I was looking at all the pics of this race sled and what struck me was the integrated gas tank/coolant tank (like on my Firecat). It takes serious $$ to tool up a tank like this up, and my guess is that you are looking at most of what you will see on the next gen performance sled.

Other interesting details:

- Headlights at first glance look like the headlights off the 400 4x4, but they are not. These are definitely the new headlights you will see on next gen sleds.
- Steering rod seems to have a lot of room to move down towards the driver for high volume production. Mounting bracket at the top looks tacked-on, like a racing-only peice. Steering for production models will probably sit below where the pyramidal supports meet the top of the bulkhead.
- Front bulkhead looks highly engineered. If it were race only, I would imagine it may look more homespun.
- Lots of open room around the motor. You can bet there is plenty of space for 4-stroke (2cylinder only) mills.

I'm on the fence about DD on this chassis, however. I'm not sure if there will be room for your foot with a DD and a low secondary clutch. The chaincase on the race sled looks like it is not new, and I would expect that if they were going to go with a chaincase on the production model, they would want to make it new, lighter, etc. So because of this, I'm still leaning towards DD on the production model. Perhapse it will be not mounted so low as on twinspar.

What other features do you think indicate production readiness?

Lighter wgt. = more hp. per lbs. Smaller cc engines w/ outstanding HP and torque numbers / Emission and MPG values , thats the 2 stroke future. No turning back.
They have to sell more sleds ...This is the product line that will keep them in the Sled biz for many ,many moons,(winters permitting!) more than one would might forecast ,previously.

What other features do you think indicate production readiness?




,,,room for oil injection and the oil rez bottle. The 12 gallon tank and tall windshield. Softer seat. The added Heat exchanger capacity to handle slower speeds of trail riders. Spot on the dash for gauges. This sled looks bitchin' !! It's gonna look great on TV with T-train getting the Gold at the X-Games. snap

there are 2 models of the new 08 sno pro.. One is the race sled with deeper lug and a smaller tank
the Cross Country has a shorter lug the 12 gallon tank...

I keep saying this... In order to make a race sled they have to make them into a production sled.... its a new rule from somebody in the race circuits..

wrong

the 12 gallon tank is an option you purchase and install yourself along with the different 1.25 cobra track and the gearing of your choice...you can even change the drive sprockets to any that cat has as a stock part

To be able to race a sled as stock they need to build 300 of them, which they have.

Well it maybe a options but that is the difference between the 2

you don't get it...there is only one version,not two....it's up to the racer to adapt the sled to style of racing he will be doing with the it......

You would have to be a doo rider to think this will not end up in production, the only real queston in when.

I bet Arctic cat will make this sled the NEW F-Series for 09........

I doubt they will make it the NEW F-SERIES FOR 09. They wouldnt scrap the new F after how long it took them to put it out it wouldnt make sense for there accountants. I can see them making it avaible like the polaris rr but not the whole complete line like you suggested.

IF anything it would be a RR like you said, but there is a better chance of it coming out as the new M/xfire series

That would be my guess too. A 600 and/or 800 EFI RR-like version (with reverse somehow on it - with either DD or on the Chaincase) may not be out of the question. It will be expensive and a limited build. The chassis would also be modified to the next platform for the M/XFire sleds - with DD/reverse and ES options. I see the F-series living on another few seasons with some updates (probably to the rear tunnel area). It's an excellent trail sled.

To me the biggest change is the new A-arm arrangement - it opens up the engine compartment for more flexiblity and room in the future.

i found someone who said they would sell theirs at the end of the season for 7600 with 1500 miles on it how munch do you think they will be worth. an how munch did they pay for it.

Too funny.

AC builds the best trail sled ever made and everyone whines.

Let us have our deep snow sled next. No, this is not the next F-series. Deal with it.

Death to pumpkins!