Anyone have any ideas as to what Cat is going to realease mid season, if anything? I know last yr. it was the 900. Somebody has to have an inside scoop. http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sleepy.gif

My bet would be a Firecat 600

You think? a 600? Do you really think its needed? By the way, what's up with hardly any carb models this yr. Are they trying to make everything EFI? They should give you a choice.

I would say a Firecat 900 before the 600. *My .02

I would love to see the Firecat's 700 motor in the mountian cat chassis. *This, to me, would make more sense since AC doesn't have a 700 mountain sled as everyone else does, but AC has a 900 (really an 860) that no one else does. *Then, if they still wanted the "most powerful stock sled" title, they could just bump up the 800's power since it makes as much as the Firecat's 700 motor, of which is a whole different issue in itself. *Just an idea...

You're right, they might not need it, but it's an obvious hole in the line-up when compared to all the REV combinations. *

One slant on this is maybe that Cat doesn't have the $$ Bombardier or Polaris has to throw at creating all possible combinations of chassis and motor. *That's fine.

-But-
*
Considering that the Insurance companies are gouging anything 700cc on up, I'd buy a 125hp 600 before a 140 hp 700.

IMO

F6 seems to be the most talked about, but that's also because alot of us want it, so we dream. *ZR900 EFI would make a lot of sense for a mid season release. *Only a few months then we'll know....

I heard that a mid-season release of a 1050 4-Stroke in a chassis similar to a Firecat is coming. *Around 170hp and is lighter than the RX-1.

My guess is a F6 EFI 120-125 HP. *Maybe, a Mountain version of the F-series also. http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Here is what I think is most logical:

1. F6 - 600 is largest market
2. Firecat Long Track - They didn't put that much money into a new mountain department and facilities if they weren't gonna use it.
3. F8-F9-? *Probably not as likely. *I think they would want to wait and see how the F series does in the consumers hands.
4. ZR 900 is a matter of when, not if. *I'm sure it is sitting on the shelf waiting to be released. *Just a matter of marketing and not releasing too much at one time. *I wish they had it when I ordered my 900 in the spring, I definitely would have gotten it.

just my thougts on the matter

I would like to see a entry level sled based on the firecat. A 340liquid sled that ways around 400lbs. "F4"

Oh, yeah

5. Hi-perf 4 stroke. *This is also a matter of when and not if. *I think they have had all of the engine-eers tied up on the F series. *I'm sure they'll turn their attention to that and fine tune whatever they have put together. *Maybe use some of the lightweight components off the Mountain Cats and shove a 4 stroke in it. *Not sure if they would take the time to fine tune a tottally new motor(or suzuki motocycle engine) or to just turbocharge their existing 4 stroke. *Again, it's only a matter of when, not if.

Jayjay, #4 on your previous post, what did you mean? *They already have the ZR900. *I guess you meant EFI, huh?

IMO, their next offering will be on the upper end of the lineup...either more hp for the 900 or a monster 1100cc range sled. *I think they still have to compensate for dropping 22hp off of their biggest model.

I think there will be somekind of new mountain release probably in the F series frame. *My dealer said there were some hints about the mountain series being renevated at the last convention. *Eventually I'm sure there will be an efi f5 and a carb f7, being that won't take much more engineering.

an F5 efi * firecat.

My dealer tells me from his sources at AC that it will be a f6 efi pushing 130hp.

WOW! Didn't expect this much conversation over this. Lots of good ideas. High Perf. 4 stroke better be on the way. And it better be lightwieght. I'm not driving a tank like that RX-1.

I agree rfm, the RX-1 would be great for just cruising, but if you wanted to do any trail pounding, I think it would get old real quick. *Let's hope that CAT has been listening and doesn't let us down.

http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/withstupid.gif *http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif *http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
They better listen to us.

And another thing. *They should swallow some pride and add Electornic Reverse (like Skidoo's).

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (rfmckee @ Sep. 20, 2002, 12:09pm)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/withstupid.gif *http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif *http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
They better listen to us.[/b][/quote]
They never will.

Electronic reverse would definetly be nice. *I wouldn&#39;t mind paying a little more for reverse without the added weight. *How about some new patented ideas? *For so long they had the A-arm, TSL, and others. *Other than the new engine in the F series, is there anything on there that is patented? *I don&#39; think the tunnel is.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">jdsmi Posted on Sep. 23, 2002, 1:29pm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And another thing. *They should swallow some pride and add Electornic Reverse (like Skidoo&#39;s). [/b][/quote]

Ski-Doo owns the patent on that. Be to much $$ for Cat to use it IF they could get Ski-Doo to even allow them too.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (highlandergerman @ Sep. 19, 2002, 10:43pm)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">an F5 efi * firecat.[/b][/quote]
I would have to agree, F5 EFI sounds the like A/C

i doubt there will be a F5 EFI because i believe that the F5 motor has the exhaust temperature sensor just like the 440 sno pro and the ZR 500 motor and ever since cat put the exhaust temperature sensor to adjust timing according to exhaust temp on the 500 motor they have not had EFI on it. *

my money is on the F6 EFI possibly based on the same lower end as the F7 motor making it a good torque motor just like how ski doo made there 600 ho with their 700 case i would guess horsepower would be at least 125-130 to compete with the REV 600 ho

I was thinking the same thing, EPTS & EFI don&#39;t go together. *I don&#39;t know if it&#39;s possible, But I&#39;m sure they would&#39;ve already done that if it were.

Hellcat, 1300cc Hyabusa powered 4 stroke.

I just read in the Arctic Pride mag last night that these Firecats have been in the works for 10 yrs. I can&#39;t believe it took them 10 yrs to make it to production. There is alot of stuff on these sleds that is a first for sleds besides just the motor being a laydown. They are mostly stuff we don&#39;t really care about but it is new. i.e. over the engine steering, reverse flow cooling, laydown tri motormount engine, narrow tunnel, foot wells incorporated into the tank so that it is all one piece. This is just to name a few. *Granted, it is a totally new sled. But I wonder how long Skidoo has been working on the REV. *And Yamaha on the RX-1. Similar or what? Anyone have any input on that? I am just thinking that a car takes about 4-5 yrs to make from the first prototype to the first production, and this is just a sled. What gives. *http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/baaa.gif

Ski-Doo&#39;s REV project started in 1997.

Cat is coming out with either a ZR 1000, or a Firecat 1000. *instead of an f7, it will be called an f10, or an fz. *they MIGHT have a 600 out as well, but count on that 1000 to be a twin and to be carbed.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (doopilot @ Sep. 23, 2002, 09:17am)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Ski-Doo&#39;s REV project started in 1997.[/b][/quote]
So is the REV not as advanced or did Skidoo Cheat? How did they do it in 5 yrs and Cat took ten? *As far as a 1000 goes. Why?

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Ski-Doo owns the patent on that. Be to much $$ for Cat to use it IF they could get Ski-Doo to even allow them too.

[/b][/quote]
That might be true, but how&#39;d Polaris get ahold if it? *I&#39;m sure I read that they&#39;re offering it on this year&#39;s Classics. *I wouldn&#39;t think they designed their own.

Polaris got it as a settlement for a lawsuit/patent infringement.. *I don&#39;t recall the specifics of what patent though.

Cool, pretty good payback I think.

RER---SkiDoo used Polaris&#39;s Rear Suspension Coupling design without permission. When Polaris took them to court, SkiDoo couldn&#39;t afford the fine so the judge gave Polaris a choice of any SkiDoo patent (to use). Polaris&#39;s choice was the RER. But as with the Cat A-Arms, the patents only last so long, the rest will just have to wait till then to use it. But, by that time AC, Yam, and Blade will be all 4 stroke.

Firecat taking 10 years to come to life---not exactly. THe project has been in the works for 10 years and has been in testing on race sleds the whole time. Cat&#39;s decision was what was the best time to hit the market. For 2006 they will be all 4 stroke, which means a new chassis. Chassis have a life span of only a few years anymore. Three years will give them the best timing for the EPA standards.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (M10rules @ Sep. 23, 2002, 4:06pm)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Firecat taking 10 years to come to life---not exactly. THe project has been in the works for 10 years and has been in testing on race sleds the whole time. Cat&#39;s decision was what was the best time to hit the market. For 2006 they will be all 4 stroke, which means a new chassis. Chassis have a life span of only a few years anymore. Three years will give them the best timing for the EPA standards.[/b][/quote]
Yes I understand they have used it in racing etc. But they tried to keep it hidden. And as we all know usually that is the best place to test things that will come to production sooner or later. All in All, it took about ten yrs for this. That&#39;s all I&#39;m saying. I thought it was interesting. *
Why do you say they will need a new chassis for the 4 strokes? *Because of more torque, wt. http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif

All 4-stroke by &#39;06 - That seems extremely agressive to me. *The technology and designs might be there by that time but I don&#39;t like the idea of having no choice. *Human nature - Forcing someone to adopt something they&#39;re not convinced they need = rejection.

I can see alot of things coming out but not all 4 strokers by &#39;06.

I&#39;m not the biggest fan of being all 4 stroke that quick but that was what I was told by the factory. The race sleds will stay 2 stroke for awhile though (not needing to pass EPA).

4 strokes will need changes to the chassis. They will be similar but reinforced and changes for sizing.

I found it interesting too that Cat took so long but I understand it once I was told the reasoning. It all comes down to $$$$$$ in the end. Cheaper to bring it out this year then it would have been a couple of years ago. Plus the market is more into Big Twins then it was just a few years ago.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (M10rules @ Sep. 23, 2002, 6:02pm)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I found it interesting too that Cat took so long but I understand it once I was told the reasoning. It all comes down to $$$$$$ in the end. Cheaper to bring it out this year then it would have been a couple of years ago. Plus the market is more into Big Twins then it was just a few years ago.[/b][/quote]
Yeah, I can understand that. Gotta have the right market. So what your saying then is that Cat is way ahead of its time, and the market http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif *Yahoo!