New Functions in CLAAS XERION Tractors: More Automation, Comfort and Precision in the Field

CLAAS has introduced a package of updates for its large XERION 12 tractors, focusing not so much on increasing nominal power, but on how that power is delivered in real field conditions. This is an important point: in today’s high-horsepower tractor segment, competitiveness is determined not only by engine output, but also by transmission control quality, automation of working processes, operator comfort and reduced operating costs.

The update concerns the XERION 12 series, which includes the XERION 12.650, XERION 12.590 and XERION 12.540 models in TRAC and TERRA TRAC versions. According to official CLAAS technical data, all these models are equipped with a 6-cylinder Mercedes-Benz engine with a displacement of 15.6 litres and a CMATIC continuously variable transmission. Power output is 653 hp for the XERION 12.650, 585 hp for the XERION 12.590 and 544 hp for the XERION 12.540.

Autodroop: A New Mode for More Efficient Engine and Transmission Operation

One of the key technical updates is the new Autodroop mode. In XERION 12 tractors, it complements the existing ECO and POWER modes and automatically adapts engine speed droop depending on working conditions.

In practice, this means that the tractor can maintain a more precise balance between productivity and fuel efficiency. During heavy tillage, seeding or work with implements where the load changes rapidly, the system helps the transmission and engine respond in a more coordinated way. For large-scale farms, this is especially important, as XERION often works with wide implements, where even a small loss of pace on headlands or when entering the next pass can turn into noticeable productivity losses over the course of a working day.

CLAAS also reports improvements to the driving controller for the CMATIC continuously variable transmission. The transmission is designed to respond faster to sudden load changes and reach the target speed more dynamically, particularly during tillage, seeding and implement activation on the headland.

TERRA TRAC: Refined Track Units for Demanding Conditions

CLAAS has paid particular attention to the XERION 12 TERRA TRAC versions. For the 2026 season, the track units have received design changes aimed at improving durability, self-cleaning properties and reducing operating costs.

In particular, the cast frame of the track unit has been redesigned. By increasing the distance between individual components, soil removal is improved, and scrapers are no longer mandatory. At the same time, XERION 12 TERRA TRAC machines already operating on farms can be retrofitted with improved scrapers. The aluminium spokes and outer rings of the track rollers, elements of the oscillating frame and mounting points have also been reinforced.

For Ukrainian conditions, this update has practical significance. Heavy soils, autumn compaction, work after rainfall and large amounts of crop residue all place serious stress on the undercarriage. Therefore, improved self-cleaning of the track unit is not merely a matter of service convenience, but a factor in stable field performance.

Automation Under Operator Supervision

The most promising direction in the XERION 12 update is preparation for deeper automation of field operations. From the second half of 2026, CLAAS plans to offer the Vehicle Control Unit, developed in cooperation with AgXeed. This control unit enables pre-programmed field tasks to be carried out automatically, but under the supervision of an operator who remains in the cab.

The system operates via the TIM protocol and connects to the tractor’s ISOBUS. Tasks containing field data, machine data, obstacle information and planned tracks can be transferred through the AgXeed TraXwise platform and CLAAS connect. In the field, the tractor and implement can automatically perform operations including steering, turning, headland management, avoiding pre-marked obstacles and variable-rate application based on a task map.

Importantly, this is not a fully driverless tractor in the legal sense. The operator remains in the cab and can intervene at any time. In other words, CLAAS is moving towards controlled autonomy, where automation takes over the routine execution of the route, while the human operator supervises work quality, safety and non-standard situations.

Auto RefLine: Automatic Switching Between Guidance Lines

Another new function is Auto RefLine in the GPS PILOT CEMIS 1200 system. Its purpose is to automatically switch between reference lines in the field.

After completing work in the main direction, the system determines when it is necessary to move to headland work or to a wedge-shaped section and automatically selects a new logical guidance line. For the operator, this means fewer manual actions, fewer errors and smoother organisation of work on irregularly shaped fields.

For large tractors such as the XERION 12, this function is particularly important. The machine works with expensive wide implements, so pass accuracy affects not only convenience, but also fuel consumption, overlaps, tillage quality and implement wear.

Cab: More Comfort for Long Working Shifts

CLAAS has also updated the XERION 12 cab. This is logical: tractors of this class often work long shifts, where operator fatigue directly affects productivity and the quality of field operations.

From model year 2026, the cab features a 6.75-inch touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, a DAB+ receiver and Bluetooth. New large storage compartments, additional storage areas, a net on the rear wall of the cab and a new comfort seat with an integrated compressor have also been added.

The XERION 12 cab was already one of the key strengths of the series. According to official CLAAS data, its volume is almost 4 m³, while the seat can rotate up to 40° to the right and 10° to the left, improving the view of the implement and reducing fatigue during long working periods.

Easier Maintenance and Small but Important Details

In large tractors, downtime is often more costly than the maintenance task itself. That is why CLAAS has added a number of practical solutions for daily operation.

Since April 2025, the XERION 12 bonnet has had an electric opening and closing mechanism activated by a button from ground level. Non-slip steps are integrated into the front mudguards, and the redesigned platform makes it easier to access the air filter and clean the windscreen. A compressed air connection is integrated into the cab as standard, while an optional blow gun with a 2-metre spiral hose can also be supplied.

Two new LED beacon lights have also been added to the front of the cab roof. Certain functions, including beacons, CB radio and air conditioning, can now be controlled via the F-keys on the CMOTION lever. These may seem like secondary improvements at first glance, but in everyday work they reduce the number of unnecessary operator actions.

Technical Context: Why the XERION 12 Remains a Special Machine

The XERION 12 series is notable not only for its new functions, but also for its overall engineering concept. In the TRAC version, the tractor can be equipped with dual 42-inch wheels, while the TERRA TRAC version uses track units specially developed by CLAAS for XERION. According to official data, travel speed is up to 50 km/h for versions with dual tyres and up to 40 km/h for TERRA TRAC.

The hydraulic system also matches the machine’s class: up to three hydraulic pumps and up to eight control valves can provide a flow rate of up to 537 l/min. This is important when working with large seed drills, tillage complexes, chaser bins and other hydraulically demanding implements.

In the XERION 12.650, maximum torque of 3100 Nm is reached at just 1300 rpm. This clearly reflects CLAAS’ philosophy: not simply to increase power, but to achieve high traction potential at low engine speeds while maintaining fuel efficiency.

7 Interesting Facts About CLAAS XERION

1. The XERION 12.650 has a maximum power output of 653 hp, but the main idea of the machine is not power alone - it is the efficient conversion of that power into traction in the field.
2. The XERION 12 series uses a 15.6-litre 6-cylinder Mercedes-Benz engine.
3. In this segment, the XERION TRAC version stands out for its ability to work with dual 42-inch tyres.
4. XERION TERRA TRAC uses track units developed by CLAAS specifically for this tractor series.
5. The XERION 12 cab has a volume of almost 4 m³, an important figure for machines designed for long working shifts.
6. The CEMOS system helps the operator optimise tractor settings, including ballasting. CLAAS indicates that correct machine setup and ballasting during tillage and seeding can increase productivity per unit area by up to 16.3%.
7. The new Vehicle Control Unit does not make XERION a fully driverless tractor, but it moves it into the category of machines with controlled autonomy, where the operator supervises the process more than constantly performing every action manually.

The CLAAS XERION 12 update reflects the broader direction of development in high-traction tractors. Power remains important, but it is no longer the only argument. Intelligent transmission control, route automation, precise task execution, digital integration, operator comfort and reduced maintenance costs are moving to the forefront.

For large farms, the XERION 12 is becoming not just a tractor for heavy-duty work, but a platform for precise, controlled and partially automated farming. This is the main essence of the new functions: CLAAS is not merely updating the machine, but gradually shifting it from the category of a powerful tractor into the category of an intelligent energy centre for the modern field.