Earlier this month Fendt produced its 100,000 700 Vario tractor, following 25 years of production at Marktoberdorf.
The tractor has been a huge success story, with the 724 Vario becoming Germany’s longest-standing top model and receiving 33 awards from nine different countries.
“The 700 series is a true allrounder. It has evolved over the last 25 years to provide more power, improved fuel economy and better manoeuvrability whilst being the epitome of comfort,” says Ed Dennett, retail market manager, Northwest Europe.
It was launched on the 30th of August 1998 as the Favorit 700 Vario, with a stepless transmission and four-cylinder engine. It was the first tractor in that segment to offer control via joystick and the series went on to win the Tractor of the Year award that year.
In 2003, the Favorit branding was dropped and the company introduced a new Tractor Management System (TMS), optimising the engine and transmission for better performance.
“At low loads, the engine speed was lowered, which improved fuel consumption. The Variotronic headland management system memorised and automated function sequences at the headland, and just one push of a button could trigger 13 functions. This saved time and money and made the second generation a bestseller,” explains Ed.
The third generation brought guidance systems, while the fourth generation introduced the curved VisioPlus cab and multi-function armrest. The fifth generation saw various engine updates, while the sixth iteration introduced the FendtOne system.
“FendtOne brought a new multifunction armrest and the 3L joystick. This was a completely new approach to Fendt operation, enabling function buttons on the armrest and joystick to be freely assigned. In addition, FendtOne onboard and offboard provided Smart Farming options,” says Ed.
“As it did 25 years ago, development started on a blank sheet of paper with the aim of building the most manoeuvrable, fastest and most efficient 700 of all time. The Gen7 makes the technologies of the larger Fendt tractors accessible to the compact class up to 300 hp. A new single-stage Fendt VarioDrive drive train, integrated VarioGrip tyre pressure regulation system and a licence for speeds of up to 60 km/h made the 728 Tractor of the Year 2023, and it is just as groundbreaking as the very 700 series was 25 years ago.”
