Words by - Scott McIver
Pictures by - Dan Olivares
The journey to Mt. Fuji was too good to pass up. The mountain, is secretive enchantress, who hides behind her clouds like ancient fans. To get a look at her in all her beauty is a rare treat. On her slopes resides one of the innovators of our industry - the grand daddy to all things linked to import tuning - HKS Japan. It seems only fitting that this company sits at the foot of Mt. Fuji, the symbol of Japan.
Founded in 1973, by a Yamaha motors engineer HKS has since blossomed into the world leader in aftermarket tuning for Japanese platforms. HKS was born from the need to provide aftermarket automotive accessories to the Japanese car market. As the market around the world for tuning products increased, HKS has always been a the fore front. It's hard to imagine that this company, now over 300 strong and publicly traded, started in a dairy shack in a back yard!
It was amazing to get the chance to get inside this very secretive company that would rival or surpass even the big OEM speed shops like AMG, RalliArt, and Nismo. HKS products range from electronic ECU's, self produced turbines, exhaust, and fully built motors; a capability that can not to be rivaled easily. A tour of this huge facility and a peak into the R&D skunk works will open your eyes to what a tuning giant HKS truly is! Although we could not take pictures inside the production or R&D facilities, we hope that these will give you a flavor of an industry innovator.
Morning in sunny Shinigawa, Tokyo. Time to go catch the train.
Even early in the morning, Tokyo is bustling with activity.
The bullet train takes you to Shin - Fuji in a little less than an hour.
Even the trains in country are icons of speed, the bullet train is still an awe inspiring sight.
The HKS facility is literally at the foot of Mt. Fuji.
We knew we had arrived when we sighted the HKS demo R34 GTR.
Evo X waiting in the background next to the HKS R34.
No words needed - This is what heaven looks like.
Perfection on Advan GT's.
Endless and Advan - perfection.
R34 and Evo X - Angel and Devil?
HKS R34 and Evo X - 1200 HP between these two beasts.
This Evo X, one of the very few GSR's we saw, was developed for track duty to test HKS's new turbo kit for the CZ4A platform.
Red is hot, blue is cold!
HKS Japan's HQ has over 9 production and R&D facilities, including over 5 chassis dyno's! World class is an understatement.
Tanaguchi's D1 drift machine, getting serviced before its next battle at HKS Premium day.
This 86 is powered by an HKS supercharger kit, effectively blistering tires on the little machine with Tanaguchi at the wheel.
When HKS moved to its newest facility, it did not forget to add a little mini-testing ground next to its factory, for a little testing at speed...
The supercharged Honda CRZ was a beast, with side exit exhaust, this car was no grocery getter!
Our ride for the tour around HKS, a 400 HP supercharged mini-van! Look for another blog post on this mean machine.
The HKS facilities included an amazing auto museum - the HKS drag Supra.
HKS DTM entry.
HKS has an active role in the Japan GP series.
Although this is a JP3 body, it was used as a test platform for an HKS V12 F1 power plant in.
HKS V12 F1 power plant.
Home grown HKS F1 power.
The colorful history of HKS was displayed over the walls of the museum.
HKS's GJTC entry.
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