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| Arctic
Cat designed the WildCat with a longer
wheelbase than other UTVs in its class
to help give it better handling &
stability through rough terrain |
One of the ways Arctic Cat made up for the
wider turning radius is the addition of power
steering, which makes the steering feel effortless
even in the rough stuff. “The steering
really felt good. It was responsive and the
Wildcat went exactly where you pointed it. You
could drive it all day long and not feel tired,”
said Beau Baron.
Additionally, the Wildcat has a different weight
distribution that any other manufacturer’s
models with 60 percent of the weight in the
back and only 40 percent up front. This distribution
allows the Wildcat to keep a more level profile
while jumping and avoiding nose-heavy landings
that are common among other brands. Another
feature that probably puts some of the weight
in the back, and we think is a great idea, especially
from a racing point of view, it that the radiator
is mounted behind the driver and passenger seats.
This design keeps the radiator from getting
covered with mud and dirt and also does not
need to be relocated for racing applications.
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| The
Arctic Cat Wildcat 1000 suspension is
as good as it gets for bounding the whoops
or launching over an obstacle on the trail,
and the Wildcat is designed to fly level
with 60% of the weight in the rear &
40% up front |
The Arctic Cat Wildcat 1000 is powered by a
951cc V-twin, four-cylinder engine with EFI
and was made for high speed performance. The
engine provides great power in the top end and
has a top speed of about 70 mph, which was a
lot of fun and well suited for desert racing
and dunes. However, we felt that the bottom
end could use a little more power and that is
something that could easily be changed with
some clutch work, which would make it more appropriate
for a motocross style course.
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| The
2012 Arctic Cat WildCat HO 1000 UTV features
sleek LED headlights & taillights
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The Wildcat comes with high and low gear and
in low gear, has a top speed of about 35mph.
It handles just as well as in high gear, but
you cannot go from low to high on the fly; however,
that is not the case with the 4WD as you can
easily go from 2WD to 4WD while on the go. Shifting
from 2WD to 4WD felt smooth and not notchy or
jerky like on other vehicles we have tested.
We did quite a bit of riding with the 4WD engaged
and we loved the way it handled and was able
to take on hill climbs and rocky terrain with
ease. The Wildcat also comes equipped with differential
lock, which is a great feature for rock climbing
or getting through a tough spot, but we did
not get a chance to use it on our test ride
as we never encountered anything that the Wildcat
1000 could not handle.
