Snowmobile dealers were given one-on-one private showings of the new (presumably 2012 model year) Wildcat at the dealer show. Only a few details were shared, and no photos were allowed.
Here are some of the details, some of which were mentioned at the show, some visible in the video, and some talked about as pure rumor on those crazy internet forums:
-Full tube-chassis
-16 in. of suspension travel with 30-in. reservoir shocks
-Trailing-arm rear suspension
-951cc V-Twin EFI engine (the same engine used in the Thundercat/1000), but sporting dual exhaust and apparently massaged to produce something around 95 hp.
-64 in. wide wheel stance
-Retail pricing aimed at $15,900
I see a RZR-beater, future Baja-winner and Glamis-hero, not to mention the fastest trip to the deer stand ever offered.
Below is the official release:
Arctic Cat Unleashes a Wild Cat at Recent Dealer Show
ROV Wows Dealers
Thief River Falls, Minn. (March 24, 2011) – Arctic Cat showcased an unexpected ROV dubbed “Wildcat” during the close of their 2012 snowmobile dealer show in Nashville, TN.
Arctic Cat has strived to bring innovative designs and technology to their customers since 1962. With 2012 marking the brand’s 50th Anniversary, the bold off-road styling cues of the Wildcat’s bodywork coupled with its aggressive sport stance and interior suggest Arctic Cat will move to the forefront as the industry-leader in the pure sport ROV segment.
“This is the Year of the Cat! It’s also the Year of Excitement,” Claude Jordan, CEO told dealers in attendance. “Inspired by race bred and race proven designs, we are committed to giving our customers the highest-performance models they deserve in the snow and off-road categories, as well as future endeavors.”
Very few details were released regarding the Wildcat, but Jordan noted, “An extremely capable suspension is what all pure sport ROV owners are begging for, and we promise this will be an industry leader.”
When asked about production dates, Jordan hinted, “You may see this in dealer showrooms during our 2012 fiscal year which would end next March.”