Latest news with #HKS
The Citizen
a day ago
- Automotive
- The Citizen
HKS unleashes track-focused aero kit for Toyota GR Yaris
The Toyota GR Yaris has carved out a niche in the hot hatch segment based on its celebrated performance and raw, direct connection to Gazoo Racing's rallying heritage. If that hasn't been enough, Japanese tuning firm HKS has introduced a raft of aerodynamic upgrades dubbed the Type-S Gen2. Looking for a new or used Toyota? Find it here with CARmag! Looking like something out of a Need For Speed game, the kit isn't only cosmetic but is designed to tangibly improve the car's performance on the track through enhanced downforce. Central to the Type-S Gen2 package is a redesigned front splitter. Crafted from fibreglass with carbon fibre overlays, HKS claims this component aims to optimise airflow, generating increased downforce at the front axle. The result is improved steering precision and greater stability when cornering at high speeds. Complementing the splitter are new side skirts and a very hard-to-miss carbon fibre rear wing, which features unique mounts to ensure maximum aerodynamic efficiency. No figures on improvements have been revealed by the tuner, but HKS has hinted at a noticeable improvement in the GR Yaris' on-track handling characteristics. Related: From Couch to Competition – 2025 Toyota GR Cup Part 2 The reason behind this is that a GR Yaris equipped with these aerodynamic modifications is currently competing in the Japanese Super Endurance series. This real-world application in a competitive motorsport environment provides a rigorous proving ground for the components, validating their effectiveness under extreme conditions. However, the kit's availability is currently limited. Enthusiasts outside of Japan will be disappointed to learn that the HKS Type-S Gen2 package is presently exclusive to the Japanese market, with no immediate plans for international sales. For those in Japan, the front splitter retails for approximately ¥165 000 (around R20k), while the side skirts and rear wing are priced at roughly ¥132 000 each (approximately R16k). Click here and browse thousands of new and used vehicles here with CARmag! The post HKS Unleashes Track-Focused Aero Kit for Toyota GR Yaris appeared first on CAR Magazine. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Kerala grapples with plastic waste
Kochi: If Kerala produced 30,798 tonnes of black pepper — its mainstay of spice trade with Europe and the Arab world in olden days — the state generated a whopping 71,000 tonnes of plastic in the same period last year, more than double that of pepper production. This comparative data of pepper production and plastic usage reveals how far Keralites have moved towards a use and throw culture, unmindful of discarding plastic waste that is being dumped in the state's verdant hills, water bodies and open spaces. Even as cities like Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram are grappling with the issue of managing plastic waste disposal in a scientific manner, the State pollution control board (PCB) data claim that the estimated plastic waste generation in Kerala has almost halved from 1.31 lakh tonnes in 2019-20 to 71,000 tonnes in 2023-24. Experts are not convinced. "Dumping of waste in public places and private compounds has decreased, but our plastic consumption went up. Haritha Karma Sena (HKS) members are doing a wonderful job in collecting plastic waste. The segregation of plastic waste collected from households and at material collection facilities is not proper. Hence, the generated plastic waste is not fully recycled. A large part of it is burned at cement kilns. With online food delivery and mall culture, our plastic use has increased," said Jayakumar C, executive director of Thanal Trust, an NGO. PCB officials say norms in waste segregation have changed and reflect in the reduction. "Plastic mixed with other waste used to be collected by local bodies and that resulted in higher quantity. Now HKS collects only segregated plastic waste and hence the dip in figures," said a PCB official. PCB data shows Kerala generated 71,000 tonnes of plastic waste in 2023-24 and collected 68,682 tonnes. The generation in 2017-18 and 2020-21 was 44,482 tonnes and 1,20,063 tonnes, respectively. To contain the use of plastic and pollution caused by it, the state govt introduced plastic waste management rules in 2016, with a ban on single-use plastic, segregation at source and provision for waste collection. Campaigns are run to reduce plastic use and switch to alternative products. However, data shows no reduction in plastic use by the state's middle class-dominated population. Microplastics have entered the food chain network and images of wildlife consuming plastic littered by people highlight that there is no going back. "Plastic products contain a lot of compounds, including additives and the pollution caused by them is different. When plastic waste or microplastic enters soil, it becomes a layer on it and prevents percolation of water to earth. It disrupts the growth of microorganisms in soil, affecting the whole ecology and food chain. When it comes to marine pollution, fish consume microplastic. Soil and water are basic components keeping ecological integrity. When they are polluted, the whole food chain will be affected," said an environmental scientist with the state govt. Experts say the pollution we now talk about was caused by the unbridled use of plastic and its littering decades ago. The unrestricted use of plastic in Kerala started after 1990, when the country embraced globalisation. "Despite the state govt's Malinya Muktham Nava Keralam campaign, single-use plastic is found abundantly in Kerala. Strict enforcement of law is the primary step. The 'polluter pays principle' must be imposed. A strict ban on all single-use plastics is another important step. As part of awareness and capacity-building programmes, make waste management a subject for all courses and encourage academic institutions to provide 40-50% of internships in waste management topics because a good percent of future career opportunities will be in the sector," said Tropical Institute of Ecological Science director Punnen Kurian Venkadathu. The plastic waste people generate daily is not fully collected nor is there a comprehensive recycling or reusing system. Most of the local bodies hand over the plastic waste segregated by HKS to Clean Kerala Company Ltd under local self-govt department while some give it to private firms. "Local bodies should have an assessment of the plastic waste generated within their limits based on the population there. Material collection facilities should be set up based on that. If all plastic waste generated in each ward of a local body is collected and reaches MCF, the issue is solved. However, our local bodies have not reached that scale. We've to bring them to the complete mechanism system," said a Clean Kerala official. Activists in waste management field opine that political education in the state needs to be redesigned to bring about a drastic change in reducing plastic waste generation. "People still use plastic because of convenience and an attitude that lacks citizen responsibility and is indifferent to the environmental pollution caused by their actions. In the existing political education, where gender, equality and justice are talked about, politicians should talk about climate-resilient actions too," said activist Jagajeevan N. "The young generation is sensitive towards ecology. They are using and promoting alternative products to plastic," he said.
Miami Herald
03-06-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
HKS Japan Releases Limited-Time Hipermax S Suspension Kit for Hyundai Ioniq 5
Since 1973, Japanese tuning company HKS has been supplying high-performance aftermarket parts for cars, including aero parts, enhanced cooling systems, engine and turbocharger upgrades, and suspension kits. After revealing a prototype last year, HKS Japan is now offering a Hipermax S drop kit for the Hyundai Ioniq 5 that promises to enhance agility without compromising on comfort. The only problem is you'll have to import it, because it's not available from HKS USA. As you can see, the Ioniq 5 sits lower to the ground with the Hipermax S kit installed, eliminating that gap between the tire and the wheel arch. It hunkers down, hugging the road, and exhibits a far more aggressive and dynamic stance than what the reduction in ride height suggests. And how much is this reduction? The front is lowered by 1.18 inches and the rear by 1.5 inches. In common with other Hipermax S installations, it sports Dual PVS - HKS's dual preload valve system. Dual PVS reduces damping force during high piston speeds, improving ride comfort over sharp bumps without sacrificing the advantages of the lower ride height. A unique needle jet allows a wide range of damping-force adjustment, catering for many types of road surfaces, and the reformulated rubber for the bump stops achieves bump-through comfort that cannot be achieved with regular hydro bump-stop rubber. The caveat is that this offer is only temporary - until August 29, 2025 - and it's exclusively available through HKS Japan, as it's not offered locally by HKS USA. The pricing of 382,800 yen translates to about $2,672 at current exchange rates, and that's before shipping and taxes. Seeing that you'll have to order it from Japan, it's fair to say you'll likely have the only Ioniq 5 with a bit of stance on your block. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Axios
12-05-2025
- Climate
- Axios
U.S. Bank Stadium is a trendsetter in the NFL
U.S. Bank Stadium is more than just a jaw-dropping place to watch a game — it's one of the most influential buildings in professional sports. Why it matters: If you've been inside, you know the feeling: bright, open and oddly warm, even during a Minnesota winter. The big picture: NFL franchises in these cities are using — or plan to use — the same translucent roofing material as U.S. Bank Stadium, called ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE). It costs much less than a retractable roof, provides an outdoor feel and, crucially, an enclosed stadium with 60,000-plus seats positions cities to host massive events like the Super Bowl, NCAA Final Four and Wrestlemania. What they're saying: With six NFL franchises following suit, Axios asked professor Tom Fisher of the University of Minnesota's College of Design if he feels U.S. Bank Stadium will be seen as a trendsetter the way Baltimore's Camden Yards and Cleveland's Progressive Field are in baseball. 'I think so," he said. "The feeling of being in daylight without the problems of being rained on, or snowed on, or being cold — I think it solves a lot of problems." Flashback: When the Vikings were weighing stadium designs, architecture firm HKS convinced them to skip a retractable roof — the popular choice at the time in places like Indianapolis and Arizona. Architect John Hutchings, then at HKS and now working for Overland Partners, said retractable roofs are usually only opened a few times a year, which is why his team pushed for ETFE. At the time, the translucent plastic material was growing in popularity overseas because it is strong, yet lightweight enough to span massive roof structures. It was most famously used in Beijing's Water Cube during the 2008 Olympics. Yes, but: With U.S. Bank Stadium being the first stadium to use it in the U.S., there were concerns about how the material would handle Minnesota's snow and whether people inside would be able to see the sky clearly after the ETFE was "fritted" to reduce the amount of solar energy coming into the stadium "We were pleasantly surprised when we started getting the ETFE installed and could see the white clouds," Hutchings said. Nick's thought bubble: I went to a Raiders-Vikings game at Allegiant Stadium a couple years ago and it felt very similar to U.S. Bank Stadium. Golden Valley-based Mortenson built both.
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Goa govt team visits Eloor municipality to study waste management measures
Kochi: A delegation from the Goa govt visited the Eloor municipality to understand the waste management initiatives carried out by the Haritha Karma Sena (HKS) team observed HKS's operations, implemented in collaboration with the Kudumbashree community development society (CDS) and the municipality's material collection facility, and gained detailed insights into the various waste management efforts at the local body."The Goan team appreciated the efforts of HKS implemented in Eloor and expressed their intention to replicate similar models in their own regions," said Eloor municipality chairman AD team was led by Supriya Saxena, the deputy manager of livelihood, govt of Goa. MSID:: 121034736 413 |
