Arctic Cat is one of those stories we've been following closely here at RideApart, as the American powersports company went through a rough time earlier this year thanks to being sold off by its parent company, Textron Inc. At the time, the brand's future was uncertain. But in the 11th hour, it was saved by one of its former executives.
Since then, however, Arctic Cat's been on a tear. It's rehired those Textron laid off. It has resumed production in its Thief River facility. And it has introduced its 2026 lineup of snowmobiles. But in the last week, Arctic Cat took to Hay Days in Minnesota to show off a new snowmobile model; the ZR 600 EPS, the latter of which denotes this puppy has electric power steering to carve up the backcountry.
And it looks sick.
The ZR 600 EPS is the second EPS-equipped sled from the company, joining the EXT Special that launched this prior spring. Powered by Arctic Cat's 599cc two-stroke C-TEC2 engine, the liquid-cooled sled features 125 horsepower and will come in two different configurations, including a 129-inch and a 137-inch track length, both of which use the brand's Slide-Action rear suspension. However, the 129 version uses the company's RipSaw track, while the 137 utilizes the RipSaw II track.
Obviously, however, the main selling point of these snowmobiles is the newly introduced EPS system. According to Arctic Cat, "Electronic Power Steering (EPS) on a 2-stroke snowmobile is a next-level experience. Unmatched control, easier turns, and intuitive handling will upgrade your ride more than you could imagine."
More than that, they aren't all that expensive, and that's a great thing for a company that's looking at a comeback. According to the brand, the ZR 600 EPS 129 will set you back $15,689, while the 137 version will cost $15,899. And that in a market where folks are reigning in their spending on toys like snowmobiles, and when the snow hasn't been great in recent years, could make all the difference when it comes time to start purchasing a new sled for the season.
Here's hoping they let us ride them and tell you all about them later this season.
