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SNOWMOBILE – Arctic Cat’s M-7 is Honored

Snow Goer magazine has named the Arctic Cat M7 153 as its 2005 Snowmobile Of The Year. The selection was announced in the November 2004 issue of the magazine, which went on the newsstands at the end of September.
This was the first mountain-specific snowmbile to be chosen in the magazine’s history.
“There’s not a particular reason we went toward a mountain sled,” said Tim Erickson, Snow Goer editor. “We evauluate the entire market, and this year it’s the mountain market that took a giant leap forward with the M series, specifically the M 7.”
The criteria of the selection is based on technological development, and the M7 was cited for the new M chassis, high power-to-weight ratios and use of the ACT driveline system. The machine also was noted for its reversable Attack 20 track and rider-friendly ergos.
“We chose it for how it revolutionized the mountain market,” Erickson said. “It’s out-of the box performance to weight is a key factor as well as a combination of Cat’s new technologies. The greatest trait is its ability to react so well to rider input. This is the first moutnain sled that takes ride-ability in terms of ease of deep-snow handling to a new level.”
“The maneuverability and the reduced rider input are the new benchmark in mountian machinery,” the article stated. “The cockpit is the easiest to navigate among any machine, and sit-down to stand-up transitions wtih a taller seat are easier than anything else in the Cat lineup.”
Arctic Cat was last given the award in 1998 for its ZR 600 EFI. That sled was noted for its ZR II chassis, the AWS V front suspension and electronic fuel injection.
Other snowmobiles that were named to the Top 10 list in Snow Goer include: Arctic Cat F7 Firecat EFI, Arctic Cat F5 Firecat, Polaris 900 RMK 151, Polaris 900 Fusion, Ski-Doo Mach Z, Ski-Doo MX Z 550 Fan, Ski-Doo MX Z 600 H.O., Ski-Doo GTX Limited H.O., Yamaha RX-1, Yamaha RS Vector ER.
—Lynn Keillor

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