With the recently opened pre-order period, we will try to provide you with some information as we receive it to successfully pre-order your favorite new Arctic Cat snowmobile.
The Ride More Early Order Program is the perfect opportunity to order the exciting new 2026 Arctic Cat snowmobile. Customers who place a $500 deposit on a new 2026 Arctic Cat snowmobile by May 16, 2025, and take delivery by December 1, 2025, or within 20 days of shipment to the dealer—whichever comes first—will receive a 3-Year Factory Limited Warranty.
Customers who pre-order an Arctic Cat snowmobile with a $500 deposit will receive a complimentary 3-year warranty with their purchase.
Contact your local dealer to place your order for your new Arctic Cat snowmobile!
If you have any further questions, please reach out to your local dealer.
Prices are in line with everybody else. With that said, something has to be done to lower these costs. Getting out of hand. Not just sleds btw. If I were to order, I would have loved to see a 600 version of the EXT Special. I have no need for anything larger myself.
I think the zr400 should be around $6500 new, not what they are asking.
But one day I will own one and put a speedwerx race muffler and make it sound like and old lynx
Wish in one hand, you know what in the other. See which one fills up first. They are not going to lose money on them.
Hi Rudy. I too would like to see cheaper prices, but it’s going to take time. The US economy is still reeling from 4 years of billions of unaccountable money printed with no care for the ramifications, and will take some time to rebuild and get prices down, if it is at all even possible. But in the meantime, I have some info for you. Ski Doo offers 2 similarish trail sleds to the Cat 400. One is called the MXZ neo. It has a 600 2 stroke twin, makes 40 hp, and retails at $6,849. They also make a stronger version, the MXZ neo+. It has the same size engine, but makes 55hp, and retails for $7,649. Cheaper than the Cat offerings, but BRP is a monster company, and can afford to give away certain things, because they know that these sleds are just stepping stones, and will lead to future full power sales to these customers.
Could we please see clear pictures of the entire lineup? Thank you.
I agree, I really want an EXT special and the 600 with the basic gauge package would be plenty. I was hoping they were releasing the retro Panther version they had mocked up, but this EXT is even nicer. This is the sled to have, damn it looks sweet!! Great job ARCTIC CAT!!!
What makes the ext special “special” is the eps, e-start-gauge-and shocks.
If you want a base 600 that looks like that, you can order one and wrap it.
@Krom, do you know of the eps will be active at all speeds or just within a certain speed range?
It has the potential to be speed sensitive, and it wouldn’t make any sense not to be, as it is on the wheelers. It could also have
I thought that the Catalyst sleds were super lightweight (the 858 close to the 600), super handling / steering. Why is EPS even necessary?
More cost to the purchase price of the sled, more claptrap to go wrong.
They put way more aggressive skis on it. Not going to add much weight either.
Ok. But the other OEMs presumably have aggressive skis on their sleds, don’t have EPS, and are routinely singled out as taking top honors in handling.
Along with marginal winters, the OEMs are pricing themselves into obsolescence, and EPS is just one more pricey feature to go bad.
Don’t buy it then. you have less expensive options.
So, is the Yamaha engine supply agreement still in place??
nust be. 3 year agreement.
3 years? Starting for 26?
What was told.
you also said that the partnership between Yami and Cat was the strongest its ever been, right before Yami announced they would exit the sled business
I figured you’re just making it up as you go.
The one spot they missed the mark is the 7000.
It has all the weight of a 4 stroke with none of the turbo power.
My wife would own a 7000 if it has power steering.
She’s better off on a 600. A procross 600 does everything better than the 7000, and the catalyst is light years ahead of both
Moron!
KROM, is right ! I had a 7000 and hated it. Iv got a 600 & a 858 Catalyst. I swapped with a buddies ZR8000, my Catalyst are night and day better sled. Steering is so much lighter and easier to turn. I never had a sled that if you put an aftermarket Can on it, 10-15 lbs saving. That you could feel the weight difference. It’s a well balanced sled.
,,but you gotta carry oil on a multi-day touring adventure and it still stinks like a 2stroke.
Not sure how far you’re riding, but the 6 doesn’t burn much oil. A Qt of oil doesn’t weigh much, and doesn’t take up much space, way better than dealing with downfalls of the 7000.
Once warmed up, you can’t see the smoke, let alone smell it. I have gone as far as 1400 miles on a gallon of oil, including break in. Get her a two stroke. You won’t regret it.
Same here. EPS on the ZR7000/Pantera would be nice.
Give them time to figure out pricing, they had to get the MY 26 out in order to sell any. They may reevaluate as they put things in motion. I don’t know if they are expecting big sales for these but getting them out there for sale was necessary. Let’s just say they have a goal of increasing sales 20% in the coming year(s), that equates to 20% used cat sleds for sale down the road. Don’t discount the part about actually having used Cat sleds for sale. Part of the buying process is used sleds sales as well. We can’t just have Doo and Poo used sleds out there. I do agree, it is baffling that they did not offer an EXT version of the 600. That would have sold like crazy…but they had limited time on this release to think of everything. Long Live The Cat!
You really think guys would pay 18-19k for a 600, instead of just buying the 858???
You hit the nail on the head Krom. Why would I get an overpriced 600. CAT just lost countless sales.
Nope, I don’t think they lost more than a hand full of sales, but they just pushed the few customers on the edge, to buy a 858, instead of the 600. A fully loaded 600 wouldn’t sell enough units to make it worth producing. Think about it, the 600, and 858 basically cost the same to build, and they need to turn a profit to try and get out of the huge hole textron dug for AC.
600 class sleds don’t sell that well to begin with.
Any “limited” or “special” sled should come fully loaded with all the options, thats what makes it special.
If you want a low price sled, buy a low price sled, and wrap it, or swap on the factor graphics/seat cover.
people don’t just buy a 600 for the price. Some people prefer a 600 for a multitude of reasons. I’m a trail sled I would prefer a 600 over the 858, regardless of price. I’ve seen many people say they wish the EXT came in a 600.
im glad EXT is 858 only
makes it more unique and limited
and wont see one at every warmup shack
It is indeed a happy day! The 2026 cats ARE coming! An awful shame Yamaha will not be joining us. But, I have a few changes I’d really suggest making to the 7000s and 9000s. There are a total of 3 Yamaha Vipers, 6 Sidewinders, and 1 cat turbo in my extended group, and over the years I have noted SEVERAL flaws that I, and I believe others, would LOVE to see addressed, thus making future cats better! Buckle up, this is gonna be quite a read for you.
Easier to drain oil tank. The oil tank drain bolt is near the front of the oil tank. When the bolt is removed, the oil comes out and has no easy or quick way to get out of the belly pan. Also, in front of the oil tank drain bolt and underneath the muffler is a sound deadening foam that soaks up a LARGE amount of the oil, presenting a HUGE fire risk. In spring, the sled can be degreased and throughly rinsed out, but not in a normal shop in the winter time. I suggest the bellypan have a hole routed in it below the oil tank drain, and have a rubber plug, like the old clutch bolt belly pan plug installed. The plug is easy enough to remove for an oil change, and should not come off during riding, but testing should still be done to make sure.
Chain case oil drain. On the 2 strokes it’s easy enough to change the chain case oil. Warm up the chain case oil with a moderate ride and stick an oil vacuum line down the oil fill plug when you get back. No such luck on the 4 strokes that have the mechanical reverse shifting setup there.
Chain case oil level window. Please bring this back. I don’t want to remove a screw to see my chain case oil when for 2012 to 2021 models it could be seen at a glance.
Better sealing of oil tank to chain case cover. This could better be accomplished with an o ring or seal, like the chain case cover to chain case seal. Removing, cleaning, and resealing the oil tank to the chain case cover is a NIGHTMARE. Especially during winter. You have to drain the oil (see my gripes in the first paragraph of this post), remove the oil tank/chain case cover assembly, separate the oil tank from the chain case cover, clean and degrease them THROUGHLY, bring them into your house so they get warm overnight, put sealant on them in the morning, making sure you use enough, but not too much, you don’t want to risk excess coming off and possibly clogging the oil tank screen and starving your engine of oil, waiting 24 hours for the sealant to cure, pressure testing the oil tank/chain case cover assembly, then putting it all back together. NOT FUN. Pro tip. Pressure test. EVERY time. Ask me how I know. Or an easier solution, a stamped steel and welded, self contained oil tank line like the true Yamahas. Never heard of one of them leaking. This could be implemented easily. On the chain case cover there are 2 tabs that stick into the oil tank to help hold anti slosh parts. Those would need to be milled off so the new steel oil tank could easily be screwed into the old sealed together tank’s location.
Oil tank venting. On the 2017 to 2019 and 2020 to 2025 turbos they have what’s called a oil cut off valve. It prevents the engine from pumping all its oil out the top of the oil tank in the event of a roll over. But there is a problem with it. There is a site called “barn of parts”. They offer most of the following upgrades and more! I have installed the following upgrades on 6 Yamahas and 1 cat turbo and will happily vouch for their quality and engineering. Anyway, one of these upgrades is called a “rollover valve bypass kit”. It consists of 2 billet oil fill caps with small holes in them, one for the oil tank and one for the valve cover, and a clear blue fuel line to connect them. In the morning when they are started, moisture can CLEARLY be seen creeping up the line. No on the 2017 to 2019 models, that moisture would accumulate during riding and saturate the oil cut off valve, and freeze overnight, causing the valve to not function in the morning, causing a build up of pressure in the oil tank and eventually cracking it, with them being made out of magnesium. Cat obviously has seen this happen, as they make an update kit for the 2017 to 2019 turbos, part number 0637-533 with a heater built in! But THAT, and the 2020 to 2025 models with the kit already installed, have a different problem! The vent from the valve goes into the inlet side of the turbo on the 2017 to 2019 models. But the vent from the valve goes into the AIRBOX on the 2020 to 2025 models, on the clean side, just behind the air filter. Now this vent releases oil during operation, soaking into the air filter, oversaturating it, and then the oil runs out of the air filter, out of the airbox, and right onto the DRIVE CLUTCH. NOT a good place for oil. Also, the old vent location on the turbo has a plug of some kind on it on the newer models that could possibly fail!
Intercooler guard. Something simple like the barn of parts kit. A frog skin to keep snow dust and wet snow from sticking to the intercooler, thus improving it’s efficiency.
LH driveshaft bearing. This attributes to ALL procross, proclimb, viper, sidewinders, and maybe even the catalyst! On the left side of the driveshaft is the brake caliper. Good spot. The problem in the bearing inside the caliper that the drive shaft rides on, and the driveshaft itself. Many of you reading this may already know where I’m going. There is not enough interference for between the bearing in the caliper and the driveshaft, so the driveshaft spins IN the bearing, not WITH it. A buddy’s driveshaft needed replacing because of this, and it must have been 2mm undersized from wear! Again, barn of parts has come up with a fix. Their “driveshaft repair bearing” has it’s inner race thinned to have a long sleeve pressed inside it. This sleeve is attached to the driveshaft with 3 grub, or as some call them, set screws, similar to ye olde cats, but without the locking collar. This solves the driveshaft problem permanently!
Wider bushing inside upper chain case sprocket. Oh boy. You don’t want to see what happens when THIS fails. On the jackshaft, where the top sprocket lives, there is a space between the sprocket and the jackshaft bearing. Keeping the sprocket away from this bearing and in line with the chain and other sprocket is a clip and washer. The clip can be side loaded and popped out of it’s groove, and the top sprocket gets out of line with the chain and bottom sprocket and it makes a BIG mess! In order to prevent this, barn of parts offers a sprocket with a thick brass insert and washer, taking up that space on the jackshaft, making top sprocket migration impossible.
Welded chain tensioner roller. A lot of the Yamaha guys reading this will know what I mean already. On the Yamahas and cat 7000/9000, they implement a chain tensioner with a roller. Very good. The problem is that the roller is held to it’s bracket with an internal shaft, and small screws on both ends. These screws DO come out, and the chain tensioner parts go flying, the chain is no longer tensioned, and that makes a big mess. A simple solution was attempted by Yamaha or cat, of using loctite on these screws, but some still loosen. The correct solution is the screws, but welding over the top to them, so they can never back out.
Brass reverse shift fork pads. The stock ones are plastic and can break. Barn of parts offers nice brass ones.
I’d also like to see the chain case, chain case cover, and, if the old sealed together design is kept, oil tank be made out of aluminum. I’ve seen many of these parts crack from simple chain case oil changes. One element lighter, but a significant strength loss doesn’t make sense to me.
Thanks for reading, and LET’S GO CAT!
Oil change ? On my 7000 all I did was take the 4 screws off the toe holder/guard. Pull that out and put my Form-A-Funnel in there. Done deal and almost no mess. Not sure if there’s more plumbing on the 9000. But I never had an issue !
It seems to me like the drain bolt is further forward on the 9000, and I couldn’t get my flexible funnel work for me.
I doubt they’re going to change the 4 stroke sleds at this point, they are the outgoing/legacy chassis and in the sunset of their lifespan. I think they’re only there until they figure out a way to have a 4 stroke catalyst.
There are new AC 4 strokes that would/should have bee done years ago, but textron wouldn’t properly fund the R&D.
Textron is sure held cat back I’ll say that much. But now they are out of our lives for good! Now we have real Cat lovers at the helm, and stuff’s gonna get done!
What would you like to see krom? I’d like to see a 1000 2 stroke catalyst, a turbo catalyst, 850 and 1000 twin quads that can compete or at least come close to the killer offerings from Can Am and Polaris. Also, we DO need some sort of fancy sxs, even though I don’t care for them or the ways of their pilots. But, they sell, and money, along with INVESTMENT, helps fund R&D and thus better products, a FACT which was lost on Cat’s previous “owner”. A pox on them I say.
Most important thing is a 858 turbo. The dirt side has a lot of work ahead of them.
Under textron arctic cat offroad has become irrelevant, over the last couple of years they aren’t even mentioned when journalists are talking about the industry. BRP doesn’t even list them on the “other brands you considered when shopping” on their new owner survey (they do list Hisun though).
The entire line-up (if you can call 1 atv, 1 utility sxs, and one sport sxs a line-up) is over due for refresh/replacement.
Yeah, you are probably right Greg.
They are going to have a hard time fitting a triple into the catalyst. It’s tight in there! The move I’d try is to see if the Yamaha sxs 1000 twin engine would fit, and if so, boost it on the dyno, and modify it if needed for reliable turbo use. Maybe it could get away with low comp forged pistons, turbo cams, and head studs, and hope it doesn’t need a stronger crank, rods, or cases! I’ll do some digging, see if a turbo kit for the sxs exists already.
I still think it would be nice if at least some of my findings could be incorporated, because it’s probably going to take a few years for a four stroke catalyst, and I’d like the turbo procross to be looked upon fondly in it’s last years of production as the best ones.
It won’t let me reply directly to your comment krom, so I’ll have to put it here.
Yeah! I forgot about Ski Doo and Polaris turbo 2 strokes! I don’t know about Ski Doo, but the Polaris is a deadly weapon. High 180/low 190 hp AND low weight? Maybe the turbo 4 strokes are obsolete for the non heavy modders/trail riders?
Yeah, the dirt department has their work cut out for them. I never had a problem with the 600 other than it’s small engine size. Good to compete with the Can Am 500/700 (which are both actually 650s, the 500 being detuned) and Polaris 570, but NOT as the flagship.
I think the problem was actually one we can’t entirely blame on textron for once. Wow. Never thought I’d type or say that. Odd. Anyway, Cat never updated their 1000 to compete with the Can Am or Polaris 1000s, and had nothing in the 800/850 range. From 2018 until 2022 Cat’s big quad was a 700. It’s a good quad, a buddy has over 9000 (lol meme) miles on his, only needed brake pads and oil changes. 700 is fine for the Big 4 Japanese brands (I own a Suzuki 750 myself, great rig), but NOT for a North American company.
Hisun? Thought they only made scooters? Does Can Am mention CF moto?
Gonna take a long time to get it all sorted, but I DO see it happening.
The VP from Marketing came up to my crew and I at Haydays last year. We had a way longer talk then I was thinking. Very nice guy, even came in the pits on Sunday and wished us good luck. I’m not into Dirt but my buddy is. So he asked a lot of questions. We were told they have everything ( different models ) done and ready to go into production on the dirt side. But do to the slow down in the market they were holding off. And don’t want to burn their dealers with excess inventory. Personally, I was thinking that was Textron holding out. Especially if they were thinking of selling the place. I basically said that they need to come out with at least one new model. So it looks like they’re still in the game.
@AC142 I hope so, but also heard from someone in engineering that it would take $50M in engineering to develop a competitive line up. Have been hearing of a prowler pro with more HP for several years now, but haven’t seen it.
@Kyle Hisun builds far more models of utv than AC, and has a new $105M factory in Mexico.
I like 600 bullet proof! Reliability is critical if you’re borrowing money to buy or if you are trailering into remote spots on a limited schedule.
My Dodge challenger is a v6. The most expensive one you can get,gt, sinnamon stick, sunroof, black out package, awd. Etc.
My point is don’t be afraid to sell smaller engines with all the goods!
There’s money out there that want that
is there a new Arctic Cat website coming with all the information, pricing and how/where to order, etc. as the current Arctic Cat website is the Textron site with 2025 stuff?
hopefully some SPEC SHEETS with dry weight and other useful information… LOL!
It takes time to update things. More than a week probably, you think. Site now says updating so you may get to see your dry weight, which really means nothing because it is not rideable fully dry.
life seems to be back to normal, thank you to all who worked to save Arctic Cat. You just never know what they are going to pull out of their sleeve and the awesome EXT is just the beginning.
Cats has alot of work ahead of them. Doo and Poo are ahead in sales and technology and getting those that ride those brands and have been for years is gonna take time, better technology, better warranty, better quality, better prices and more dealers is what cat needs to offer. Getting more dealers to get on board will be a tough sale. Unfortunately Dealers that sold Cat have a bad taste after years of selling them with getting the plugged pulled then with the economy being uncertain it’s gonna be tough. Snowmobiles are not gonna keep them alive they need atvs and side by sides that are a stout product as well. Winters are way too unknown anymore. Eight of my last cats either had recalls or issues then on top of it I was driving 2 hours to the dealership to purchase or take back for an issue then back to get it then back home. Would have been nice to have a closer dealer. This will be my 3rd year out of snowmobiles and haven’t missed it. We use our new camper and truck every weekend 8 months a year. For us it was a better investment, plus no salt to deal with anymore. Unfortunately all recreation is expensive no matter what you do and nothing holds value. It was time for a change for us. I wish them the best of luck hopefully they will become one of the best players in the recreational world again.
I would bet these guys are well aware a generic average machine is not going to cut it in today’s market. this should be a in interesting time for cat. on the dirt side you see the same side by sides everywhere you look, people are ready for something different.
does anyone know if the EXT comes with a painted silver tunnel? or bare aluminum tunnel?
sorry guys, i just noticed in small print, it says, quick silver/ pinnacle purple ,
so I’m assuming that’s the tunnel,
has cat ever had a silver painted tunnel before?
i don’t recall
The 2024 Yamaha Sidewinder GT-EPS, and possibly others, has a painted silver tunnel. Looks OK I guess, but I prefer a natural tunnel. Can’t polish the paint to look like a mirror.
problem with non painted is snow and ice sticks to it more. powder coated is the only way to go. can’t remember the year,, but Cat had a silver Mountain Cat that was all silver as well
For everyone in a fuss about a 4-Stroke in the Catalyst, the EXT was supposed to have one… and one built in St. Cloud. Some of us got a chance to see the bulkhead/ tube structure to accommodate it. Give it time. Or don’t believe me, your choice. Look at the line up – take your personal wants out of it. They did what they could for quick wins, they need to generate dollars, then decide what director the Pro Cross takes. That tooling is more than amortized – that platform is the answer to a value priced unit. Everyone needs to breathe… and understand the brand is in its third or fourth factory reset era of its existence.
I’m in no fuss, it just doesn’t seem like it would fit in there to me is all. The procross front end is physically bigger, and as a guy who has spent a pretty sizable amount of time in there, it just doesn’t look like the engine and all the turbo plumbing would fit in a catalyst. If they make it work, I’m not too proud to admit I was wrong, and I’ll be damn impressed!
It won’t be the 998, it will be the AC designed and built 4 strokes. The ones that should have been done a few years ago, but are still a little ways away because textron stopped R&D
I wonder if Yamaha had a hand in them though. I bet with a turbo and any needed reliability mods that 1000 twin sxs engine could be a good sled engine.
So let’s hear it! Who ordered what?! Come on spill those beans!
26 kitty pre-ordered! to match our 72 kitty!
super excited!
our kids are grown but I’m still a kid at heart!
and maybe we’ll have grandkids to ride them.
and even if we dont ,they don’t take up much space and are so cool to look at and show off!
love old school and retro toys!
can’t believe nobody on here didn’t pre-order anything?
i was on the fence for the EXT but we just got
a 23 tcat
They sold well. Country Cat said far exceeded expectations. my dealer did very well.
good to hear,
how about your dealership Tom?
pre-order sales good?