1972 Valtra is a pioneer in the use of turbo engines
Product history
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{readmore:Read more|link}Turbocharged engines began to appear on European tractors in the 1980s. Initially they were offered only by a few tractor manufacturers and on selected models only and Valtra was very much a pioneer in this trend. These days it is as hard to find naturally aspirated engines on tractors as it was to find turbocharged engines in the 1960s.
Valtra’s predecessor Valmet entered the turbo era in 1969 when it unveiled the Valmet 1100, the world’s first turbocharged four-cylinder tractor. At the same time the Volvo BM T810 was also introduced with a turbocharged six-cylinder engine, yet the difference in power between these two models was only around 20 horsepower. To this day Valtra is still known for its powerful lightweight engines.
Four-cylinder turbocharged engines were also offered in the two largest 02 models in the 1970s, the 702S and 1102. Both of these models broke the 100-horsepower mark.
Valmet continued to break new ground in 1979 with the launch of the 02/03 model series, which offered three-cylinder turbocharged engines – the first tractors in the world to do so. The first three-cylinder turbocharged engine was introduced on the Valmet 602, which was also available with a naturally aspirated engine. The power difference between the turbocharged and naturally aspirated versions was just eight horsepower.
At the same time the Valmet 1203 was introduced with a Comprex pressure wave supercharger. By 1980 only the two smallest models in the Valmet range were available with naturally aspirated engines.
In 1982 Valmet introduced seven new tractor models, only three of which – the 504, 604 and 905 – had naturally aspirated engines. All other models were powered by turbocharged engines with either three or four cylinders.
At the time most tractor manufacturers offered turbocharged engines only on their biggest models. By comparison, Valmet offered a turbo on almost all of its models.
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Turbocharged engines produce 15 to 25 percent more power than naturally aspirated engines with around 10 percent lower fuel consumption.
