In the summer of 1984, Fiat’s 80 series was replaced by the Fiatagri 90 series. As the familiar appearance already hinted, this was not an entirely new tractor, but rather an updated version of the 80 series introduced nine years earlier. Perhaps the single biggest improvement was the new transmission. A 12+4 gearbox with cross-mostly stepped ranges had already been introduced on the home market a couple of years before. As an option there was also a 12+12 shuttle transmission. Unlike before, the shift levers were moved to the side (the shuttle lever was on the left). The range gears remained unsynchronized.

Engine displacement was increased slightly, and the cylinder-head cover was advertised as having a swirl-inducing air duct, but the engines were still high-speed units whose torque output was lower than that of the competition. Lift capacity was clearly higher than on the predecessors: 3,500 kg on the 70-90 and 80-90. The linkage featured a heavy-duty mechanical quick-control (“click-clack”) device. The turning circle measured 10.6 meters, which was large compared with the competition, but Fiatagri still had the advantage of positive-engagement gear locks.

The Pininfarina cab underwent minor revisions. In Finland all models were imported in the almost flat-floor Super Comfort version. In the autumn of 1985, a wider Cabina Larga version became available for the 70-90 and 80-90. Although Fiat had proclaimed at the model debut that a turbo was only worthwhile in the large six-cylinder engines, the lineup was expanded in 1989 with the turbocharged 85-90. It came standard with a shuttle gearbox featuring a hydraulic Hi-Lo shuttle (24+12), which was also offered as an option on the 70-90 and 80-90. A year earlier those models had already received a 12+12 transmission as standard, increasing top road speed to 39 km/h, and a more agile front axle. Another important change was galvanizing all sheet-metal parts, since the cab in particular was highly prone to rust.

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