It’s Official: Arctic Cat Name Is Coming Off Of ATVs, UTVs But Staying On Sleds

Textron event
The showroom at this week’s Textron event showed off the power of the company. Photos by Liz Keener of Powersports Business magazine.

It’s official: The new owner of Arctic Cat announced yesterday that it is indeed taking the Arctic Cat brand name off of Cat-made ATVs and side-by-sides, but the name will remain on Arctic Cat snowmobiles.

At a classy dealer event held in Dallas, Texas, officials from Textron – which purchased Arctic Cat this winter – said the Wildcat, Prowler and Alterra sub-brands that Arctic Cat has been using on its dirt-focused products will remain, but they will roll up under the Textron Off Road brand. Liz Keener, the senior editor on our sister publication Powersports Business, attended the event. (UPDATE: For more notes and direct quotes from the event, click here.)

Keener reports that the event – which was attended by about 50 dealers and simulcast to hundreds of other Textron and Arctic Cat dealers across North America – was also used to unveil some details on exciting new side-by-sides, including the sporty Wildcat XX, which will be released in the spring of 2018.

Textron Off-Road
The new Wildcat XX will be branded under the Textron Off Road name in the future.

Though focused largely on dirt products, the Arctic Cat snowmobile division was represented at the event as well, as snowmobile VP/GM Erik Nelson spoke and highlighted Arctic Cat’s 2018 snowmobile lineup.

To reinforce the message that Textron is a big, stable and strong company, Keener said dealers and media attending the event walked past a Bell helicopter and a Scorpion fighter jet in the showroom – both produced by Textron.    

Arctic Cat Erik Nelson
Erik Nelson represented the Arctic Cat snowmobile lineup at the Dallas event.

4 thoughts on “It’s Official: Arctic Cat Name Is Coming Off Of ATVs, UTVs But Staying On Sleds

  • Avatar for Allen

    Due to today’s warming winters and climate change, do we need four snowmobile manufacturers?

    Reply
  • Avatar for Brett Smyl

    Arctic Cat was creating some quality products all-around but I have no problem with them focusing on what they’re best at!

    Reply
    • Avatar for Nick Longworth

      Is there anything specific you would like to see them come out with?

      Reply
  • Avatar for Dale Di Iulio

    I work for Brooks Stevens Inc. and Arctic Cat asked us to translate a couple concept sketches they already had into 3D surface models and create all the exterior body panels for the WildCat XX. It was a awesome program. We also did the same for the first WildCat and I did the clay model of the smaller TrailCat. I love working on things with engines and wheels! Go Textron!

    Reply

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