| Arctic Cat Wildcat X Review
By Jon Crowley, UTVGuide.net Last year, the Arctic Cat Wildcat hit the market and I was completely impressed with the suspension. We had the press intro in Barstow, CA and I could not believe how fast we could drive through the rough terrain (see Arctic Cat Wildcat Review for more details). Although the suspension was second to none, the power and power delivery left me wanting more. Well, Arctic Cat has made some great changes to the clutch on all Wildcats for 2013.5, and for those that want even more, there is the new Wildcat X!
The Wildcat X features a new sway bar that has been designed to work harmoniously with the all-new, 23-position, compression-adjustable FOX Podium shocks and 27-inch Maxxis Bighorn tires to create an unrivalled pure-sport ROV experience. The Wildcat X also comes with color-matched seats and front/rear aluminum bumpers. The Wildcat X engine will require 91 Octane gas because of higher compression pistons, cams and ECU changes. Right away I noticed a huge difference in the new clutch. Engagement is much crisper and you can feel it working properly through the entire power band. Arctic Cat mentioned that the new 90-plus horsepower engine was a 15 percent gain over the standard Wildcat, and we could easily believe that with our precisely calibrated butt dynos.
Overall, the Wildcat X is a big step forward for the aggressive driver that wants to go fast in the dunes and desert. While the Wildcat X is still all about suspension, it now has the power and clutch that many enthusiasts have been wanting. One area where I would like to see a change is to a slightly larger and more robust tire. The Wildcat X handles the rough terrain at such a high speed that you almost forget what the tires must be going through. With the 14-inch wheels on the Wildcat, I’d like to see a little more sidewall that a 28″ tire could afford. More information on the Wildcat X engine: The Wildcat X engine is based off the same High Torque 951cc V-Twin that powers the standard Wildcat. The new X engine boasts over 90 hp, 15% more than the standard Wildcat. So how were we able to squeeze even more power out of this torque monster? One of the ways we were able to boost HP is thru improving volumetric efficiency by changing cam profiles to boost its breathing capability. We improved both valve lift and duration, and combined that with a new pistons and a manifold to maximize airflow to the cylinders. This combined with boosted compression ratios made up the bulk of the power gain. The remainder of the HP gains can be attributed to extensive time spent reducing frictional losses and strategic fuel and ignition calibration strategies. As well as increasing HP we also reduced inertia mass in the crankshaft to give this engine a huge boost in out of the hole acceleration. Sand Tires for the Wildcat X
Dave Kuskie from Fullerton Sand Sports added this set of 14″ STU Blasters on the Wildcat X and took it for a spin in Glamis. Here is what he had to say about the new Wildcat X: “Huge improvement in clutching putting the power to ground, great clutch engagement and backshifting. You can definitely feel the increased power. Between the power upgrade and the new clutching, the car pulls hard all the way through the powerband. Suspension has been changed from Walker Evans to FOX shocks. The setup is firmer than the old setup, but I really enjoyed the new settings the car seemed more sure footed in corners and tracked straighter and predictable in the whoops. Look out Polaris and Can Am, this could possibly be the best “ALL SPORT” SXS on the market”, Dave Kuskie. Wildcat X Features:
Wildcat X Video Overview More Wildcat 1000 Resources:
Manufacturer Info: Arctic Cat Inc. Website: www.arcticcat.com Phone: 218-681-8558 About Arctic Cat: |
No Comments