Familiar names like ZR and El Tigre make their way back into the Arctic Cat lineup for 2014. Arctic Cat’s new ZR 6000 El Tigre is much different than the El Tigre you remember riding as a kid, though. For starters, it’s powered by Cat’s brand new 6000 C-TEC2 engine. This lightweight, fuel-efficient 598.9-cc two-stroke pumps out 125-class horsepower. Designed and developed entirely by Arctic Cat, the 6000 C-TEC2 features an electronic oil pump, which measures fuel/oil ratios by RPM and altitude. What does that mean for riders? Arctic Cat says they can expect better fuel and oil efficiency, as well as reduced emissions. The 6000 C-TEC2 is also 10 pounds lighter than the company’s previous 600 engine.
Speaking of engines, it was speculated that Arctic Cat would be bringing in a new Yamaha four-stroke engine for 2014 and, for once, the rumours turned out to be true. The company calls its new 1049-cc, 135-class horsepower engine the 7000 C-TEC4; it will be available in the new ZR performance series and in the expanded XF crossover series.
Arctic Cat didn’t forget about its mountain sledders. For 2014, the company’s beloved 8000 M Series drops 18 pounds, thanks to lighter ski spindles, suspension components and a shorter, more narrow seat. The ProClimb chassis also underwent a small adjustment in the rear skid to improve handling and manoeuvrability. Gone is the 1100 Turbo from the M Series lineup and in its place is the 9000 C-TEC4. Don’t worry, though—this four-stroke engine is basically the same as the 1100 with its 177-class horsepower and it’s still the only stock turbo in the mountains; it’s all a part of Arctic Cat’s new engine naming system. The M Series sleds are available with either the 8000 two-stroke engine or the 9000 C-TEC4. For 2014, the mountain sleds also got a shorter heat exchanger and a complete powder-coated tunnel to prevent snow and ice from building up.
It all adds up to a sweet deal for those on the prowl for a new Arctic Cat.
For more information on the new 2014 lineup, see Arctic Cat’s website.
First impressions >> Amber Holt
Amber Holt is a professional Arctic Cat instructor and the owner of and master instructor at Backcountry Basics—a snowmobile riding clinic based in Island Park, Idaho. She was excited to see the new 2014 lineup from Arctic Cat, especially the mountain series. Here is what she said:
“Arctic Cat’s 2014 mountain lineup, I have to say, is going to be my all-time favourite mountain sleds to date. The orange and black M 8000 Limited 153 Sno Pro is my all-time favourite pick! I was just ecstatic when Arctic Cat decided to offer the Sno Pros with a completely powder-coated tunnel and rails, as this is the key to all-day riding weight reduction and snow elimination on those perfect, deep powder days! The 18-pound weight loss and narrower seat design really is noticeable to all-day endurance levels for a smaller rider like myself, at 130 pounds and five-foot, six inches. Though a small adjustment, the added ¾-inch change in the rear skid has completely brought the entire package together in how it handles with very predictable results to minimal rider input.”
What other fans are saying
Here are some comments on Arctic Cat’s new 2014 lineup that we gathered from an Arctic Cat thread on SnowandMud.com. Add your two cents by commenting at the bottom of this story.
“I love my 2012 and I can only imagine that the 2014s are going to be better. I really like the new colours and I really like that they took out the rear cooler on the PC's. Mine gets a ton of ice build up.” —Slamnek, SnowandMud.com forum member
“In my own opinion, the more important item than weight is the overall balance of the sled. These are mountain sleds and they need to be able to take some abuse and also be able to do things like pull dead sleds out to the staging areas, so sometimes a little extra weight is not always a bad thing. The ’05 through ’11 M sleds had a poor side to side balance but the front to back was not bad. The M series ’12s and up seem to have a not bad side to side balance but very poor front to back balance. When I stand on the sled in a normal riding stance I would like to see 50% of my weight on the rear of the sled and the other 50% on the front of the sled, not the current front heavy transfer.” —Trax 2 Treadz, SnowandMud.com forum member
“I really like the orange and black. Weight loss is OK but as long as it's still a strong sled—myself I would rather have something heavier but reliable.”—medler, SnowandMud.com forum member
