The growing size and performance of modern machinery does not necessarily mean bigger engines. Unveiled at the end of 2023, the five-liter CORE50 engine offers power and torque characteristics more often seen in bigger engines.
The trend towards smaller engine displacements has been visible for some time now, for example in the everyday lives of car drivers. With improved efficiency, a modern family car may have just half the cubic centimeters they had at the beginning of the millennium – without sacrificing any of the transport capabilities. This makes it only logical that off-road machinery should also benefit from the economy and lower emissions enabled by smaller engines without compromising durability.
“The AGCO Power CORE50 engine has some of the most advanced technology on the market, allowing the engine to rival its larger counterparts in terms of operating performance and durability,” says Account Manager Tapani Katila of AGCO Power. “The most important thing is that in everyday work, there is no feeling of running out of torque, for example. This is why the wide torque range has been one of the guiding principles behind the design of the CORE engine series.”
The CORE50 engine delivers 165 kW (221 hp) of maximum power at 1900 rpm. The maximum torque of 950 Nm is achieved at a low 1400 rpm, allowing the engine to respond well to throttle and not be overwhelmed by any sudden load peaks by work attachments.
The world’s best fuel economy
The big brother of the CORE50, the 7.5-liter CORE75 was awarded the Engine of the Year, in particular for its superior fuel economy. The CORE50 follows close behind with a very modest fuel consumption of 190 g/kWh, thanks in part to its low-rpm structure.
“Low fuel consumption is often seen largely as a source of economic savings, but it is also an important factor in reducing emissions,” Tapani Katila points out. “Unused fuel does not cause CO2 emissions.”
Emissions are also radically affected by the fuel used. New synthetic HVO fuels as well as e-fuel made from hydrogen reduce CO2 emissions to a fraction without compromising performance.
”The entire CORE engine family, CORE50 included, runs perfectly on HVO fuels without modifications,” Katila says.
Thanks to its advanced design, the engine also meets all current emission standards without the need for an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system, simplifying engine construction and improving reliability.
“AGCO Power engines have a long tradition of durability and serviceability, and the CORE50 is no exception,” Tapani Katila says. “For example, the most common service points are all on the ‘cold side’ of the engine. Here too, we like to think of those who use and maintain the machines every day.”
Hydrogen and hybrid technology
As the spectrum of future energy sources is broader than today, CORE50 has also served as a basis for completely new fuel concepts.
“At Agritechnica 2023, we presented the CORE50 eHydrogen concept engine, where the combustion engine was powered by hydrogen and supplemented by electric drivetrain components,” Katila explains. “In this solution, hydrogen, which is lower in energy density in relation to its volume than diesel, provides constant base power while electricity provides additional power when needed. Even though it’s a concept engine, we don’t want to compromise the usability – who would want to switch to a less responsive power source?”
The internal combustion engine has proven to be a major player in the off-road machinery industry for a long time to come, and the CORE50 represents a leap forward in engine development.
“We have not yet seen all that the internal combustion engine has to offer,” Tapani Katila reminds. “But I can promise you that the CORE platform will carry on well into the future as we squeeze every last bit of power out of fuel!”