HKS's HIPERMAX G was fitted to a Prius, and Nishiki Akimi (錦亜季実) compared the demo car with a standard vehicle. The experience shows how lowering the ride height changes the car's appearance and driving feel.
About a year has passed since the current Prius was launched, and suspension upgrades are attracting attention as a way to give the car a more distinctive character. A demonstration drive introduced a case in which the HIPERMAX G, with the same shape as the stock parts, was selected to combine appearance with ride comfort.
The HIPERMAX G is a tuning part sold by HKS CO.,LTD., priced at ¥159,840. HKS CO.,LTD., based in Fujinomiya, Shizuoka Prefecture, emphasizes quality control at its own factory, including a 3-year, 60,000-kilometre warranty. The model was presented as pursuing ride comfort and driving stability while lowering the ride height.
Nishiki Akimi (錦亜季実) compared the demo car with a standard vehicle side by side. The demo car's ride height was approximately 2 cm lower, leaving a gap of roughly three fingers compared with the space into which a palm could fit. She initially found the appearance cool, but said the precise difference in height was difficult to perceive as a sensation while driving.
In actual driving, the standard Prius was rated as comfortable and quiet. The demo car, by contrast, was felt to exhibit less movement on motorways, with vibrations not continuing as long and the cabin becoming quieter. She also said that steering inputs felt smoother and that driving became more enjoyable.