The 55-mph family drive came to a slow crawl of roughly 10 mph as we pulled up behind a line of cars along a rural state highway. Once again, we found ourselves behind a tractor. Without missing a beat, my husband says, "I bet you wish that was a Fastrac."

I was returning from a product launch in England for JCB's upgraded Fastrac 8000 Series and sharing all of my newfound insights. Of course, he caught the one spec many farmers notice — speed. The 8000 Series — that comes in 290 and 330 hp — is capable of traveling at 43 mph. So, he may have a point.

More power
Originally introduced in 2005, the Fastrac 8000 was a tractor that could handle heavy mowing, cultivating and manure spreading. Then, it was powered by an 8.3-liter, 250-hp Cummins engine with a 40-mph continuously variable transmission (CVT). The 8000 Series got an upgrade just six years later to an 8.4-liter Agco engine with varying horsepower of 279 or 206, depending on the model.

Both the 8290 and the 8330 will continue with the 8.4-liter, six-cylinder engine that now meets Tier 4 emissions standards. However, the engine now provides more power and torque, with a twin turbocharger. The 8330 is a 335-hp rising to a 348-hp under full load, which represents a 42-hp, or 14%, increase in power.

The increase in power allows farmers to improve performance in the field when pulling heavy tillage equipment, and manure tanks and spreaders.

QUICK WORK: The JCB Fastrac 8330 makes easy work of field cultivation. The new tractor redesign, which celebrates the Fastrac's 25th anniversary, is the largest in the company's line.

More visibility
When farmers step up into the cab, they notice a dramatic difference. Listening to farmer comments, JCB has extended its Command Plus cab found in the 4000 Series to the 8000 Series, providing farmers with more visibility and comfort.

The driver's seat swivels a full 50 degrees to the right and 20 degrees to the left, giving farmers ample view of that sprayer or field cultivator. There is even a full-size buddy seat to allow for extra riders during those long days.

The cab itself is set forward on the chassis. The additional space behind the cab allows installation of a mounted sprayer, seed hopper or fifth-wheel-type hitch for heavy equipment. The large windows offer a view from every corner of the cab. No need to worry about being hot on a sunny day; the near-vertical windscreen reduces heat absorption, providing a cool ride.

More suspension
The 8000 Series comes standard-equipped with all-around suspension and outboard disk brakes with ABS.

A new dual-line hydraulic system replaces the mechanical system. The dual line allows for a fail-safe in the event that if one line fails, the second kicks in, allowing the operator to maintain control. In the event of total engine failure, a backup ground-driven pump takes over.

The axles and chassis were revamped to facilitate track width of up to 10 feet.

The real test of the new 8000 Series comes in the field. In the U.S., farmers in Michigan and Ohio have tried out the new tractors, according to Richard Fox-Marrs, JCB president for agriculture in North America. He says with the tractors being autosteer-ready, farmers can easily move through the field. "It is working really well in harvesting forage," he notes. But there is a lot of versatility to these tractors; the 8290 and 8330 also perform in the field, getting over corn stubble at roughly 12 mph.

So, whether you want to get across the field or back to farm faster, it might just be worth a look at the new JCB 8000 Series.