Caterpillar 's wheel loaders 966 and 972 The Cat 966 and Cat 972 Next Generation Caterpillar wheel loaders each have 321 and 339 horsepower. The two Caterpillar medium wheel loaders have working weights of 51,124 and 54,858 pounds, respectively. Both are offered in an XE version with a continuous variable gearbox (CVT), which improves fuel economy by up to 35% compared to the outgoing powershift models. What the Cat XE loader can do The company states that performance and fuel economy have been significantly improved by integrating the cooling, hydraulic, and engine systems with the CVT drivetrain. To enable efficient digging, accurate control, and operation, these loaders independently modify engine rpm and machine speed in place of the torque converter common in mechanical drive systems. The XE loaders' CVT technology enables fast speeds uphill and smooth, rapid accelerations. Features like speed-hold and anti-rollback enhance machine con...