HKS x Autobacs x Mitsuhiro Kinoshita collaborated on these dampers

This time, we test-drove a Toyota “GR86” equipped with “HIPERMAX GATE SPEC”, jointly developed by HKS and Autobacs, on city streets and winding roads. What are the capabilities that astonished writers specializing in tuning?

The GR86 demo car at A PIT Autobacs Shinonome

”Awesome finish, seriously amazing!”

This suspension, HKS “HIPERMAX GATE SPEC”, had such an impact on me that I couldn’t help but shout out First of all, let me explain what “HKS GATE” is.

A PIT Autobacs Shinonome and Super Autobacs Hamamatsu are the bases of HKS GATE, a satellite shop that not only has an HKS corner in the shop, but also has HKS staff on hand regularly to give tuning advice with more expert knowledge.

The project to create this exclusive HKS GATE suspension was launched in 2023. Mr. Mitsuhiro Kinoshita, who had been cooperating in product development at Super Autobacs Hamamatsu, became its advisor.

Mr. Kinoshita has participated in many races, from karts to the All-Japan GT Championship, Super GT, and Super Taikyu. He has experience as a development driver as an employee of a brake and suspension manufacturer, and also worked as a tire development driver for Yokohama Rubber and Hankook Tire.

This project is about working with Mr. Kinoshita to create a better suspension. Starting with the suspension for the Toyota GR86/Subaru BRZ, he has also developed suspensions for the Subaru WRX and Nissan Fairlady Z. This time, I test-drove the GR86 demo car of A PIT Autobacs Shinonome.

Superior ride quality at a low cost

But if anything can be done, suspension can be done well. If you spend a lot of money, you can make a good suspension. That is why they dare to impose cost constraints on this project. The completed GATE SPEC suspension is priced at 294,800 yen (approx. 1,800 USD), only 13,000 yen more than the base HIPERMAX S. Development driver Mr. Kinoshita says:

“You can make it better by using expensive internal parts. But if it’s expensive, then it’s meaningless. So we basically use the same parts to finish it off.”

There, based on the HKS HIPERMAX S, the configuration of the internal shims, etc. are changed, but the piston valves, oil, etc. remain the same. The only other modifications made were to change the front upper mounts to a type with a variable caster angle and to fit the original bump rubbers.

This time, I test-drove the car on city streets and winding roads. The GR86 demo car of Shinonome was fitted with 255/35R18 Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RS tires. The wheels are TWS RS317 in A PIT’s original bronze color, 18″ 9.0J+50. It seems to be quite a demanding specification for ride comfort.

However, when I ride it, it is extremely comfortable. The GR86 has a very good finish even with the stock suspension, but it has surpassed it. Moreover, because it is achieved with 255 width and high rigidity Potenza RE-71RS, I am very surprised! If you put on a 235-width Michelin Pilot Sport 5 or similar, you’ll feel like you’re riding in a luxury sedan.