Originally published March 16, 2016. This Build Spotlight documents Muzzys Performance’s “Purple Haze,” a highly modified 2015 Polaris RZR XP 4 1000 powered by the company’s 1,132cc big-bore engine package. Product availability and the prices originally quoted in this article may have changed.
By Seth Fargher
Photos by Seth Fargher and Jon Crowley
Muzzys Performance built its reputation around horsepower. Although many powersports enthusiasts know the company for its complete exhaust systems and slip-ons, founder Rob Muzzy spent decades tuning engines and winning championships across multiple forms of motorsports. From motorcycles and drag racing to UTVs, performance was always at the center of the company’s work.
Following the release of its 1,132cc big-bore engine package for the Polaris RZR XP 1000, Muzzys began planning a new shop vehicle that could showcase more than its exhaust products. The resulting four-seat RZR became known as Purple Haze.
A Custom RZR Inspired by a Vintage Cruiser
Rob Muzzy drew inspiration for the build from his wife’s limited-edition Kawasaki Vulcan motorcycle. He envisioned a clean, understated vehicle with the character of a vintage cruiser rather than a UTV covered in competing colors and graphics.
With that direction established, principal builder Lorin Morrell began assembling the project. GlazzKraft and Rigid Industries were among the first companies to support the build.
“Rob really liked the GlazzKraft body, so that’s where we started. I started making phone calls to people in the industry, and they really liked what we were going for.”
Lorin Morrell
Creating such a clean appearance required careful attention to the vehicle’s electrical system. Purple Haze carried 12 underbody lights, two LED light bars and several additional Rigid Industries accent lights. It also had an SSV Works audio system using Rockford Fosgate components and a four-person Rugged Radios intercom.
Morrell and the Muzzys team went to considerable lengths to keep the wiring out of sight. That included drilling access holes and routing wires internally through the TMW Offroad roll cage.
Subtle Custom Details
Although Muzzy did not want an excessively loud design, Morrell incorporated numerous details that rewarded a closer look. The hood and Axia Alloys accessories were hydro-dipped in a carbon-fiber pattern, giving the RZR additional texture without overpowering its overall design.
“When you look at the car, there’s no one thing that just pokes you right in the eye. It’s all very subtle, but the closer you look, you really start to see the details surface.”
Lorin Morrell
Instead of the polished-aluminum finish commonly used on performance exhaust systems at the time, Muzzys selected a black dual exhaust with brushed-aluminum end caps. Triple X Seats supplied black Venom seats with dark-gray simulated-ostrich inserts and custom carbon-fiber-style piping.
Suspension, Wheels and Dune Tires
The builders retained the RZR’s stock suspension geometry but strengthened the rear of the car with oversized S3 Powersports radius rods. Walker Evans Racing supplied custom-built 2.5-inch piggyback shocks.
Hiper Racing provided 14-inch Sidewinder beadlock wheels featuring carbon-fiber wheel halves, billet-aluminum Fusion centers and custom carbon beadlock rings. Fullerton Sand Sports wrapped the wheels in 28-inch STU Sand Blaster rear paddle tires and matching STU Sand Razor front tires.
Driving Purple Haze at St. Anthony
I had several opportunities to drive Purple Haze. Most of my seat time came during the 2015 UTV Invasion at the Idaho Dunes, where the large and steep dunes surrounding St. Anthony provided a demanding test of the Muzzys engine package.
As with nearly any unfamiliar vehicle—especially one built to this level—I initially drove somewhat defensively while learning its limits. After several runs, however, I became comfortable enough to send it over transitions and carefully see how the four-seat RZR behaved in the air.
Successful dune riding normally requires planning ahead. Carrying momentum and selecting the correct line become especially important when climbing tall faces or carving around a large bowl. Purple Haze made that process considerably easier because the engine always seemed to have more power available.
I could hold a line around large bowls without worrying that the engine would run out of power. Starting again on an incline was also less intimidating. A push of the throttle allowed the RZR to move forward in places where less powerful vehicles might dig into the sand.
How the 1,132cc Engine Performed
During the weekend, I moved between Purple Haze, a long-travel RZR XP 1000 with a stock engine and the then-new Polaris RZR XP Turbo. Driving the vehicles back-to-back helped illustrate the differences between the three combinations.
The Muzzys big-bore package substantially changed the character of the naturally aspirated 999cc engine without making it difficult to control. Its power delivery remained smooth and predictable, with the additional torque working especially well when climbing or riding the ridges of the tall St. Anthony dunes.
I eventually became so accustomed to the extra performance that I stopped noticing it—until I climbed back into the stock XP 1000. Purple Haze accelerated more readily and continued pulling where the standard engine responded more slowly. On one climb up Devil’s Dune, I was able to catch an XP 1000 that had started with a significant lead.
Muzzys claimed roughly a 60-percent horsepower increase from the complete 1,132cc package. Its acceleration felt comparable to the original RZR XP Turbo, although the lighter two-seat Turbo felt more nimble. Purple Haze’s additional size and weight gave it more of a sand-car sensation from behind the wheel.
A Big-Bore Alternative to Buying a Turbo
When this build was completed, many RZR XP 1000 owners were deciding whether to modify their existing machines or move to the new XP Turbo. The Muzzys 1,132cc package offered another option, particularly for owners who had already invested heavily in suspension, cages, wheels and other upgrades for their naturally aspirated RZRs.
At the time of publication, Muzzys offered both a do-it-yourself kit and a complete engine service. The DIY package included cylinders, pistons, seals, camshafts, valve springs, connecting rods, fuel injectors and an upgraded clutch. Optional cylinder-head porting and valve work were also offered.
The prices originally reported were approximately $4,363 for the component package, another $800 for cylinder-head work, or about $7,000 plus shipping for a completed engine conversion. Those figures are included for historical context and should not be considered current pricing or confirmation that the parts remain available.
Final Impressions
Purple Haze was an impressive combination of power, craftsmanship and restraint. Although I generally prefer the lighter feel of a two-seat UTV, the Muzzys engine made this RZR XP 4 outperform many of the two-seat machines I had driven at the time.
The three-stage pearl-purple paint by Robberson Custom Collision changed dramatically with the available light and was difficult to capture accurately in photographs. Proline Wraps added hand-turned gold-leaf logos instead of covering the body with an elaborate wrap, while carbon-fiber-pattern wheel graphics complemented the Hiper wheels.
The longer you looked at the vehicle, the more details became visible. That was precisely what Muzzys intended. Purple Haze subsequently appeared at the Oregon UTV Invasion, Dunefest, Idaho UTV Invasion and Sand Sports Super Show.
Muzzys Purple Haze Specifications
- Base vehicle: 2015 Polaris RZR XP 4 1000
- Engine: Muzzys billet 1,132cc big-bore package
- Claimed output: Approximately 60-percent horsepower increase
- Camshafts: Muzzys camshaft set
- Valve train: Muzzys valve springs, cylinder-head porting and valve conversion
- Fuel system: Muzzys fuel injectors and DigiTune Gen4 closed-loop fuel controller
- Connecting rods: Muzzys/Carillo rods
- Exhaust: Muzzys dual exhaust with black finish
- Clutching: Muzzys 1,132cc-specific Dirty Dawg clutch
- Whips: Muzzys single-color DigiWhips
- Front lighting: Rigid Industries 10-inch grille light bar and 30-inch radius light bar
- Accent lighting: Rigid Industries 12-light underbody kit, reverse lights, side lights and dome lights
- Audio: Rockford Fosgate T1675 6.75-inch coaxial speakers, two T400-2 amplifiers, T1S10 10-inch subwoofer and Bluetooth receiver
- Seats: Triple X Seats Venom seats with custom black upholstery, dark-gray simulated-ostrich inserts and carbon-fiber-style piping
- Accessories: Axia Alloys rearview mirror, side mirrors, quick-release fire extinguisher and OHV tag plate with custom carbon-fiber hydro dip
- Communications: Rugged Radios four-seat intercom and Vertex VX-2200 50-watt radio
- Shocks: Custom Walker Evans Racing 2.5-inch piggyback shocks
- Rear suspension: S3 Powersports radius rods
- Wheels: Hiper Racing 14-inch Sidewinder carbon-fiber beadlocks with billet Fusion centers
- Rear tires: 28-inch STU Sand Blaster paddle tires
- Front tires: 28-inch STU Sand Razor tires
- Harnesses: Simpson Race Products D3 three-inch harnesses, front and rear
- Cage and doors: TMW Offroad four-seat cage and doors
- Body: GlazzKraft
- Paint: Three-stage pearl-purple over black mica by Robberson Custom Collision
- Graphics: One-off turned gold-leaf logos and carbon-fiber wheel graphics by Proline Wraps
More Purple Haze Photos
