1993 cat update

Even though the folks in Thief River Falls, Minnesota have brought the Cat back from the dead and exceeded their own wildest expectations, these Arctco snowmobilers aren't rolling over and letting the competition play catch up.

In many ways, Arctco has gone from the back of the pack to being the leader of the pack when it comes to snowmobiling. For whatever reasons - and we think we know some of them - the Cat people know more about our psyche as snowmobilers than anyone else. What makes us say that is what we saw when we had a close-up peek at the 1993 model line-up.

Obviously, the news-getter will be the 900cc Suzuki triple that will power the new Thundercat. It's more than displacement, it's how that engine uses a new case reed induction system for greater efficiency and better head-snapping torque. Cat should have the top cat for the snows in '93 - and this season's snows haven't even melted yet.

Okay, the T-Cat is the biggie. But consider how effectively Cat people are using the electronic fuel injection. The Cat engineers may have been cautious at first, but it looks like the EFI works and will be a standard feature on many of the future Cats.

Our favorite EFI Cat is the 1993 Pantera. This sled is a touring rider's dream. It has been pumped up from a 440 liquid to a 550 for more on-trail power. Plus, the new 550 is a fuel injected one! Man, this is where we've thought EFI would be most beneficial - in a top of the line touring sled. EFI fits this market perfectly because it affords the guy who wants to ride and not tinker exactly that - perfect response, maximum engine performance in all kinds of weather and terrain. Without fussing with jets, etc. Hey, the T-Cat crowd wants to get grease under the fingernails. The Pantera crowd wants to put miles under his fanny.

But the Pantera isn't the only EFI Cat for 1993. Check out the Wildcat 700. You'll find the EFI twin in the AWS chassis - and a Mountain Cat chassis too. For you carb types, there is still a carburetted Wildcat. There are EXTs with EFI.

And in the performance realm, the Specials are gone and replaced with the resurrected title of "Z". (But there is also a new Ski-Doo called the Formula Z. Could there be a conflict here? Can you say "attorney" boys and girls?)

The new EXT 580Z™ is a bored out 550 twin. The Prowler 440Z™ is essentially the same as the '92 Special. The Jag 440Z™ is a re-do of the very popular Jag 440 Special.

And, of course, you will see re-done Jags and Panthers and Lynxes in a variety of graphic treatments, etc. Overall, though, Cat's owners are proving that they are leaders in the snowmobile biz and we are very serious about that business!