A family of reliable, versatile and always connected tractors, as well as dynamic and compact. Thanks to these characteristics, the McCormick X5 series is well suited to meeting the most diverse working requirements of agricultural, livestock and contractor businesses
Born as machines designed to support heavy soil-working operations, the first tractors were imposing, slow and heavy. They remained so until the second decade of the 20th century, when in 1917 Henry Ford launched his Fordson “F”, introducing technical and functional concepts that are still at the basis of most tractors today. Among these are operational versatility and reliability—qualities that the market still appreciates, especially when combined with modern technical features and high, clearly perceptible build quality. An example in this sense is the McCormick “X5” family, a brand of US origin but today thoroughly Italian. This attribute is not limited to the place of manufacture or the core components, but also reflects a design philosophy aimed at creating machines perfectly aligned with the operational needs of small and medium-sized Italian and European agricultural and livestock farms.
This starts with a wheelbase of 2,355 millimetres and, for the flagship model “X5.120”, a power-to-weight ratio of just over 35 kilograms per horsepower—parameters that make the series capable of successfully handling a wide range of tasks, from haymaking and seeding to light transport. When paired with the optional McCormick “M20” front loader, capable of lifting around 1.8 tonnes, it also becomes a valuable tool for material handling or, in livestock farming, for cleaning housing facilities. This latter activity further highlights the perfect integration between the loader frame and the engine block, which does not limit either the steering radius or ground clearance. In essence, these tractors are designed for farms that want a single machine capable of covering most operational needs while tailoring performance accordingly.
The “X5” series is offered in three models with rated outputs of 95, 102 and 114 horsepower, achieved at 1,900 rpm and delivered by FPT Industrial “F36” engines—four-cylinder units with a displacement of 3.6 litres, obtained through a bore and stroke of 102 by 110 millimetres. The torque curve is very linear and peaks at 1,400 rpm with values of 395, 430 and 460 Nm depending on the model.
These robust outputs are closely linked to four valves per cylinder, forced induction via turbo–aftercooler systems controlled by wastegate valves, and Stage V emissions compliance achieved through an integrated DOC + DPF + SCR system, eliminating the need for EGR on the intake side to the benefit of thermal efficiency.
Completing the McCormick “X5” powertrains is a range of mechanical or hydraulic transmissions, at the top of which sit the “P3-Drive” units, entirely designed and produced at Argo Tractors plants. They offer the ability to automate gear changes while maintaining the mechanical efficiency typical of powershift transmissions, being based on a robotised four-range, four-speed gearbox combined with a three-stage powershift and a super creeper operating only in the low range.
The operator therefore has 48 forward gears divided into groups of twelve, whose management can be entrusted to an automatic system called “AutoPowerShift” (APS). This selects the most suitable gear for the task at hand—whether field work or road transport—through the “AutoField” and “AutoRoad” functions.
These can be activated simply by pressing a button on the new “SmartPilot” joystick, leaving the software to manage gear selection according to engine load. “P3-Drive” thus acts as a fully fledged intelligent automotive-style automatic transmission, relieving the operator of the need to adjust gear ratios to optimise performance and fuel consumption.
This goal is also supported by the hydraulic system, based on an open-centre circuit powered by a tandem pump capable of delivering 62 litres of oil per minute for working functions, plus a further 32 litres per minute for steering and service circuits. As an option, and for combined operations such as seeding and treatments, a triple pump delivering 82 litres per minute can be installed, managed through up to seven services: three mechanically controlled remotes, one electronically controlled, two mid-mounted remotes, and a flow selector to split a valve if required.
The hydraulic capacity also allows the rear hitch to lift up to 4.5 tonnes and the optional front hitch a further 2.2 tonnes, for a total lifting capacity of 6.7 tonnes. Both three-point hitches can be electronically controlled and managed via a joystick that also operates PTO engagement and disengagement. The PTO runs at 540 and 1,000 rpm, with always-progressive engagement thanks to a hydraulically actuated, oil-bath clutch.
Automotive-level comfort
The McCormick “X5” series is equipped with suspended “Total View Slim” cabs, a name derived from the 360-degree view of the surrounding work area made possible by the four-pillar cab structure and extensive use of athermal glass panels. A transparent roof is also available to improve upward visibility when working with a front loader, as well as the option of high-contrast LED work lights—up to ten units—allowing safe operation at night or in poor visibility conditions.
Precisely because of these possibilities and the resulting full-time use of the tractors, the engineers have devoted great attention to comfort, raising it to automotive standards. This is achieved both through cab features such as a mechanically or pneumatically suspended driver’s seat and a steering wheel adjustable for height and tilt, and through auxiliary systems designed to isolate the cab from heat and vibration. These include a suspension system with front silent blocks and rear shock absorbers, as well as a hydraulically suspended axle.
The “Advanced Driving System+” is also available, actively controlling steering. In the field and on uneven ground it maintains the set direction, minimising corrective input from the operator, while on the road it ensures automatic wheel realignment and progressively increases steering stiffness with speed. Road safety is further enhanced by the “Integrated Brake System”, which, thanks to oil-bath front brakes integrated into the axle, always distributes braking force evenly across all four wheels, reducing stopping distance by 50 percent compared with traditional systems that act on the front axle only through automatic four-wheel-drive engagement.
Exclusive technologies in its power class
Like other tractors from the Argo Tractors Group, the McCormick “X5” series is designed to integrate the latest digital and telematics technologies, supported by the “McCormick Digital Solutions” platform. This is accessed via touch-screen monitors with a diagonal of over eight inches, adjustable in both brightness and position.
The platform provides telemetry, remote diagnostics, precision farming and driver-assistance systems, all generating data stored in the cloud and viewable in real time, even remotely, on PCs, smartphones or tablets.
This allows farmers to make quick, informed decisions to maximise operational efficiency in terms of productivity and profitability, while simultaneously reducing operating costs. This is further supported by an ISOBUS interface that ensures simplified and automated implement management, allowing operators to focus solely on their work.
Title: Tractors McCormick X5: italian and tireless
Translation with ChatGPT
Author: Gabriele Dell’Orto
