It’s that time of year again, when brands release their new and improved models for the upcoming model year. This season, Case IH turned its attention to its 150 to 240 horsepower Puma tractor line, offering a new transmission option and some updated features to go along with a minor facelift.
“Producers need more time to tackle the tough jobs on their operations, and this model year 2021 tractor lineup aims to help provide more uptime, more efficiency and more comfort to make long days feel shorter,” said J.E. Cadle, Case IH Maxxum, Puma and Optum series tractors marketing manager, in the press announcement. “Puma series tractors deliver the right size and power to handle a wide range of applications. With these updates, our engineers used feedback from our customers to provide an enhanced operator experience and (to) maximize productivity.”
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CNH plans for “more than 15 new tractor launches, 10 combine launches, 19 crop production launches and over 30 precision technology releases between now and the end of 2027.”
As is beginning to happen more often these days, marketers are emphasizing that customer feedback has played a major role in the redesign of their machines. And Case IH’s announcement introducing the updated Pumas included that comment too. The 185, 200, 220 and 240 models will be the first Pumas to offer buyers the redesigned features based on farmer input. They’ll hit dealers’ lots later this year. They’re already available for customer orders. But while the smaller 150 and 165 Pumas will get updates too, those new versions won’t be available until March of next year.
One of the most visible changes to the Pumas is a redesigned hood, with an improved LED light package to make working after dark a little easier. Under those hoods, recommended engine oil change intervals will now stretch to 750 hours and transmission fluid changes jump to every 1,500 hours, bringing them closer to what the brand has been offering in the larger tractor models for a while now.
The engines will use SCR emissions systems, which the brand claims help reduce fuel consumption rates. (No angry emails from those of you who have come to despise current emissions system technologies, please.)
When it comes to drivability, the big 180 to 240 Pumas will now offer Case IH’s CVXDrive CVT transmissions. By selecting the target speed, the transmission automatically adjusts to deliver the desired speed to match load conditions.
When equipped with CVXDrive, those four updated Puma models incorporate several new enhancements, which include greater customization levels to match transmission behaviour with a job, smoother acceleration, deceleration and shuttle behaviour, finer drive pedal and MultiController sensitivity, cruise control pedal override, and MultiController low-speed safety lock and position detection.
For keeping food and drinks cold, there’s an in-cab cooler option. And the optional front hitch along with the windshield wiper mounting position (which has been lowered to improve visibility) have been redesigned.
