Fendt has introduced a new generation of its 1100 Vario MT tracked tractor, with a revised cab, a new lighting concept, a self-cleaning cab air filter and an upgraded transmission to accommodate higher maximum engine power. The series now covers a performance segment from 521 to 680hp.
The company says the top model remains the most powerful tracked tractor with a stepless transmission on the market. The tracks distribute weight evenly to lower ground pressure and improve traction, which Fendt says protects the soil.
The revised cab, built at the Fendt cab plant in Asbach-Bäumenheim, adds a new LED lighting concept and the FendtOne driver’s workstation. Two LED options are offered, Vision and UltraVision, with lights and beacons mounted in the cab roof. With 12 UltraVision work lights the tractor reaches 55,800 lumens, with a further 6,400 lumens from the bonnet lights and an optional 11,600 lumens in the upper hood. Four additional spotlights of 4,400 lumens each can be fitted to the standard TechRails on the C-pillar as part of the UltraVision Essential and UltraVision Elite lines, taking the fully equipped machine up to 84,300 lumens.
FendtOne onboard stores up to four individual light profiles, allowing the driver to dim the lights on one side – for example when working alongside a combine harvester with a grain cart – without dazzling another operator. Configurations can be mirrored with one click for machines working in parallel with Fendt Workgroup, and individual spotlights can be adjusted quickly if visibility changes in dust.
Standard cab features include a laminated safety glass front window, a fastening rail for additional terminals on the right side window, step lights, four USB-A outlets on the armrest, automatic climate control and a rear-view camera.
The FendtOne driver’s workstation gives tracked-tractor drivers the same range of functions as in Fendt wheeled tractors. The basic configuration includes an armrest with multifunction joystick and freely assignable buttons, a 12in armrest terminal, the 3L-Joystick and a digital dashboard, with an additional roof terminal optionally available. Smart Farming features include ISOBUS machine control as standard, documentation and task management, telemetry, and the optional Fendt Guide guidance system. The optional Fendt TI Headland management system automates turning manoeuvres, with TI Auto and TI Turn Assistant handling headland turns and implement raising and lowering. FendtOne also supports communication between two to ten machines in a Fendt Workgroup.
For dusty conditions, the tractor can be equipped with a reversible fan that automatically cleans the radiator grille and package. A passive dust extraction system for the engine filter is standard, with optional passive cleaning of the cab air filter; both use vacuum and a cyclone separator to clean filters continuously without manual intervention. A compressor cooler and three footrests are further comfort options.
The new generation retains the SmartRide suspension, which connects to the chassis and allows both track drives to move independently, with SmartRide+ self-levelling optionally available. The drive consists of a rear drive wheel, a front guide wheel and two bogies with four castors each, with a Michelin rubber track belt. Fendt says the long wheelbase provides a large contact area that reduces ground pressure and protects soil from a depth of 30cm, while increasing the number of lugs gripping the ground to reduce slippage.
The maintenance-free differential steering provides a speed difference between the two tracks without active braking. For implement guidance, customers can choose between a hydraulically pivoting rear linkage and two pivoting Cat 5 drawbars. A new fourth control mode couples the pivot angle of the drawbar and rear linkage to the tractor’s steering angle, which Fendt says transfers steering movements to the implement more precisely, particularly on surfaces with many curves and turning manoeuvres.
Ballasting options include front weights, and ballast on the chassis frame, guide wheel and drive wheels, with heavy soil cultivation configurations totalling around 7 tonnes. The VarioDrive drivetrain pairs the Vario transmission with MAN six-cylinder engines depending on model, using a new reinforced transmission generation to accept the higher maximum power of the top model. Both hydraulic motors act on the rear axle. The Fendt iD low-speed concept is designed for high power reserves.
The range spans four models: the 1151 Vario MT at 521hp (383kW), the 1156 Vario MT at 571hp (420kW) and the 1162 Vario MT at 625hp (460kW), all using the 15.2-litre MAN D38 six-cylinder; and the 1167 Vario MT at 680hp (500kW), using the 16.2-litre MAN D42. Maximum torque ranges from 2,500Nm to 3,100Nm. High-performance hydraulics are optionally available with two load-sensing pumps of 220 litres/min each, supplying two separate circuits.
Images: Fendt
