HKS Logo PNG
The HKS logo looks like a construction set. It shows the process of creating a whole from separate parts. The emblem demonstrates the company’s work on individual components, each unique and well thought out. The customer can combine them as desired.
HKS began in October 1973 in Fujinomiya, Shizuoka Prefecture, at the foot of Mount Fuji. Hiroyaki Hasegawa, a former Yamaha Motor Company engineer, and Goichi Kitagawa set up a workshop in a cowshed on a dairy farm. Sigma Automotive provided the initial capital, and the name HKS was derived from Hasegawa, Kitagawa, and Sigma.
Hasegawa initially planned an original racing engine, the HKS-74E, but the project was halted due to limited funds. In July 1974, HKS instead introduced a retail turbocharger kit for a production car. Made for the L20 engine in the Nissan Skyline Kenmeri, it raised output from 115 to 160 horsepower and brought turbocharging out of racing and military use and into the tuning market.
In 1982, HKS released the Turbo Timer, the F-Con engine management system, and the EVC electronic boost controller. In 1983, the HKS M300, based on a Toyota Celica XX, reached 301.25 km/h at Yatabe, becoming the first Japanese car to pass 300 km/h. The car used a deeply modified twin-turbo 5M-G inline-six.
In 1990, HKS entered drag racing with the Drag 70 Supra, based on the Toyota Supra Mk III, and later reached the seven-second range in 1991. In 1991–1992, it developed a 3.5-liter V12 Formula 1 engine tested in a Lola T91/50 at Fuji, though the program ended without a championship entry. HKS later competed in JGTC, JTCC, drag racing, and time attack, built subsidiaries in the United States, Britain, and Thailand, and lost founder Hiroyaki Hasegawa in 2016.
Meaning and History
Both company logos show the manufacturer’s connection with movement and machines. Since the company was initially involved in motorsports, the theme of car racing is also reflected in the emblems. The first logo is closer to the idea of tuning and visually demonstrates the process of transforming an engine. The second one looks minimalist, indicating precise niche definition, experience-tested work algorithms, and conveyor production. The colors and presentation style are selected to match the racing theme.
What is HKS?
A Japanese manufacturer of accessories and parts for tuning engines of all Japanese cars and some European and American brands. The company offers complete exhaust systems, 30 types of turbochargers, and individual engine parts. Thanks to HKS’s innovations, engine performance can be increased by up to 500 horsepower. The headquarters is in Fujinomiya.
Old
The first logo consists of a black square with gray scratch-like prints. In the center are three rectangles, each containing a letter.
Overall, the composition hints at creativity, spatial transformation, and the artistic design of details.
The scratches, revealing the gray base, demonstrate the process of creating a new image. It seems as if the black background was torn by claws, conveying strength and ferocious power. The company helps transform regular engines into more powerful sports engines. The black rectangles resemble tires, connecting the logo to cars.
The name is an abbreviation representing all the company’s founders. The idea of creating the company is associated with engineer Hasegawa. His partner in implementing the concept was another young engineer named Kitagawa. A motorsport company, along with its racing team, sponsored the business development. One letter was taken from each participant, resulting in HKS. Each symbol is placed in its figure with a white border, indicating the three participants.
New
The company’s modern logo has become simpler, retaining only the letters in individual rectangles. The white, bold symbols reflect the strength of the new engines. The rectangles symbolize:
- Tires, connecting the manufacturer to fast driving.
- The podium for the top 3 finishers, hinting at the company’s sports orientation.
- The black chess pieces on a racing flag.
- The three days of the Formula 1 Grand Prix.
- The three races the team participates in: free practice, qualifying, and the race.
Overall, the logo is closely related to the themes of car racing, sports, cars, and movement. The three separate elements represent the parts that, when assembled, create a unified mechanism, just as the three founders created a powerful company. The black stripes also hint at turbines. The company is actively involved in developing and selling turbocharger installation kits for engines.
Font and Colors
The HKS logo looks striking due to the contrast between white and black.
- White signifies renewal, transformation, and the creation of new modifications.
- Black symbolizes speed, strength, and power. It is associated with asphalt and black car tires.
The font is simple, even, and strict, with thick, bold letter glyphs. The lines reflect the flawless performance of the tuned unit, resulting in increased horsepower and speed.