Our 2012 Arctic Cat Wildcat began as one of the most capable long-travel sport UTVs of its era. We took that foundation several steps further, building a turbocharged Wildcat designed to run hard in the dunes while remaining capable on dirt trails and rough tracks.
The heart of the project was an MCX-USA turbo system. We complemented the added power with upgraded FOX PODIUM-X shocks, a Benchmark Performance roll cage, Beard seats and harnesses, Pro Armor doors, underbody protection and two distinct tire-and-wheel packages.
HiPer single-beadlock wheels and Fullerton Sand Sports tires handled dune duty, while GMZ Cut Throat tires on LiteLoc beadlock wheels gave us a taller, predictable dirt setup. Vision X LED lighting made nighttime dune runs possible, and a custom ProLine Wraps graphic package tied the finished build together.
The result was a Wildcat with the power to match its long-travel suspension—a sport UTV built to attack the dunes more like a sand car than a stock side-by-side.
Build Highlights
- MCX-USA turbo system
- FOX 2.0 and 2.5 PODIUM-X shocks with bottom-out control
- Benchmark Performance roll cage
- Beard seats and harnesses
- HiPer beadlock wheels and STU sand tires
- GMZ Cut Throat dirt tires and LiteLoc beadlock wheels
- Vision X LED Light Cannons, light bar and accent lighting
- Pro Armor doors
- Factory UTV UHMW skid plates and A-arm guards
- Arctic Cat steel rock sliders
- Custom ProLine Wraps graphics
Testing the Wildcat Build
Idaho UTV Invasion – August 2014
By August 2014, the Wildcat had accumulated more than a year of testing. We brought it to the Idaho dunes for UTV Invasion, where its turbocharged power and long-travel suspension were ideally suited to the wide-open sand.
See the complete trip report from the 2014 Idaho Dunes UTV Invasion.
Sand Mountain – June 2014
Before this Sand Mountain trip, Empire Industries adjusted the clutching and refined the fuel tuning. The changes noticeably improved the way the turbo Wildcat ran, and we were impressed with Eric’s work on the setup.
DuneFest – August 2013
Read our complete DuneFest 2013 trip report for more vehicles, racing and dune action from the event.
Prairie City SVRA – July 2013
For our Prairie City test, we removed the sand setup and installed 28x10R14 GMZ Cut Throat tires on GMZ LiteLoc beadlock wheels. Running the same tire size at all four corners increased ground clearance and gave the Wildcat a balanced, predictable feel through high-speed corners.
The upgraded FOX shocks remained plush over smaller terrain but absorbed jumps and hard g-outs without bottoming. The Wildcat still exhibited some of the body roll associated with the original chassis, suggesting that a stiffer sway bar or earlier engagement of the rear secondary spring rate could further improve cornering.
Sand Mountain – July 2013
This was our first trip after installing the turbo, cage, shocks and other major upgrades. Temperatures exceeded 100 degrees, and the smooth dunes had sharply defined ridges. The Wildcat completed the outing without a mechanical problem, although the initial setup still needed some clutch refinement.
Vision X Night-Light Testing – July 2013
The nighttime package combined Vision X Light Cannons, an LED light bar and accent lighting with a Sick-Stick LED whip. Vision X later used images from this test in its promotional materials.
Featured in UTV Off-Road Magazine
Arctic Cat Wildcat Build Parts
FOX PODIUM-X Suspension
We installed FOX 2.0 and 2.5 PODIUM-X shocks with bottom-out control. The upgraded dampers delivered a plush ride while providing substantially better control over jumps and hard compressions.
Beard Seats and Harnesses
Color-matched Beard seats and harnesses improved occupant support while fitting the build’s graphics and color scheme.
MCX-USA Turbo System
The MCX-USA turbo system supplied the additional power needed to turn the Wildcat into a serious dune machine. Empire Industries later refined the fuel and clutch calibration to improve the overall setup.
Sand Tires and HiPer Wheels
The dune setup paired 14-inch HiPer single-beadlock wheels with STU sand tires supplied through Fullerton Sand Sports.
GMZ Dirt Tires and Wheels
For hardpack and trail use, we ran 28x10R14 GMZ Cut Throat tires on GMZ LiteLoc beadlock wheels.
Vision X LED Lighting
The lighting system included Vision X Light Cannons, an LED light bar and accent lighting.
Pro Armor Doors
Pro Armor doors added coverage around the occupants and gave the early Wildcat a more finished appearance.
Arctic Cat Rock Sliders
The Arctic Cat accessory rock sliders used 1¾-inch steel tubing to help protect the sides of the vehicle.
Factory UTV Skid Plates and A-Arm Guards
Factory UTV UHMW skid plates and A-arm guards provided additional protection beneath the Wildcat.
Wildcat Willy’s Radiator Grill and Brake Rotors
Fullerton Sand Sports Wheel Stud Kit
Sick-Stick LED Whip
UTV Inc. Steering Wheel and Switches
UTV Inc. supplied the steering wheel, quick-release hub and lighted rocker switches.
Additional Build Components
- Roll cage: Benchmark Performance
- Clutch and fuel tuning: Empire Industries
- Custom graphics: ProLine Wraps
- Mirrors and fire extinguisher mount: Axia Alloys
More Original Arctic Cat Wildcat Coverage
- Arctic Cat Wildcat overview and specifications
- Arctic Cat Wildcat review
- Arctic Cat Wildcat rock-crawling review
- Arctic Cat Wildcat long-term review
- Arctic Cat Wildcat Sand Mountain dune review
This build documents period-correct products and suppliers used on our Wildcat beginning in 2013. Some components or companies may no longer be available, but the original details have been retained as part of UTVGuide.net’s historical Arctic Cat coverage.
