What a nice surprise for the 2025 season from Arctic Cat. We’d be lying if we told you we weren’t expecting it. We’ve been waiting several seasons for this new engine. Rumors were rife about the new American thoroughbred. There were rumors of an 850, an 860, a 900 – in short, many possibilities were part of the rumor mill. Meanwhile, the two companies, BRP and Polaris, were waging war on each other in the 850 cm3 segment, for both naturally-aspirated and turbocharged models. The newcomer, Catalyst ZR 858 SnoPro, from the American company is sure to muddy the waters when it comes to performance. Even though it is naturally aspirated, according to the figures provided by the manufacturer, it will undoubtedly rival its supercharged rivals.
The year 2025 will see the introduction of the new 858 cm3 in this latest platform. Several shock absorber options are available to meet the needs of all Arctic Cat enthusiasts for the new season. Trail versions include the ZR 858, the ZR SnoPro 858 and the third, the ZR 858 SnoPro with ATAC, as well as several mountain and hybrid models.
The 858 engine!
The new engine looks promising and shows that Arctic Cat’s engineers have taken care to preserve the DNA of the good old F7. Certain tried-and-tested principles have been applied to optimize the vehicle’s performance. The new 858 keeps the intake and exhaust on the same side. Intake into the base of the engine via flap valves (V-Force style), which are located below the exhaust Y.
Engine inclination is another key element. By lowering the center of gravity, engineers improve the SnoPro 858’s handling and stability. The result is better performance in tight turns, on rough terrain, or during fast maneuvers.
However, the question remains open as to whether or not this powerplant is based on the existing 800 cm3 engine. Are we preparing for the arrival of supercharging? Only time will tell…
The 858 engine in figures
Let’s quickly jump to what every enthusiast wants to know. The power of this new mill. As many already know, the 800 cm3 version of previous years developed around 153-154 horsepower (and sometimes more), and its figures have been proven on several dynamometers. American engineers claim an increase of around 11% on the 800 cm3 version, for a weight that’s 4% lighter, which would put this new engine very close to 170 hp, making it the most powerful atmospheric two-stroke engine ever produced. Time will tell…
The Catalyst chassis
2024 marked the arrival of a new Arctic Cat chassis, the famous Catalyst.
This chassis is built mainly in two parts. The engine compartment, which is identical for all segments, and the tunnel, which varies according to the trail, hybrid or mountain. What really catches our eye is the front end. The pyramid-shaped front end is made of one-piece steel. This means perfect rigidity of the pyramidal envelope.
It’s also worth noting that the engineers developed the front end to accommodate all the segments. The track sprocket can be positioned differently depending on the type of snowmobile. In fact, the lower part of the belt housing (formerly the chain housing) can be installed in two positions to change the angle of attack. The upper part remains fixed, while the lower part pivots. In the mountains, it’s preferable for the latter to be as far out from the frame towards the ground as possible, which facilitates climbing on snow; the opposite is true on the trail, where you want the front part of the track (the center of the snowmobile) to be less far out, to improve handling and add pressure to the skis.
Our test ride
In our West Yellowstone tests, we noticed a clear difference in performance versus other 850 naturally aspirated motors in the industry. There’s no doubt that at sea level, this twin will perform very well. Acceleration was spirited, with excellent acceleration and throttle response, enabling us to observe performance far superior to the 800 cm3 versions of previous years.
We were curious to see the differences with more power in this chassis, which feels so small when we sit on it. It offers a very narrow geometry between the rider’s legs, facilitating left-right movements in aggressive riding. The enormous amount of mass centralization that has gone into the Catalyst chassis is easily perceptible. Trail maneuvers require no more effort than on the 600 cm3 version. The riding position is very comfortable for both normal trail riding and aggressive riding.
This centralization of mass also makes the suspension more efficient. The shock absorbers used in all positions on the vehicle are Fox IQS with ATAC. These feature an external reservoir for greater fluid capacity, helping to maintain greater efficiency during very intense periods. They are electronically adjustable in three positions: Soft, Medium and Firm. Although we didn’t have a lot of time to test it out, our few kilometers allowed us to observe that this suspension will undoubtedly get the job done. Adjustment can be made at any time from the knob directly on the left-hand grip. Simple and effective.
What’s also remarkable is how easy it is to get around on the snowmobile. The driving position, combined with the narrowness of the fuel tank, makes getting around effortless. So it’s easy to get out of the snowmobile when cornering. And, as on 600 cm3 versions, the starting key and safety cord are located close to the easily accessible manual start handle.
The snowmobile’s light weight combined with the 858’s power make it a real pleasure to ride, and a good feeling ofcontrol is felt. Despite the loss of power due to Montana’s altitude, acceleration and acceleration were spirited, and we didn’t feel any lack or drop in power in any particular range. On the downside, there’s a bit of vibration at low revs – déjà vu all over again.
Highlights
- Aggressive looks
- A1 riding position
- Catalyst 858 power
Weak points
- Sometimes we feel like we’re repeating ourselves year after year, but when will we see a smoke-free engine when starting from cold? It’s about time the company came up with a cleaner engine with fewer emissions.
- The absence of a standard handguard
We’re currently waiting to get a Catalyst 858 for the start of the season, so stay tuned!
