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A turn of the key is all you need to understand that Arctic Cat's Yellowstone Special is like no other sled you've ridden. From the car-like metallic grinding sound of the starter to the gentle hum of the engine at idle, you can immediately tell that this four-stroke sled is going to be the direction of eco-biling. We were honored to be invited to give the Yellowstone Special a brief test ride while we were out west at the annual Snow Shoot this past March.
The sled is built on the Pantera platform, which is one of the best touring sleds available on the market. "It felt just like the two-stroke Panteras," commented Test Rider Kelly Velander. "The handlebars, the ride position, even the passenger features- they were all just like the current models we have been testing this week. The only differences are the added gauges on the dash and the gentle, smooth drivetrain."
While we were out west, Cat unveiled the next generation of its enviro-friendly project: fuel injection. According to Cat's representatives, the EFI-equipped four-stroke engine is 65 percent more fuel efficient than its standard two-stroke cousins. They tell us that we could expect to see mileage in the low to mid-20s from the production units, which are slated for release this fall and winter.
Cat's spokespeople would not go into the detail of the engine's origin, but we wouldn't be surprised to find the base version of the 660cc Suzuki triple powering enviro-friendly micro cars through the congested streets of Tokyo. "It doesn't matter where the engine originated," we were told, "because when this model is ready for production, it will be a snowmobile-specific engine. It will be the same as when we started putting two-stroke engines in sleds, they all come from somewhere and get adapted and modified."
Performance-wise, we'd put the Yellowstone Special on a par with the Jags. Cat says to expect about 40 ponies, with operating speeds between 35 and 55 miles per hour in the park. Considering the posted speed limit is 45 mph, this is a seemingly perfect fit.
"The Yellowstone Special definitely didn't have the instant throttle response of Cat's other EFI performance sleds, but if that's what you're looking for, then this is not your sled," noted Test Rider Kelly. "I think this would be a perfect unit for its intended purpose: casually touring our national parks. You can take in the scenery, because the sled is docile enough to not get you in trouble."
Our test was limited to the airstrip at West Yellowstone, but it was enough to get a reasonable feel for everything except rough trail handling. "It felt a little heavy to turn, but not as bad as I expected," added Test Rider Kelly. "Like I mentioned earlier, the sled didn't have the arm-stretching acceleration of a Pantera 1000 either, but I did get up to about 60 on the speedometer.
"The sound of the sled is one of its best attributes," she continued. "I noticed that even going from the original carbureted sled to the new EFI sled, there was a decrease in intake noise. I think this alone will answer most of the criticisms coming from environmental groups. Plus, when you consider that there is no oil being burned and that there is no characteristic exhaust smell or smoke, I would think that this is exactly what those groups would like to see operating in the parks."
Arctic Cat's reps also mentioned that the newer version sported an aluminum engine block to reduce and relocate the engine's weight. We asked the natural question: how much does it actually weigh. Cat responded with "How much should it weigh?" We suggested that it would be nice to have it come in close to the other big touring sleds, possibly a little more, if necessary. Apparently that's where the weight goal has been set. "It'll be weight competitive with other two-up touring machines," Cat representatives said.
Though we were not allowed to lift the hood, we only noted one place where the body work had to be modified- a small hole was cut on the upper right hand side of the hood to accommodate a part of the engine. Otherwise, the only outward indications of a four-stroke engine are the oil gauge and the special Yellowstone Special decal on the hood.
"The sled's name comes from the train that used to run through the park," we were told. "Bill Howell, the individual who is putting test miles on for us through his tour company, asked us to give it that name and incorporate it in the graphic for the hood."
After the photo shoot, we attended a press conference with a four-stroke engine mounted into a short track chassis as well. Time will tell where this project will lead.