The 2014 Arctic Cat Wildcat X Limited was a premium version of the two-seat Wildcat X, adding Elka Stage 5 shocks, full aluminum doors, a molded roof, beadlock wheels and ITP tires to Arctic Cat’s 90-plus-horsepower sport UTV.
Introduced in November 2013, the Wildcat X Limited arrived during a period of rapid development in the sport side-by-side market. It combined the more powerful Wildcat X engine and TEAM clutching with factory-installed equipment that owners commonly added when preparing a UTV for dunes, desert riding or recreational racing.
This article covers the original 2014 model. For the complete development of the platform, see our Arctic Cat Wildcat 1000 history. For driving impressions of the higher-output model, read our Arctic Cat Wildcat X overview and review.
What Made the Wildcat X Limited Different?
The standard Wildcat X already included the higher-output version of Arctic Cat’s 951cc V-twin, TEAM Rapid Response clutching, electronic power steering and long-travel suspension. The Limited package added several substantial components rather than relying primarily on graphics or paint.
The 2014 Arctic Cat Wildcat X Limited added premium suspension, doors, a roof and beadlock wheels.
| Equipment | Wildcat X | Wildcat X Limited |
|---|---|---|
| Front and rear shocks | FOX Podium shocks with remote reservoirs and 23-position compression adjustment | Elka Stage 5 shocks with high- and low-speed compression plus rebound adjustment |
| Doors | Tube-frame doors with integrated nets | Full aluminum doors |
| Roof | Not included as standard equipment | Molded roof |
| Wheels | 14-inch machined cast-aluminum wheels | 14-inch aluminum beadlock wheels |
| Tires | 27-inch Maxxis Bighorn tires | 27-inch ITP Blackwater Evolution tires |
90-Plus-Horsepower 951cc V-Twin
The Wildcat X Limited used Arctic Cat’s liquid-cooled 951cc H2 V-twin. Changes developed for the Wildcat X increased output to more than 90 horsepower, approximately 15 percent more than the original Wildcat 1000.
The engine used electronic fuel injection, a single 50mm throttle body and a ceramic-coated 2-into-1 exhaust system. Revised cam profiles, higher-compression pistons and intake changes helped the engine move more air, while a lighter crankshaft reduced rotating mass for quicker response.
Arctic Cat paired the engine with TEAM Rapid Response drive and driven clutches. The automatic continuously variable transmission provided High, Low, Reverse and Park ranges, along with engine braking. Drivers could electronically select two-wheel drive, four-wheel drive or four-wheel drive with the front differential locked.
Elka Stage 5 Suspension
Suspension was the centerpiece of the original Wildcat platform, and it was also one of the most important upgrades included with the Limited model.
Elka Stage 5 shocks distinguished the Wildcat X Limited from the standard Wildcat X.
The Wildcat X Limited used double A-arms at the front with 17 inches of suspension travel. At the rear, Arctic Cat’s five-link trailing-arm system delivered 18 inches of travel. The chassis provided 13 inches of ground clearance.
Elka Stage 5 shocks gave the Limited model separate high- and low-speed compression adjustments plus rebound adjustment. This provided more tuning control than the FOX Podium shocks fitted to the standard Wildcat X and allowed the suspension to be adjusted for different terrain, speeds and driving styles.
The Wildcat’s long wheelbase, low seating position and approximately 40/60 front-to-rear weight distribution were intended to improve stability in fast, rough terrain. A rear sway bar helped control body roll while allowing the trailing-arm suspension to work through its travel.
Braking and Steering Updates for 2014
Arctic Cat revised the Wildcat X braking system for 2014. A redesigned brake pedal used a different lever ratio to provide a firmer, more aggressive feel, while dual-piston calipers increased braking capability at all four wheels.
The steering geometry was also revised to improve feedback. Variable-assist electronic power steering reduced effort at low speeds and when four-wheel drive or the differential lock was engaged, while retaining steering feedback at higher speeds.
Factory-Installed Limited Equipment
The Limited package addressed several practical shortcomings of the early Wildcat. Its full aluminum doors provided more coverage than the standard tube-frame doors, while the molded roof added overhead protection. True beadlock wheels mechanically secured the outer tire beads, making them particularly useful when running reduced tire pressures in sand or rough terrain.
Other standard equipment included:
- High-back bucket seats with upper-body support
- Three-point seat belts
- Tilt steering wheel
- LED headlights and taillights
- Aluminum front and rear bumpers
- Under-seat storage
- Locking glove box
- Bed-mounted tie-down points
- Rear cargo area rated to carry 300 pounds
2014 Arctic Cat Wildcat X Limited Specifications
| Engine | 951cc liquid-cooled V-twin, SOHC, four-stroke, four valves per cylinder |
|---|---|
| Claimed output | More than 90 horsepower |
| Fuel system | Electronic fuel injection with a single 50mm throttle body |
| Transmission | Automatic CVT with High, Low, Reverse and Park |
| Clutching | TEAM Rapid Response drive and driven clutches |
| Drive system | Selectable 2WD/4WD with locking front differential |
| Front suspension | Double A-arm with Elka Stage 5 shocks |
| Front travel | 17 inches |
| Rear suspension | Five-link trailing arm with Elka Stage 5 shocks and sway bar |
| Rear travel | 18 inches |
| Ground clearance | 13 inches |
| Brakes | Four-wheel hydraulic discs with dual-piston calipers |
| Wheels | 14-inch aluminum beadlock wheels |
| Tires | 27-inch ITP Blackwater Evolution tires |
| Cargo capacity | 300 pounds |
| Power steering | Variable-assist electronic power steering |
Where the 2014 Wildcat X Limited Fits in Wildcat History
The Wildcat X Limited represented Arctic Cat’s premium two-seat Wildcat for 2014. It retained the original platform’s unusually long suspension travel while addressing the demand for more engine performance and more complete factory equipment.
Arctic Cat continued refining the Wildcat X in subsequent years with updated fuel injection, different shocks, revised doors and additional steering changes. The most substantial later revision arrived for 2017, when the Wildcat X received RG Pro rear suspension developed with Robby Gordon.
The original V-twin Wildcat family was eventually replaced by the completely different three-cylinder Wildcat XX platform. Even so, the 2014 Wildcat X Limited remains an important example of the early factory-equipped, long-travel sport UTV.
