You may or may not have heard by now but industry icon HKS is shutting down the U.S. arm of its business. This was officially announced yesterday in a letter to their dealers. In the letter HKS sites a slowly recovering economy combined with the recent tragedy in Japan as the reasons for its shutting down the U.S. HQ but others feel another contributing factor was the rising production of cheap counterfeit parts. I am inclined to believe that as well. The letter also states that HKS parts will still be available in the states but will now have to come directly from Japan. I am hoping that a major distributor such as Mackin Industries (Rays Engineering) or Pro-Motion will step up to distribute HKS parts here in the US to keep costs down.
We filled you in on the fact that HKS has been building parts for the Honda CR-Z for the last 6 months or so. In this video we get to see HKS put their CR-Z project code named “Green Monster” to the test by putting Nobuteru “N.O.B.” Taniguchi behind the wheel at Tsukuba Circuit. What time do you think N.O.B. can lay down in Honda’s “sport hybrid”? Check out the video below to find out! P.S. this video is totally in Japanese so if you understand it then sit back and enjoy the full 7 minute video. Otherwise you may want to skip to the 3 minute mark to get to the good part.
Florida-based BMW tuner Active Autowerke has been busy! I haven’t checked in for a while but when I did I saw that they’ve added a whole new level to their popular BMW E9X (E90, E92) M3 supercharger package. I meant that literally! There really is a whole new level, well “stage” rather. Their new Stage 2 supercharger kit for the E9X M3 is built around an HKS GTS-8550 centrifugal supercharger unit that is mounted with Active Autowerke’s own custom bracket which utilizes a dedicated belt drive design. You also get bigger injectors, custom software, and a beautifully designed Active Autowerke custom intake plenum with 8 velocity stacks built into it. When I say beautiful I mean it! These guys are artisans with a CNC machine. If you want the stage 2 kit it will set you back about $15,000. But hey, if you’re nice they may give you a deal. Call these guys up pronto!
The advanced design and sleek features of the Active Autowerke Supercharger System include a front mount air-to-air intercooler system with a separate oil cooler for the supercharger unit’s independent oil system. The Active Autowerke Supercharger Plenum replaces the factory air box and is designed to have an OEM-type look with custom finishes available at the customer’s request. The Active Autowerke Supercharger Plenum has been designed with eight high-flow velocity stacks, and large three inch intercooler piping to supply cooled air.
The custom Active Autowerke Filter mounts to the supercharger unit and is enclosed in a custom intake box engineered to incorporate factory design while forcing cool air to the air box. The optional methanol injection system assists in lowering intake air temperatures and prevents detonation.
The standard finish on the Active Autowerke Supercharger Plenum is a matte wrinkle black, custom colors are also available for an additional cost.
The Active Autowerke Supercharger System is powered by an HKS GTS8550 Supercharger Unit mounted with a custom CNC’ed bracket that uses a dedicated drive belt system, while eight high flow fuel injectors are used to supply the additional required fuel. Active Autowerke’s Performance Software, available for 91-93 octane, race gas, and octane levels unique to other countries, is carefully calibrated, and is at the heart of the system to provide an unparalleled driving experience. Keeping within the factory’s OBDII parameters, the Active Autowerke Supercharger System ensures consistency for everyday driving.
Key Features:
AA E9X M3 Supercharger Plenum with Eight High-flow Velocity stacks
HKS GTS8550 Supercharger
AA Blow Off Valves & Bypass Valve
Dedicated Belt Drive System (does not share belt with accessories)
A group of parts that HKS has been prototyping on their own CR-Z project car as well as Wraptivo’s Type-F CR-Z are now available for your consumption! Currently you can pickup a Hipermax III suspension set up, Racing Suction kit (intake), and their Silent Hi-Power exhaust. Just visit HKSUSA.com to see the full list of what’s available.
HKS has finally given me something to talk about! It looks like they just dropped a new turbo kit for Mitsubishi Lancer Evo’s IV through IX. The 7460R Sports Turbine Kit is a direct bolt-on replacement for the stock unit but can add significant power gains over stock when paired with a few other products. In HKS’ own tests the 7460R produced 373.4HP and 355.6 lb/ft of torque on a ’06 Evo IX that was already equipped with the R-Type intercooler, step 1 Mivec camshaft set, racing muffler, GT extension kit, F-con V-Pro, and some other off the shelf parts.
Given the condition of their test vehicle I would suggest only picking up this kit if you already have mosts of HKS off the shelf “turbo helper” parts on your car. If you’re already in that boat this seems like a good buy for those who want to retire their stock turbo.
We have the inside track on Wraptivo’s 2010 SEMA plans and the big news is the announcement of thir Honda CR-Z “Type-F” custom SEMA build. While there will be a few other CR-Z projects making their way to the SEMA floor most are top secret. Wraptivo has decided to go against the norm and are releasing nearly everything planned for their build. That includes showing off this beautiful rendering created by Jon Sibal of what the “Type-F” concept could possibly look like when its completed.
Wraptivo has several upgrades planned for their Type-F CR-Z including a suspension package from Tein, a ECU tune by Hondata, Volk Racing wheels, flat black/carbon fiber vinyl wrap scheme, and HKS Supercharger. Yes, that’s right. Wraptivo, with the help of HKS are supercharging a hybrid. Somewhere a tree-hugger is crying… Scroll down below for the size image and press release!
Press Release:
WraptivoTM Will Create Honda CR-Z “Type F” Concept To Debut At 2010 SEMA Show.
September 1st 2010 Irvine, CA-WraptivoTMwill produce our very first in house SEMA car in the form of a 2011 Honda CR-Z sport hybrid concept build dubbed “Type-F”.The goal for the WraptivoTMHonda CR-Z Type-F Concept is to evoke the notion of fun, which lies at the core of the CR-Z DNA while also giving a nod to the spirit and Honda heritage of the CR-Z. The Type-F concept will feature a sportier aesthetic over stock with the use of a combination of Honda Accessories Aero pieces and along with other aero components from Japan. The aero package will be complemented with a design package created to give this concept a special uniqueness yet with a familiarity that is still unmistakably Honda. The vehicle will be wrapped with WraptivoTMMatte Black and Carbon Black Film while small accents will be left in gloss black. The CR-Z will act as a canvas for Wraptivo to showcase its vehicle wrap options and give customizers a preview of how they can take advantage of this technology as a new way to protect their factory paint while also having the ability to easily change the look of their vehicle.
To increase performance we are looking to develop a supercharger system, suspension package, an ECU Tune, exhaust system, and other components with the help of our technology partners: Honda Accessories, Tein , HKS, BF Goodrich, Volk Racing, Hondata, and others to be confirmed at a later time. Interior enhancements will be subtle but functional. Recaro seats, a sport shift knob, and alcantara panels will be implemented to give the driver a sportier experience for fun filled excursions.
The completed WraptivoTMHonda CR-Z Type-F will closely resemble the concept rendering created for us by automotive digital illustrator Jon Sibal (JonSibal.com) though as the Type-F Concept is still in the early stages of production the final version may differ from the illustration slightly.
The Wraptivo Type-F Concept will make its official debut at the 2010 SEMA Show in the American Honda exhibit while the Wraptivo designer car wraps by Meguiar’s product line will also be launched at the same global event. Visit booth 24643 (in center hall) to learn more about Wraptivo and the American Honda booth to see the Wraptivo CR-Z. From there it is our intention to test all of our performance upgrades by entering the CR-Z Type-F in Source Interlink’s Super Lap Battle time trial event held the week after SEMA’s conclusion.
Updates on the Wraptivo Honda CR-Z Type-F concept will be available on the official WraptivoTMtwitter page (twitter.com/Wraptivo), Facebook page (facebook.com/WraptivoFB), as well as on MotorworldHype.com, the official online media partner for the WraptivoTM Honda CR-Z Type-F Concept. There will also be a feature article and pictorial in an upcoming issue of Import Tuner magazine.
Things were kind of slow today but this tidbit caught my attention. Check out Nobuteru Taniguchi AKA NOB work with HKS engineers to develop his signature HIPERMAX D’ NOB Spec coilovers. I imagine this video is more informative/entertaining if you can understand Japanese but if not its worth the time just to watch NOB in action anyway. Enjoy!
It looks like HKS has developed a Legamax Premium exhaust for the new Mazdaspeed3 and it sounds pretty darn good, but as you can clearly see in the video below this is only for the Japanese market so far. Hopefully they’ll offer this in the states soon for all the Mazdaspeed owners in the good ol’ USA!
Here is a quick way to earn some major “JDM tyte yo!” points with your fellow friends the next time you guys are wrenching. HKS has some pretty sweet looking mechanic gloves. Besides the fresh stitching they also have leather palms and padded knuckles so you dont bust them open the next time you put too much force into a bolt and end up punching your chassis by accident. Don’t front, we’ve all done it!
I slept on this one a bit but HKS dropped a dual version of their “Hi-Power” Exhaust for the 370Z. Not sure how much power it makes but if its made by HKS its a safe bet that they’ll be a noticable improvement. You also get titanium tips which freshens up the look nicely. This is defnitely a nice option if youre a Z guy in the market for an exhaust right now.
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