Powersports Business June 2025 | Snow

Newly acquired Arctic Cat releases complete 2026 snowmobile lineup

Arctic Cat didn’t waste time making its first move as a stand-alone company, as the newly acquired powersports manufacturer released its 2026 lineup April 25, just two days after the deal with Textron was made official. 

As reported by our sister publication Snow Goer, new company president Brad Darling and other Arctic Cat officials gave a presentation to the media showcasing the lineup, which features the return of a vast majority of its 2025 lineup, a handful of new models, some new technologies and other notable updates. 

“As you know, we’ve been kind of under a weird umbrella over the last six or seven months with the announcement by Textron about the company not doing production beyond the first half of the year,” says Troy Halvorson, director of snowmobile product strategy at Arctic Cat. “But Textron was good in that they let us continue to develop because we all knew that this brand is so important to a lot of people, to the industry, to the diehard customer base, that we felt pretty confident that someone was going to pick us up.”  

Highlighting the presentation was the new EXT Special two-stroke with electric-assist power steering and stock C&A Pro skis. 

The EXT Special in the Catalyst chassis will be the industry’s first two-stroke-powered sled with electric-assist power steering. 

This new EXT Special will feature the 858cc C-TEC2 engine, C&A Pro XPT skis, a 137-inch Ice Ripper XT track with studded lugs and dazzling purple graphics that harken back to the 1971 EXT Special. 

A new turbocharged Pantera 9000 touring model, as well as a new twin-rail HCX and HCR special mountain sleds, were also announced. 

Beyond that, there’s a deep lineup of two- and four-stroke 2026 ZR trail burners in the Catalyst and ProCross chassis, a variety of Riot crossovers, a complete line of mid-sized single-cylinder 400s, notably upgraded M 858 mountain sleds and more. Even the diminutive Z 120 gets some special attention. Plus, the 858 engine gets updates and refinements.   

Arctic Cat’s new 2026 snowmobile lineup includes the new EXT Special two-stroke with electric-assist power steering and stock C&A Pro skis. (Renderings: Arctic Cat)

Arctic Cat ramps up production, restores more than 300 jobs at Minnesota facility

Arctic Cat announced May 8 that the Minnesota-based company plans to ramp up production at its Thief River Falls facility and its engine facility in St. Cloud and ultimately restore nearly 500 employees to its workforce. 

In 2024, Textron announced it was putting Arctic Cat up for sale and shutting down operations at its Thief River facility. Just six months later, the company changed hands and has restarted production on all-new powersports vehicles. 

Following the April 24 purchase of Arctic Cat, new owners Brad Darling and other Argo/Ontario Gear & Drive Corp. investors unveiled a complete 2026 snowmobile lineup, returning confidence in the future vitality of the company. 

“Once we got the keys, we knew moving fast was our only option, says Brad Darling, president and CEO of Arctic Cat.  

“Having the ability to release a lineup of snowmobiles that offers new models and significant updates was the first step. Next, we are able to reengage the majority of our workforce of just under 500 employees, providing stability to our extended family,” Darling says. 

In November 2024, previous owners Textron sent shock waves through the snowmobile and powersports markets when the company announced it would initiate workforce reductions across its powersports segment. This included eliminating numerous positions across its powersports business and a pause in production at the Thief River Falls facility. 

But now, with the announcement of the upcoming production of snowmobiles, ATVs and side-by-sides later this year, Arctic Cat has put the uncertainties the company faced just a few months ago to rest. 

“We have been on a limited production run since the announcement back in November, and there will be a ramp-up period for production of new Arctic Cat products,” says Dan Johnson, VP of operations. “This will allow our supply base time to produce the quality parts needed to put this iconic brand back in the race. We anticipate production activities to begin late summer.”    

In 2024, Textron announced it was putting Arctic Cat up for sale and shutting down operations at its Thief River facility. Just six months later, the company has changed hands and has restarted production on all new powersports vehicles.

Polaris donates more than $ 120K to off-road and snow organizations

Polaris announced April 23 that it is donating more than $120,000 to ORVs, ATVs, and snowmobiles to riding clubs and organizations across the U.S. as a part of its Trails Grants program. 

For nearly 20 years, Polaris’ Trails Grants program has supported organizations and programs that promote safe and responsible riding, facilitate trail preservation, and help protect the environment and natural resources that are a part of the off-road trail systems. 

“Local riding clubs and organizations are the heart of the riding community, many of them volunteering their time and resources to help maintain trails and promote responsible riding,” says Reid Wilson, president of off-road vehicles at Polaris. 

Thirteen organizations were named Spring 2025 Trails Grants recipients and received awards of up to $10,000 each. 

Awarded twice annually, Trails Grants support the efforts of nonprofit organizations and local riding clubs who use the grant for trail development, maintenance projects, safety and responsible riding education initiatives, and other projects. 

Polaris is one of several OEMs to launch grant programs that support OHV trail access and wildlife conservation practices, including Yamaha’s Outdoor Access Initiative and BRP’s Ski-Doo Snow PASS grant program. 

Earlier in April, bipartisan lawmakers reintroduced a bill that would increase funding for the Recreational Trails Program. 

Since the start of the Trails Grants program in 2006, Polaris has supported more than 425 ATV, off-road and snowmobiling organizations across the U.S. and Canada, and has collected more than $3.5 million
in donations.   

Polaris has supported over 425 organizations through more than $3.5 million in donations since the Trails Grants program’s inception. (Photo: Polaris)