By now, all JDM auto enthusiasts have absorbed the vehicles of the 2026 Tokyo Auto Salon (TAS). For anyone who didn’t attend, social media already delivered the instant FOMO offer. Those who braved the chill of January in Japan were provided a treasure map detailing where to find modified cars buried within the 11 halls of the Makuhari Messe convention center.
Regardless of attendance, if you like this show, you’ve undoubtedly spent copious time pinching your screen to examine the wheel choice on your favorite display car or to pick out the rare details in the engine bay.
Whether you caught the headline or experienced it live, this community thrives because of the innovative brands that forecast trends, prototype new applications, and engineer solutions that change the way we modify cars. Members of the Turn 14 team took a trip across the globe to meet with partners, scout trends, and highlight some of our favorite hard parts from a show that sets the standard in breaking the norm.
Overnight Sales to Japan
Without HKS, this wouldn’t have happened. Maybe not necessarily the show itself, but with the company’s influence on automotive culture over the years, it wouldn’t be too extreme to make that claim. No, I’m talking about our team’s excursion to Japan. Our gracious partners from the other side of the world overnighted us straight to the base of Mt. Fuji in Fujinomiya, Shizuoka, for a tour of their home base campuses. Our hosts showed us their production processes, introduced us to HKS President Mr. Daisuke Mizuguchi, and shared the magic of TAS in one dream-filled week. Having witnessed firsthand how HKS prioritizes quality materials, in-house product construction, ultra-efficient production schedules, and rigorous testing across all its innovations, I can say with confidence that the parts on display at TAS are sure to make a splash upon release.
Farm to Table, Factory to Showfloor
After getting a preview of HKS’ future, we arrived at Tokyo Auto Salon for the full view of the present. First up, replacement OEM steering wheels compatible with the new Toyota GR Corolla and the FL5 Honda Civic Type R for a simple but noticeable upgrade. These offerings are a quick way to subtly incorporate premium leather or suede, the HKS logo, and oil-splash stitching into one of the driver’s main touch points. Next was the renewed vigor of the Hipermax S coilover suspension system, which features improved durability with new gold details to differentiate from the Hipermax R. This product offers an easier, more street-friendly ride with release applications including R32, S13, Tesla Model 3, and others.
An attention-grabbing announcement and center stage of its booth, HKS’s F-Con V Pro Ver 3.4 ECU and its full collaboration with Defi’s new HKS Sports Display F to replace your car’s ordinary instrument panel. Pair this ultra-cool setup with the new HKS Advance Link Meter Set for the ultimate gauge display experience. The backlight color harkens back to the golden era of orange/amber interior displays for period-correct visuals. Finally, HKS also showcased its newest merchandise, and this adorable miniature RB30 crankshaft, a representation of what would be included in HKS’s complete RB26 3.0-liter Step 3 engine.
Reinventing the Wheel
From one juggernaut to the next, we roll on over to RAYS. You have seen the company reinstate the limited Sakura finish of its Gram Lights wheel line by popular demand at the SEMA Show just a couple of months ago. Building on the hype, RAYS also launched the new TE37 with Advanced Surface Technology. Now with large diameters and two unique raw finishes, the latest rollout accommodates luxury SUVs and newer applications with larger factory wheel sizes. Taking center stage in Japan, however, was the new Volk Racing TE37 Saga S-Plus 30th Anniversary. A wheel commemorating the three decades of our culture’s most beloved six-spoke design. Continually refining the TE37 ensures that no matter the next big OEM design strategy, RAYS and Volk Racing will always be there to elevate it further.
Our mutual partner, Mackin Industries, not only helped a member of our team and a customer of ours experience Tokyo Auto Salon for the first time, but also produced a massive highlight for all of us by making the introduction to Shotaro Shiba, the President of RAYS Co., Ltd. (RAYS Wheels Japan).
Easy to Handle
No stranger to legendary JDM tuning, the suspension masters at Cusco brought a host of exciting new components. This lineup included an innovative new camber solution for the Honda GK5 Fit RS. While the demo application won’t make its way to America, we were too intrigued by this shimmed hub for torsion beam camber and toe adjustment not to discuss it. The company also released new applications for its Small Motion Control Brace, or S-MCB. This strut brace for the VBH-chassis Subaru WRX generates a reaction force equivalent to the load on the body, helping it damper any unharmonious motion while providing rigidity where it counts.
Cool Kids Club
While Japanese domestic-market applications rule the show floor, longtime T14 partner CSF Cooling went a different route. With its finger on the pulse, the cooling giant instead showcased products for the popular German applications that are taking over affluent Tokyo neighborhoods. Understanding real-world application needs is exactly what makes CSF’s high-performance auxiliary radiators and heat exchangers the right choice for this growing market. While in the booth, we also ran into our CSF-equipped friends from R44, who were walking the show in between midnight drives in their all-out drag-spec G87 BMW M2. Yes, the very same car from London that was on display in our Pennsylvania headquarters lobby back in August was blasting through the streets of Tokyo!
The Core of the Culture
The hard parts and legendary brands of Tokyo Auto Salon keep everything moving (faster). Without them, the glamorous builds that flood our social feeds each new year wouldn’t be possible. So remember, the next time you’re ogling the latest build in a booth, don’t forget to learn about the new parts that make it and our industry truly special.
We’d like to extend our sincere thanks to HKS for their generosity and hospitality, and for hosting us in the midst of their largest exhibitions of the year. It was a massive undertaking that deepened our appreciation for both the culture and our trusted partners. We’d also like to thank Mackin Industries and RAYS Wheels for their contributions to our January visit to Japan—it was truly unforgettable.
