Rockford Fosgate wanted something impossible to overlook for its booth at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show. The company turned to TMW Off-Road to transform a 2013 Polaris RZR XP 4 900 into a four-seat dune machine with an over-the-top marine audio system, custom bodywork and an aggressive new profile.
The finished RZR delivered exactly what the company needed. It attracted attention under the lights of the CES exhibit hall, but it was never intended to remain a stationary display. After the show, TMW Off-Road brought it to Glamis and proved that this audio showcase could still be driven hard in the dunes.
A New Look for the RZR XP 4
Rockford Fosgate approached TMW Off-Road in October 2012 about creating something different for the following January’s Consumer Electronics Show. As one of the largest technology trade shows in the world, CES was an ideal place to demonstrate how the company’s marine-grade audio equipment could be integrated into an off-road vehicle.
Jake Braaten, Rockford Fosgate’s director of product development, selected the four-seat RZR XP 900 platform as the foundation. The Polaris RZR XP 4 900 offered the performance and passenger capacity needed for the project, but Rockford Fosgate wanted a completely fresh appearance rather than a conventional corporate display vehicle.
TMW Off-Road began by developing a new roll cage. After experimenting with a radius roller for several days, the company created what it called the A.R.C., or Aggressor Radius Cage.
The cage’s low, fastback profile gave the RZR a distinctive silhouette, but it also reduced rear-seat headroom. TMW solved that problem by lowering the rear seating position approximately six inches, allowing adults to remain comfortable beneath the dramatically sloping cage.
Custom Doors, Seating and Dune Equipment
TMW installed its X-4 full-opening doors for added side protection. Their clean profile complemented the new cage while also providing a large surface for the build’s custom graphics.
Triple X Seats supplied custom suspension seating, including X3 bucket seats in front and a three-passenger rear bench. The seating arrangement gave the RZR room for five occupants while maintaining the low profile required by the Aggressor Radius Cage.
A set of lightweight 12-inch BMF carbon-fiber beadlock wheels wrapped in STU Blaster sand tires completed the dune setup.
Performance Upgrades
Although the project was built primarily to showcase Rockford Fosgate audio equipment, TMW also gave the RZR several useful performance upgrades.
A Muzzys Performance dual-exhaust system replaced the stock exhaust. Its large-diameter, equal-length head pipes improved the RZR’s sound while reducing the system’s weight by approximately six pounds. A Bazzaz fuel controller and ModQuad air intakes were added to support the engine modifications.
For better rearward visibility, TMW installed an Axia Alloys nine-inch panoramic rearview mirror and five-inch round convex side mirrors. Their billet construction and compact mounting system fit cleanly with the rest of the build.
Rigid Industries LED Lighting
TMW equipped the RZR for nighttime dune runs with an extensive Rigid Industries lighting package.
A 30-inch SR-Series single-row combination light bar was mounted above the cage. Despite measuring only about 1.5 inches tall, the light was rated to produce 9,600 lumens with a combination of spot and flood optics.
Two pairs of Dually D2 driving lights were installed on the TMW prerunner front bumper. One pair faced directly forward, while the second was angled approximately 30 degrees outward to spread additional light across the sides of the vehicle.
A Rockford Fosgate Marine Audio System
The centerpiece of the project was its massive Rockford Fosgate audio system. Because the equipment would be exposed to sand, water and weather, the system was constructed primarily from marine-grade components.
Four 6.5-inch marine coaxial speakers and a 10-inch marine subwoofer were installed at the front of the vehicle. Four additional eight-inch marine-grade coaxial speakers supplied sound for the rear passengers.
Three compact Rockford Fosgate PBR amplifiers powered the system. Each amplifier was capable of producing as much as 500 watts despite its small footprint, making the units easier to package beneath the RZR’s hood.
An RFX3000 source unit provided system control, Bluetooth connectivity and a water-resistant LCD display. Three Odyssey PC925 batteries supplied the electrical capacity needed to operate the high-output system.
Installing that much audio equipment required far more than attaching a few conventional speaker enclosures. Jeff and Dave from Sound Expressions handcrafted the speaker pods, subwoofer enclosures and amplifier mounts specifically for the RZR.
“Raising the Dead” Custom Wrap
With the fabrication, audio system and accessories completed, the RZR still needed a visual identity strong enough to stand out at CES.
Instead of covering the vehicle with oversized corporate logos, TMW and Rockford Fosgate worked with Cortez Visual Communications to create the “Raising the Dead” skull-and-tattoo theme. Rockford Fosgate branding was integrated into the artwork, producing a much more cohesive design than a traditional promotional wrap.
From the CES Show Floor to Glamis
The completed RZR made its public debut in January 2013 as the centerpiece of the Rockford Fosgate booth at CES. With its low fastback cage, custom wrap and extensive audio installation, it fulfilled its original mission as a show vehicle.
Many projects built for major trade shows spend the rest of their lives as trailer queens. This one did not.
We caught up with TMW Off-Road during the Second Annual Glamis UTV Industry Ride, where the crew was more than willing to put the RZR to work in the dunes. The custom audio system may have been designed to draw a crowd at CES, but the underlying XP 4 remained a functional dune machine.
Rockford Fosgate RZR XP 4 Build Specifications
- Vehicle: 2013 Polaris RZR XP 4 900
- Roll cage: TMW Off-Road A.R.C. Aggressor Radius Cage
- Doors: TMW Off-Road X-4 full-opening doors
- Front bumper: TMW Off-Road prerunner bumper
- Audio components: Rockford Fosgate
- Speaker pods and enclosures: Sound Expressions
- Wheels: 12-inch BMF carbon-fiber beadlocks
- Tires: STU Blaster sand tires from Fullerton Sand Sports
- Graphics: Cortez Visual Communications
- Exhaust: Muzzys Performance dual exhaust
- Fuel controller: Bazzaz
- Air intakes: ModQuad
- Mirrors: Axia Alloys
- Seats: Triple X Seats
- LED lighting: Rigid Industries
- Batteries: Three Odyssey PC925 batteries
More Rockford Fosgate RZR XP 4 Photos
Photography: Jon Crowley and Neal Rideout
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