In late September, JCB announced two new Fastracs into its tractor lineup.
The two tractors were in its 6000 series, a new segment for the British-based brand known for its 4000 and 8000 series tractors.
JCB brought its new tractor additions, the 6260 and 6300, to Agritechnica 2025 in Hanover, Germany, in November.
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WHY IT MATTERS: Our reporters headed to Germany in November to bring you the newest in farm machinery from Agritechnica 2025. See our Agritechnica landing page for news, videos and more.
JCB’s 6260 Fastrac comes in at 284 horsepower, while its bigger brother, the 6300, comes in at 335 hp, both courtesy of their 6.7-litre FPT six-cylinder diesel engines.
A ZF Eccom 3.1 CVT transmission helps deliver that power and torque to the ground. JCB’s Smart Transmission Control manages the drivetrain to deliver optimal productivity and efficiency.
Both 6000 series tractors have an 11,000 kilogram lift capacity at the three-point hitch and an optional 5,000 kg lift capacity at the front hitch.
Poppy Burrough, JCB Fastrac product specialist, said that building on the success of previous model Fastracs was essential in developing the brand’s new 6000 series.
“We knew that productivity, versatility, comfort, safety, speed was at the core of everything with Fastrac,” said Burrough.
“But we also acknowledged there was a gap in the range between those (the 4000 and 8000 series) within that 240 to 300 hp sector.”
Burrough said horsepower range has become one of the fastest growing tractor sectors in the machinery market.
The new JCBs will be competing for attention among all major farm equipment manufacturers, but the brand has done its homework.
Burrough said the 6000 series JCBs have had more than 8,000 hours of customer testing before coming to market.
“We have used them in just about every application,” said Burrough.
“We’ve used them in anger to get the most out of them and make sure they’re ready for a market where they can go out and do anything we sell globally.”
Fastrac tractors are known for their tight turning radius due to the tractors’ four-wheel steering design. However, that feature isn’t just about manoeuvrability.
“We have a true track mode, which turns the front and the rear wheels degree for degree with each other,” said Burrough.
This essentially leaves only one set of footprints on the ground when operators turn the tractor in the field. This helps limit soil compaction and reduces potential damage to surrounding plant beds.
The new Fastracs’ four-wheel steering comes standard with multiple operating modes, as well as an optional GPS Rapid Steer element.
The new 6000 series Fastracs also get a noticeable boost in their hydraulics. The new high-capacity hydraulics come with a standard pump of 205-litre per minute or a 410-litre per minute option.
Comfort is often a feature JCB has paid close attention to as well, a welcome attribute for any operator strapped down inside a cab for a day’s work.
JCB’s self-levelling suspension system on the 6000 series offers a smooth ride on both the field and on the road. A hydro-pneumatic system also allows the Fastrac to essentially squat down when reversing to connect equipment.
A Tractor of the Year award ceremony held at Agritechnica also saw JCB’s 6300 tractor win the award for sustainability.
Burrough felt that there were a couple of reasons the 6300 series tractor was recognized.
“One of the new features on the 6000 series Fastrac is our central tire inflation system,” said Burrough.
“It allows you to choose the pressure of the tires from within the cab, and then the tractor inflates and deflates.”
The feature allows operators to adjust tire pressure from the cab for optimal traction, plus to help protect soil structure.
“Soil structure is something that’s hugely important to farming globally at the moment, so being able to protect that is a step towards sustainability,” Burrough said.
Added JCB deputy chair George Bamford on the company’s website: “The jury of machinery specialists with practical farming experience recognized the Fastrac 6300 as ‘an example of sustainable innovation that combines intelligent engineering, digital connectivity and care for the soil, to deliver productivity with responsibility.’ ”
