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I'm not the rocket sled type, not that I don't enjoy a fast run as much as the next guy, but I prefer lighter weight sleds you can toss around the trails more easily. Yet I've got to tell you, this long-track Z1 Turbo is a hoot. In fact, it even garnered some staff support to be our sled of the year.
Cat really executes here. As much fun as we had on the Z1 Turbo last year with a 128-inch track underneath, the EXT is all that much more impressive. Its 144-inch Cobra single-ply track with 1.25-inch lugs is the perfect match for all that power, laying down a huge, steadying footprint.
How much power does it have?
Our independent dyno test last season showed this baby kicking out 182.9 horses, an absolute heiny kicker! Squeeze on the power with ease and the juice just keeps on flowing from the intercooled turbo. And like other Cats, the throttle pull is as light and easy as you'd ever want, so fatigue won't set in 4 hours down the trail.
Folks can argue whether you really "need" all that speed, but no turbo is about need. It's about gotta-have-it excitement and kickin' some booty across the lake or, in the case of our western friends, up the mountain. Last year's Real World test by the staff in northern Wisconsin showed the short-track Z1 Turbo easily capable of 103.55 mph across a lake in our ¼-mile runs, about 5 mph faster than anything else we tested, except a Speedwerx modified CFR 800, which was just a click slower.
So we know the extended track model will be fast. Running it at elevation in Colorado last Spring the Cat scorched the trails. Nothing could keep up with it, not even the Polaris turbo. But again, these are different sleds and this one is designed to be a rocket.
Funny though, EXT is more than a barebones chassis stripped down to run fast. The Z1 Turbo EXT is a comfortable trail sled, like all sleds in the Twin Spar chassis. Seating position is comfy, but the suspension, front and rear, works well in all conditions. We had this in the mountains of Colorado and on the trails of northern Minnesota and it rides like a champ.
The FOX Zero Pro shocks with their internal floating piston (IFP) really soak up the bumps, or jumps, if you want to launch the EXT. In back there are adjustable torsion springs too that'll help you tune it in to suit you.
Not only is the ride first rate, but the Cat turns into corners as well as most short tracks and then that longer track helps push you out with authority. A third swaybar bracket has helped reduce the sled's roll and Cat's AWS VII double wishbone A-arm suspension delivers a light, easy feel over the bumps and that aids in smooth cornering. Also helping handling is a new stiffer, wider ski with a deeper keel. Another plus, the Arctic engineers shave nearly 2 lbs. from past skis.
Other benefits? This sporty upscale rider includes Cat's IRP (Infinite Rider Position) handlebars that allow you to not only move the bars for and aft, but to adjust their angle to make them more comfortable for your hands. Also new this year on all Cats is a new seat that's 8 lbs. lighter and includes a zippered flap in back and major storage under the seat.
Lighter weight floorboards with big holes for easy snow removal help keep the sled lighter too and Cat has added a more durable heat exchanger to this unit.
Up top you'll find digital gauges and, push-button reverse, electric start and a 5-inch riser that's 2 inches taller than that found on the standard Z1. Cat expects a few of these to go out West or to other hilly deep snow locations too, so it offers an optional mountain strap.
All told, there is not much to quibble about on the Z1 Turbo EXT. You will have to part with some extra coin though. This is a premium sled, what with a factory turbo and all these goodies. It lists at $13,699 US and $17,199 CA.
But if you want the fastest rocket on snow, that's a small price to pay! This is an easy call if you have the cash, go with the Fast Cat!