Recently, I got a chance to do something that's kind of rare in our industry - to be among the first media folks to see a brand new machine for the North American market. Penton Agriculture has the exclusive first looks at the new Agco Challenger 1000 series tractors, including our chance to test drive the machines and get up close and personal with these new power houses.

We've covered it in our respective brands, including our coverage here. While the machine is being built by Fendt in Marktoberdorf, Germany (in Bavaria), this is a North American machine with features and systems designed for the market. It also brings along the latest technology in what the Germans have been working on for the Fendt line, including the newest-generation continuously variable transmission as part of the AccuDrive system.

When I first walked up to the big machines - there will be four in the line up to 517 hp - I thought - "Yep, these are big" but when you figure the rising popularity of row-crop centric four-wheel drive platforms, this new machine can fill a key niche.

Behind the wheel, and we don’t get a lot of stick time in our business writing about machinery, the tractor filled the bill for comfort and solid ergonomics. And frankly, it has to. Every major tractor maker in this country has stepped up to make these high horsepower machines comfortable from the beginning. From the suspended seat to the suspension system, this is a smooth riding machine.

We did a little terrain - couldn't do field work because the Jackson, Minn., area where the machines were had just gotten 2-inches of rain - and the machine rolled through. We even ran some muddy areas to see how the AccuDrive would work to pull the machine through - no problem.

The new drive-train has that CVT, which today is a single range design - from 65 feet per hour (which used to be a big deal but now we kind of expect it) to 31 mph - you just push forward and drive. That's a change from the days of a two-speed CVT; and frankly a long way from the days of the 16-speed powershift - yet all those transmissions did the job. It's just this latest model brings even more convenience to the operator.

There are two things that stuck out for me during that test drive - first was the engine itself. It's quiet, really quiet. In fact we had Josh Keeney, tactical marketing manager, Agco, stand on the ground and share his name and other information with a normal speaking voice back to us in the cab of the operating tractor. You can hear him below in the video.

The MAN engine offers low rpm but high torque performance which means it can do most of its hardest work in ranges more around 1,200 rpm than 1,800 rpm. That should result in higher fluid efficiency.

The second thing that stuck out to us is that this is a high-horsepower fixed-frame tractor. It's a new niche for the farm equipment business. Usually when you're talking 500 hp the machine bends in the middle. This shorter-frame approach will be of interest as a new way to have power in the field. The market will decide how popular it will be.

For me, it was just great to be among the first to not only see the machine, but also to share it with our readers. You can see the new Challenger 1000 at the Farm Progress Show - where it will be officially unveiled (and yes Penton Agriculture owns the Farm Progress Show).