Can Arctic Cat Build Enough?

First of all, Arctic Cat is building 2026 snowmobile models and has already completed an early-order program. The goal is to fulfill all the early orders, then the stocking orders, and finally build enough units to satisfy a substantial number of returning and new dealers.

Will Arctic Cat be able to produce this many sleds and get them into showrooms this fall? The answer is yes…with a caveat. This plan’s success will be determined by Arctic Cat’s suppliers and vendors. Vendors are very happy that Cat is back, but because of supply chain logistics, the goal for 2026 might be a bit lofty.

For instance, traditionally snowmobile OEMs nail down the number of engines needed for the next model year to give engine suppliers almost a year to produce the ordered engines. This year the timeline is tight. However, the domestic engines Arctic Cat builds may not be as much of a challenge.

Here’s what we believe is happening and will continue over the next year. Obviously Arctic Cat will be building Arctic Cat snowmobile still powered by Yamaha engines and Cat’s proprietary domestic engines. We think it’s safe to say that alongside its 2-stroke-powered models, Arctic Cat will continue to offer Thundercats powered by Yamaha’s 998 Genesis turbocharged triple. Also look for at least one model – but maybe more – powered by Yamaha’s 1049cc naturally aspirated 4-stroke triple. To be clear – Cat is not building sleds for Yamaha.

Strong Leadership

One thing that cannot be underestimated is the skill, talent and raw determination of Brad Darling – now CEO and President of both Arctic Cat and Argo. By the sheer power of will and intensely focused direction, Darling has done what many said was impossible and if Darling says there will be enough 2026 sleds to cover orders, we would be hard pressed to question his word.

There are others at the Thief River Falls production facility who are not only incredibly talented but are just as deeply dedicated to seeing Arctic Cat’s successful return. These players bleed green.

Rationalizing Products and Brands

In offroad, look for Argo to do what it has been doing for 50 years – continuing to be the world leader in amphibious Xtreme Terrain Vehicles (XTVs), which include Argo’s 6- and 8-wheel XTVs and the amazing Sasquatch amphibious vehicle. A growing line-up of Arctic Cat ATVs and side-x-side vehicles will be offered immediately.

A looming question revolves around the relationship with Bass Pro Shops and what that will look like moving forward. Bass Pro Shops carries Tracker offroad vehicles in many of its consumer stores across North America and Tracker ATVs and side-x-sides are manufactured by Arctic Cat.

The actual number of Tracker units sold by Bass Pro Shops is not public knowledge at this time. Suffice it to say Arctic Cat will be or may already be in deep discussions with Bass Pro Shops.

Furthermore, with an increasing number of Argo dealers also becoming Arctic Cat dealers and an increasing number of Arctic Cat dealers also becoming Argo dealers, we think it is unlikely there will continue to be Argo-branded ATVs and side-x-sides in the future as it would needlessly create brand confusion.

Cat Is Back

As you can imagine, things are moving fast at Arctic Cat these days and credit goes to the top-level leadership and acquisition team led by Brad Darling that has revived one of the powersports industry’s most iconic brands. We look forward to reporting on new products, a growing dealer network, Arctic Cat’s future racing plans, and more.

Stay tuned!

Newly appointed CEO and President of Arctic Cat, Brad Darling is eager to start moving the brand forward, stating, “The pursuit of the checkered flag is in Arctic Cat’s DNA. It’s what we were built on. Like anyone who has ever grabbed the throttle – it’s a relentless drive that pushes us forward and sparks our passion. Today is the start of a new chapter, one where Arctic Cat returns to the race, but with a powerful understanding: this race is never-ending, and our intent is to lead.”

Since taking ownership of Arctic Cat in 2017, Textron Specialized Vehicles invested a great deal of time and resources to keep the brand and its technology at the forefront. This dedication was most recently proven with the release of the all-new Arctic Cat 858 C-TEC2 engine and CATALYST snowmobile chassis.

“We seek to continue Arctic Cat’s investment in its brand, products, people and dealers, extending its positive momentum. As a permanent fixture of Thief River Falls, MN for over 63 years, this iconic brand has benefitted from the passion of not only the employees but also
the entire community. We are now able to wipe away any uncertainty and are looking ahead with great excitement.”, continued Mr. Darling.

After a 17-year tenure at Arctic Cat, Mr. Darling assumed the role of CEO and President of ARGO in 2016, where he remains today. Founded in 1967, ARGO is the worldwide leader for amphibious Xtreme Terrain Vehicles (XTVs). Their unmistakable 6- and 8-wheeled amphibious vehicles are well known for their ability to “Go Anywhere.” Mr. Darling will continue to lead both companies into the future while leaning on potential synergies shared within the offroad segment.

While each brand will be owned and operated separately, the brand alignment of ARGO alongside Arctic Cat is a perfect match as Arctic Cat’s line of machines bring the passion on and off the trail, while the ARGO adventure starts where the trail ends.

Whether you’re on-trail, off-trail, reaching new elevations or pushing limits on the track, Arctic Cat will be here, ready to support every checkered flag in your future. Arctic Cat is here to Share Our Passion with you for generations to come!

arcticcat.com

Are Snowmobiles Going To Get More Expensive if Tariffs are Imposed? 

This is the question of the hour and frankly it cannot be answered at this time. However, here is what seems to be the situation. Big dollar, resource-based items like steel and aluminum produced in Canada are likely to be the first targets for tariffs. 

Items of a more household nature may be slower to be affected and who knows, may not be affected at all. It would make sense cars built in Canada may be pretty high on the list to have tariffs imposed. As a result, I would suggest keeping an eye on automobiles as they could ultimately be a clue to answering the first question regarding snowmobiles.

Will US Tariffs on Snowmobiles Result in a Retaliatory Response From Canada?

I would be shocked if any tariffs imposed on Canada do not result in a retaliatory tariff response. This has been reported in the main stream media since the first discussion of tariffs emerged earlier this year. 

This seems likely and could mean the price of Canadian and Mexican made snowmobiles headed for the US will go up as will American made snowmobiles destined for Canada. I am drawing from what is being said in the general media. None of this may come to pass. At least let’s hope it doesn’t.

Will the Price of Used Sleds Go Up?

This is one of the most interesting issues in this situation. It makes sense used sleds should be in higher demand if tariffs affect new sled pricing. In the mid 00’s there was a huge cross-border, used sled business going on between Canada and the US. The situation was somewhat different though as it related to the value of the US dollar compared to the Canadian dollar. Nonetheless any increase in the flow of used sleds crossing the border (either direction) would appear capable of putting upward pressure on the used market.

What Impact Could Tariffs on Snowmobiles Have on Dealers?

Clearly, if imposed, tariffs and retaliatory tariffs will hurt the retail sales of new sleds. However, there is a caveat. Canadian buyers buying Canadian made snowmobiles may not be hit with price increases and it would seem logical US buyers of US built sleds should experience the same situation – no price increases from tariffs.

How Much of The Tariff will be Passed on to the Retail Customer?

This may be the biggest question in this whole deal. Unfortunately, the answer will be determined by each OEM. You’ll know when we in the enthusiast press know. 

This is just a very narrow snap shot of what might be going on in the sno-mo-biz as it relates to tariffs. I have posited no answers here – just hypothetical descriptions of what could happen. 

We want to give our readers and viewers a clearer view of what tariffs ultimately mean and what may be happening in the immediate future. 

Stay tuned and we’ll bring you all the latest info as it rolls out and what to expect as we head into the 2026 Model Year.

First, Why Have We Been Quiet?

The past two months we’ve been clearing rumors and speculative op-eds from our hard drives while waiting to bring you real info and not just opinion. Our viewers and readers have come to trust us for the straight goods on important topics.

This particular situation revolving around the future of Arctic Cat has been the most talked about issue in the sno-mo-media in the last ten years. I will attempt to bring some clarity by identifying what is likely happening and what is actually happening. We’ve waited until now to name names due to the sensitive nature of this important issue.

What’s With Textron?

Textron is a multi-billion dollar US Corporation with huge ties to the US military and – believe it or not – a formidable foot print in both the private aviation and golf cart/electric vehicle market. What Textron does not do is market or sell its products to the retail marketplace. It is a self-admitted Business to Business (B2B) focused entity.

This means Textron knows little about selling snowmobiles and offroad motorized recreational products. If there ever is a reconciliation of how this situation ended up as it is today, this one reality – Textron’s lack of experience with retail marketing – will be the best answer.

You don’t need to be Kreskin to realize Textron isn’t committed to the recreational powersports manufacturing business. Its communication with dealers and the enthusiast marketplace the past two months has been nothing short of dismal and all of it underlines the problem I just spoke of.

The powersports industry requires deep understanding of the target consumer and his/her expectations. We’re a complicated demographic but are loyal, dedicated and committed to our brands. When I say committed I mean way beyond common sense or practicality. Simply put, many snowmobilers are rabidly brand loyal.

So here’s what we think might be going on as the industry reels from the news Arctic Cat will be shut down for at least three months with no indication or most certainly no promise it will be back. For sure we shouldn’t assume the faithful devoted employees of Arctic Cat in Thief River Falls are not battle hardened. They are and this situation right now is impacting a lot of good people who know how to build great snowmobiles.

The Straight Goods

There are numerous rumors floating around the Powersports Industry right now. For sure there is no lack of speculation about what will happen to Arctic Cat moving out three months, six months and one year from now. John Deere – the agriculture giant that’s been in and out of the sno-mo biz more than once was spotted in TRF last summer. Immediately they were thought to be looking at Arctic Cat.

In the ensuing time Bobcat was painted with the same rumor. When CFMOTO signed on as an ISOC Sno-X masthead sponsor the grass caught on fire under the telephone lines. In some ways this move seemed the most believable amongst some pretty wild speculation. We’re prepared to say none of the aforementioned candidates hold much water.

Except…

Argo, the maker of Argo XTVs, ATVs and SXS vehicles has been making moves which go back more than 2 years. It is no secret things at Arctic Cat have been in turmoil for at least that long. For the past three years Textron has been showing the door to some immensely talented, even iconic, dedicated staff.

In almost lock step with these moves by Textron, Argo opened a full-on, fully staffed engineering and design facility in TRF. Guess who works for Argo now? You got it – fifty of the best minds in the recreational powersport industry.

There’s More

One of the most aggressive and talented CEOs in this business – Brad Darling – has led Argo to huge success – increasing sales of the company 4 fold in less than seven years. Who is Brad Darling? He is the former Vice President of Arctic Cat and served as such until the end of the Chris Metz era. Over the years I’ve interviewed Brad Darling. He is savvy and possesses infinite knowledge of what it takes to be successful in the powersports biz. Oh yeah. He bleeds green.

Draw A Line Through This

While we don’t have boilerplate confirmation Argo is positioning itself to take over Arctic Cat, it is undeniable something’s going on – with Brad Darling at the controls. For sure he knows the time line necessary to make this a reality is pretty short. If our thoughts here are correct, things may happen quickly.

There’s no doubt Arctic Cat is a 100% viable business proposition – when run by the right people. Clearly, the company needs to implement a substantial reversal of policy and procedures, moving forward. What does “moving forward mean”?

Is there, or was there ever a line up of companies ready to buy Arctic Cat? From what we’ve picked up using our top secret, Artificial Intelligence, there is and/or was interest – and we’ve verified it is serious. Know this – Arctic Cat remains much loved by a legion of green under-wearing enthusiasts. In my opinion? Arctic Cat is not done.

Here’s a twist perfectly suited for Read/Valve. The SnowTrax crew is planning to capture some Arctic Cat content with a best-before date of Spring 2025. Ask yourself why Arctic Cat would do this if it wasn’t going to sell new snowmobiles?

Here’s more. Arctic Cat’s brand-new engine – the 858 in the CATALYST platform is ready for prime time offering truly competitive performance in a very competitive market. Something this desirable is too good to waste.

Finally, one more thing. Have you heard the fat lady sing?

We haven’t.

First and foremost, remember there are no actual 858 powered Cats in the hands of media or dealers right now. We have a limited build CATALYST with the only mill available this season – the 600cc Dual Stage Injection 2-stroke, built late last winter. The engine has proven itself reliable. In fact, the first year AC introduced this engine as a limited build in 2014, I personally put the lion’s share of 10,000 km on it without incident.

Having said that, though, I don’t expect you’ll see this engine in the CATALYST for very long. The 600 was never designed to be shoehorned into the new platform so we suspect an all-new 600 is likely in development.

The CATALYST is light – real light, and you can feel it. The sled feels feathery when flicked in the twisties and steering inputs are responded to smoothly and predictably. There’s a measure of understeer in play before dragging the brake when entering a tight turn. This is not unnerving as a quick tap on the drive axle mounted brake brings the front end back into an oversteer posture that holds bite through the apex and out the exit. It is a familiar ritual and one that’s easy to learn.

The front end – very similar to Cat’s ProCross wide spaced A-arm setup – is exceptionally stable on-center, at any speed. Handlebar effort is remarkably light and responsive; a trait directly tied to the sled’s lightness.

Ergonomics are now among the best in the biz and pretty much everyone who rides this sled comments on how comfortable it is. The CATALYST rider’s perch is super narrow like a MATRYX Indy and the seat foam is perfectly supportive from the gas tank to the tail. The handlebars fall readily at hand and hip, knee and foot position are very nearly perfect for stand-up/sit down transitions.

The CATALYST suspension package is familiar. The venerable “Slide Action” open yoke front torque arm mounting allows for a wider margin of uncoupled movement in light chop and rollers. While not harsh through the whoops, neither is this suspension notably plush.

Our ZR features ATAC adjustable on-the-fly shock damping, which is a highly effective feature that increases all day ride comfort and adds a measure of plushness. Up front, the wide A-arm IFS flattens sucker bumps and allows virtually no harsh feedback when diving into junk terrain.

Notable in the sled’s acceleration profile is Arctic’s “ADAPT” automatic belt tensioner, which makes RPM transitions from full whack to dropped throttle, super consistent. Never does the CVT get mixed up and pull a less-than-awesome back shift.

The new chainless, final drive, cogged belt system works flawlessly, which is something Luke pointed out at this time last year after his first ever ride on the CATALYST in Thief River Falls. This means the cacophony we’re exposed to with every other chain drive sled is measurably reduced with the new belt drive. There’s no steel-on-steel chain and gear noise or the whizzing of a chain tensioner. While this isn’t necessarily the belt drive’s main objective, there is a measurable reduction in NVH.

The power laid down by the DSI 600 is formidable. Acceleration is strong and crisp and top end is solid. That being said, you’re not likely to walk an Indy 650 down an open stretch of lake. Again, we’re looking at Cat to introduce a 600-650 built off the 858 block sometime in the future.

The 2024 ZR 600 CATALYST 129 with ATAC is more than the sum of its parts mainly because of its lightness. Light has always been and will continue to be right. Now, imagine how this sled will feel with an 858 under the hood knowing the 600 is only one pound lighter!