Arctic Cat Arctic Cat & Robby Gordon / Todd Romano Partner

[JoeyD23]

Arctic Cat Enters Agreement with Robby Gordon and Todd Romano’s SPEED RMG Partners​

Partnership focusing on off-road vehicle product innovation and marketing; More details to be announced at Arctic Cat’s dealer show in late August

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Arctic Cat Inc. (NASDAQ:ACAT) announced today that it has entered into an exclusive, five-year product development and marketing agreement with famed racer Robby Gordon and his newly formed SPEED RMG Partners LLC with Todd Romano, an aftermarket futurist.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150806005453/en/

“Our partnership aims to set new standards for product innovation and excitement in the off-road vehicle industry,” said Arctic Cat President and Chief Executive Officer Christopher Metz. “We see significant opportunities to re-imagine what’s possible and create dynamic, end-user focused new products and accessories, in line with our stated strategic growth initiatives. We believe this effort will further enhance our competitiveness and brand position. We will announce further details about this exciting collaboration at our wheeled dealer show later this month. Stay tuned.”

The agreement reflects Arctic Cat’s commitment to the high-performance off-road vehicle market, and its Wildcat side-by-sides and accessories. Gordon and Romano will provide research and development consulting on new technologies.

“We sought a partnership with a company that shared our passion for creating new markets with untapped potential,” said Gordon. “Arctic Cat’s vision complements our ideas. We are excited about what we can achieve together.”

Gordon is a recognized pioneer in racing and off-road vehicle design, with 30 years of experience designing and developing state-of-the-art machines. He has proven to be among the most competitive racers at NASCAR, IndyCar, TransAm, International Motor Sports Association (IMSA), International Race of Champions (IROC) and the Dakar Rally. Gordon has won seven international off-road class championships, two stadium series and three Baja 500s. He also created the enormously successful Stadium Super Truck (SST) series.

Romano is the founder of DragonFire Racing and Finish Line Marketing. DragonFire Racing pioneered the development of performance accessories for the UTV/SXS industry and has become an industry Icon. The attention that DragonFire Racing brought to the industry quickly attained international recognition and led to its acquisition. Finish Line Marketing is a recognized leader in the power sports space as an innovative creator of marketing programs that raise consumer awareness and retail demand.

Arctic Cat, in collaboration with Gordon and Romano’s Speed RMG Partners, plans to create the most innovative technology and products the industry has seen.

 

[Glamisfan]

King shocks and 264 turbo'd hp!!! Gonna be real nice!


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[sand shark]

That is what AC needed! They could potential produce some really really nice stuff. The sport SXS market is just getting better each day.

 

[jajl22]

if it is anything like the Robby Gordon editions RzR's i will pass.

I will agree there is a huge amount of potential for a really cool vehicle with this partnership though.

Nice to see other manufacturers making moves, the doors could be blown off the sport sxs market with all these new releases if they even live up to 50% ok maybe 75% of their hype.

 

[JoeyD23]

if it is anything like the Robby Gordon editions RzR's i will pass.

I will agree there is a huge amount of potential for a really cool vehicle with this partnership though.

Nice to see other manufacturers making moves, the doors could be blown off the sport sxs market with all these new releases if they even live up to 50% ok maybe 75% of their hype.

The RG Edition RZR4 was the best vehicle for sport recreation at the time it was released. Today it wouldn't hang obviously but I think there is some real potential to develop some cool stuff for sure.

 

[NIKAL]

if it is anything like the Robby Gordon editions RzR's i will pass.

I will agree there is a huge amount of potential for a really cool vehicle with this partnership though.

Nice to see other manufacturers making moves, the doors could be blown off the sport sxs market with all these new releases if they even live up to 50% ok maybe 75% of their hype.

The RG Edition RZR4 was the best vehicle for sport recreation at the time it was released. Today it wouldn't hang obviously but I think there is some real potential to develop some cool stuff for sure.

I agree! Robby's design and influence with Polaris was big for the time. The RZR4 was not just some signature series where Polaris paid RG for only his name. He had his hands in the RZR4 concept. Here is the original RZR4 before anyone was converting 2 seaters or Polaris was building them. Robby Got involved with Polaris because John Menard was at the time on the Board of Directors for Polaris. Not sure if he is still involved or not?

Robby used to drive this around the NASCAR track infields. This was his golf cart!

You have to wonder what Greg Biffle thinks about Robby working with Arctic Cat, as he has been building Z1 WildCats and other Wild Cat parts for awhile now. I wondered why Arctic Cat did not work with Biffle awhile ago? Maybe they never approached each other or maybe Biffle was not interested or prepared to do production stuff?

 

[jajl22]

I agree! Robby's design and influence with Polaris was big for the time. The RZR4 was not just some signature series where Polaris paid RG for only his name. He had his hands in the RZR4 concept. Here is the original RZR4 before anyone was converting 2 seaters or Polaris was building them. Robby Got involved with Polaris because John Menard was at the time on the Board of Directors for Polaris. Not sure if he is still involved or not?

Robby used to drive this around the NASCAR track infields. This was his golf cart!

You have to wonder what Greg Biffle thinks about Robby working with Arctic Cat, as he has been building Z1 WildCats and other Wild Cat parts for awhile now. I wondered why Arctic Cat did not work with Biffle awhile ago? Maybe they never approached each other or maybe Biffle was not interested or prepared to do production stuff?

The Biffle issue came to my mind as well when i was reading the release. I have never personally ridden in one of his vehicles but in the videos and the couple i have seen up close they look like very high quality parts and obviously are a blast to drive.

I think part of it is that Biffle is not a house hold name for off road products to the general public. The utvug family is pretty tuned in on most of this stuff compared to the general public and know of biffle and Pace Off Road. The general public knows Robby Gordon and they equate Robby Gordon with off road. I think that is a big play from the marketing stand point. AC doesn't always have the best marketing campaigns and the name Robby Gordon will definitely at least get them a look in their direction or a peek from the general consumer.

 

[kmb760]

So if a company like Arctic Cat wanted to reinvent the sand rail and take the market over they could easily put a turboed 1200cc motor in a modified wildcat. Then classify it as something other then a SxS and sell way more units then a turbo RZR. Obviously it needs to be a well built motor and trans(DCT) with a frame to support the fun factor of 200+ HP.

 

[tatum]

2017 should be interesting!

 

[Rusty5150]

You don't say. I know you have some inside info.


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[tatum]

You don't say. I know you have some inside info.


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The only thing I know is the 2016 is probably already set so hopefully they really step it up for 2017. Yes I know Todd but I honestly have no inside info.I do believe Robby and Todd should be able to come up with something badass though.

 

[Rusty5150]

From this video it looks like maybe it has VW style trailing arms and 2 shocks per rear wheel.

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[Rusty5150]

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[Sport10]

Thanks for this upload. Had heard a rumor that there was a few in a shop in Havasu, looks to be true!

 

[SGM4Life]

What kind of power train does this thing have? It looks like the suspension works well!

 

[JoeyD23]

Pretty sure this is just a stock Wildcat with shocks, wheels and tires.