Track That Works
We’ve always been a big fan of the Power Claw track. Its lightweight, single-ply design and 3-inch pitch has always been aggressive in deep snow. But now the Alpha One allows the Power Claw to reach its full potential when it comes to propelling the snowmobile through the snow. A subtle change in the Ascender platform (narrowing the running boards by an inch and lowering the drive shaft angle for a flatter approach) has freed up the track to work its magic in the deepest and lightest powder in the West. You can get the Power Claw in both the 154-by-3-inch and 165-by-3-inch lengths on the Alpha One.
Cat also has narrowed the overall profile of the sled by 10 percent and re-designed the belly pan to allow the rider to move farther forward for better balance and improved ergonomics.
Power To Spare
The Alpha One features the 8000-Series C-Tec2 engine which features a new level of clean Arctic Cast 2-stroke technology and performance. For 2020 it features new cylinders, pistons, combustion chamber, flywheel and fuel rail. It has a new fuel calibration strategy and an ECM-controlled electronic oil pump. It comes with batteryless EFI. Although it competes with the 850cc sleds on the mountain, you would be hard-pressed to find a time when this engine is underpowered in the snow.
Final Thoughts
Since the Alpha One is the base model (if you are looking for all the bells and whistles you need to look at the M Hardcore Alpha One or M Mountain Cat Alpha One) it comes with the simple but effective Arctic Cat IFP gas shock package. The IFP gas shocks are hard-anodized 1.5-inch aluminum body with half-inch shaft, aluminum internal floating piston and high quality seals and ice scrapers.
The front suspension is the Arctic Cat Mountain suspension, tailor-made to maneuver in deep snow. It features lightweight, forged-aluminum spindles with a 27-degree spindle caster angle designed for off-trail cornering and predictable counter-steering. It has an adjustable ski stance from 35.5 inches to 37.5 inches.
So when it comes time to go from the base of the mountain to the tops of the peaks, this “base” sled certainly delivers all you need at a very competitive price.