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

Mark Says:

Kent! How do you continually fan on the puck like this and completely miss out on joining me in anointing the new ZR 800 DSI as this year’s BIC Trail Sled? This sled and its revolutionary Dual Stage Injection mill is one of the biggest stories in MY 2018.

Dual Stage Injection is the next step in precise fuel management after semi-direct injection and it delivers performance and economy closer to Direct Injection than any SDI system. More importantly, this new 800 mill produces more torque and infinitely better throttle response than the Suzuki 800 it replaces.

There’s more here that makes this a legit BIC winner: Arctic Cat re-designed all the associated body panels on the latest ZRs using proprietary, easy-to-use fasteners and finally, made oil tank filling easy and spill-proof. Most importantly, the new skin looks up-to-date, tight and functional.

Ride quality on our winning 137 variant of the ZR is the best in Cat’s fleet. The Slide Action skid is plush and the wide-spaced front IFS is super compliant, particularly if there’s a set of Fox QS-3 shocks in play.

The new, re-invented, redesigned, re-powered ZR 800 is a big win for Arctic Cat in MY 18 and the slot-injected 600 in this sled ain’t no slouch either.