh (+21g/kWh AdBlue), which is 3% below our current average figure. But it’s out on the road where the Arion particularly shines: 351g/kWh (+32g/kWh AdBlue) at 40km/hr, meaning this tractor gets through 16% less diesel than all of the tractors we have tested so far.
Despite all of its frugality, we didn’t like the behaviour of the fuel gauge: it hardly budges at first and then quickly drops to the halfway mark. And there is no need to fret when the reserve light pings into life; at this point you’ve used only a modest 135 litres of the 190-litre capacity tank.
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