2008 Arctic Cat Thundercat 4×4 Automatic SE

If the folks at Arctic Cat had something to prove I dare say they succeeded. I have no idea where to even start. I suppose the most obvious starting point would be engine displacement, hello 950cc’s of bone rattling, heart stopping, nitrate popping Hemi power. A class of one, if you want this much power there’s only one choice in the ATV word right now and you’re looking at it. I guess if you want to grab someone’s attention you should just blow by them on this gigantic kitty.

More than two years of design and development went in to making the Thundercat. Arctic Cat’s meticulous attention to detail means this ride has it all, and perhaps a little more than you may expect. An EFI, SOHC, 4-stroke, 4-valve, V-Twin engine is the equivalent to two midsize ATVs under your butt. The liquid cooling system with high capacity radiator and thermostatically controlled cooling fan means you don’t have to worry about overheating, which is great because you’ll be too busy picking squashed bugs off your goggles to worry about it.

When you’re moving that fast on and ATV you need a comfortable fit. The engineers at Arctic Cat improved on the ergonomics factor by improving the chassis through a lower redesigned seat and improved handlebars. A fully independent suspension doesn’t hurt matters either. New ride-in calibration squats the ATV up to 2 inches depending on the rider’s stature. According to the folks at Arctic Cat this means you have a better center of gravity and become part of the beast. This should prove advantageous considering this Cat has enough power to sling you off if you get too throttle happy.

With all this talk about engine power it is truly difficult to migrate over to the standard features like slimline SpeedRacks, engine side covers and digital instrument pods. These things are still there in standard Cat fashion, but it’s pretty safe to bet that you won’t even notice those items until after the beast has taken up residence in your garage under lock and key. Just remember that Arctic Cat did not leave off the necessities when they made room for the engine. You still have great ground clearance and wheel travel, star-in-gear technology and on-the-fly 2 to 4 wheel drive.

•     Displacement (cc): 950
•     Engine: V-Twin, SOHC, 4-stroke, 4-valve
•     Bore and Stroke (mm): 92×71.6
•     Cooling System: Liquid with fan
•     Transmission: Automatic, CVT w/EBS
•     Drive System: 2/4WD + diff lock
•     Overall Width (in): 47.5
•     Overall Height (in): 49.3
•     Overall Length (in): 84.8
•     Wheel Base (in): 52.5
•     Suspension Travel (front): 10
•     Suspension Travel (rear): 10
•     Ground Clearance (in): 11
•     Suspension Type (front): Double A-Arm
•     Suspension Type (rear): Double A-Arm
•     Front Brakes: Hydraulic Disc
•     Rear Service Brake: Hydraulic Disc
•     Tire Front: 26x8–12
•     Tire Rear: 26×11-12
•     Wheel Width (front): 7
•     Wheel Width (rear): 8
•     Rack capacity (front): 100lbs
•     Rack Capacity (rear): 200lbs
•     Towing Capacity: 1,050lbs
•     Speedometer: Analog
•     Odometer: Digital
•     Maximum Fuel Capacity (gal/ltr): 6.5/24.6
•     Alternator Capacity (amps): 25
•     Dry Weight: 716
•     Colors: Silver
•     Minimum Operator Age: 16
•     MSRP: ,499 US