Arctic Cat introduced the 50-inch-wide Wildcat Trail for the 2014 model year, bringing the Wildcat name to width-restricted ATV trails. Powered by a 700cc parallel-twin engine producing more than 60 horsepower, the compact sport side-by-side combined a narrow chassis with FOX shocks, 10.5 inches of rear suspension travel and selectable four-wheel drive.
Arctic Cat first announced plans for a 50-inch Wildcat in February 2013. The production Wildcat Trail and upgraded Wildcat Trail XT were revealed later that year with complete specifications and a starting MSRP of $10,999.
The Trail represented a major departure from the original, much wider Arctic Cat Wildcat 1000. Instead of focusing primarily on open desert terrain, Arctic Cat designed the smaller model for wooded trails and riding areas with 50-inch vehicle-width limits.
700cc Parallel-Twin Engine
Power came from an Arctic Cat-designed 700cc, liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine with electronic fuel injection and four valves per cylinder. Arctic Cat rated it at more than 60 horsepower, an impressive figure for the original 50-inch sport UTV category.
The engine was paired with TEAM Rapid Response clutches and a high/low-range continuously variable transmission. Drivers could select two-wheel drive, four-wheel drive or four-wheel drive with the front differential locked.
50-Inch Wildcat Trail Chassis
The Wildcat Trail was exactly 50 inches wide and had an 84.6-inch wheelbase. Arctic Cat positioned the driver and passenger approximately three inches lower than in competing trail machines, contributing to a lower center of gravity. The chassis used a 40/60-percent front-to-rear weight distribution.
Double A-arm suspension was fitted at all four corners, with 10 inches of front travel and 10.5 inches at the rear. Front and rear sway bars helped control body roll, while FOX nitrogen gas-charged shocks handled damping duties.
The Trail provided 10 inches of ground clearance and rode on 25-inch Carlisle Trail Pro tires mounted to 12-inch wheels. Four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes supplied stopping power.
Cab, Cargo and Utility Features
Cab features included high-back bucket seats with upper-body support, tilt steering, a center-console shifter, digital instrumentation, a passenger handhold and three-point seat belts. Hinged doors with automotive-style handles were standard—an important convenience at a time when many sport UTVs still used nets or minimal door systems.
The rear cargo box was rated for 300 pounds. A two-inch receiver hitch gave the Wildcat Trail a claimed towing capacity of 1,500 pounds, providing more utility than its sport-oriented appearance suggested.
2014 Arctic Cat Wildcat Trail Specifications
- Engine: 700cc four-stroke parallel twin
- Valvetrain: Four valves per cylinder
- Cooling: Liquid
- Fuel system: Electronic fuel injection
- Claimed output: More than 60 horsepower
- Bore and stroke: 76.9 x 75.3mm
- Transmission: TEAM Rapid Response CVT with high, low, reverse and park
- Drive system: Selectable 2WD/4WD with electric front differential lock
- Overall width: 50 inches
- Overall length: 110.5 inches
- Overall height: 64.3 inches
- Wheelbase: 84.6 inches
- Front suspension: Double A-arm with sway bar
- Rear suspension: Double A-arm with sway bar
- Front suspension travel: 10 inches
- Rear suspension travel: 10.5 inches
- Ground clearance: 10 inches
- Front tires: 25×8-12 Carlisle Trail Pro
- Rear tires: 25×10-12 Carlisle Trail Pro
- Brakes: Four-wheel hydraulic discs
- Fuel capacity: 7.4 gallons
- Cargo-box capacity: 300 pounds
- Claimed towing capacity: 1,500 pounds
- Alternator: 36 amps
- Claimed dry weight: Less than 1,000 pounds
- Original U.S. MSRP: $10,999
Wildcat Trail XT Package
The Wildcat Trail XT used the same engine and basic chassis but added several appearance and equipment upgrades:
- Color-matched two-tone bucket seats
- Color-matched suspension components
- 12-inch machined cast-aluminum wheels
- Automotive-style painted bodywork
- Team Arctic Green Metallic or Matte Black color choices
Why the Wildcat Trail Mattered
The Wildcat Trail gave Arctic Cat a direct entry into the growing 50-inch sport UTV category. Its narrow stance opened access to many ATV trails that excluded full-width side-by-sides, while the 700cc twin, FOX shocks and standard doors gave it a distinctly performance-oriented specification.
Although later machines surpassed it in suspension travel, power and refinement, the original 2014 Wildcat Trail remains an important part of Arctic Cat’s side-by-side history. It expanded the Wildcat family beyond the original 1000, Wildcat X and Wildcat 4 into the narrower recreational-trail market.
