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For car fanatics, by car fanatics: HPI Racing - a brief background
2006 World Champion
With a prestigious start as the 1986 World Champions, HPI has been all about top-quality products for model car racers and RC hobbyists.
From its very beginning, HPI Racing has been a company run by car enthusiasts, making things for other car enthusiasts. HPI has always been about cool products, ease of use and speed. This is how HPI built up its name and reputation for great designs that were unique as well as durable.
Milestones of RC Car history
HPI's range of RC model cars has introduced thousands upon thousands of people to the fascinating and exciting radio control car and truck hobby! Their innovative and unique line-up of RC cars includes these milestones of RC history:
 The Nitro RS4 (released 1996) brought to thousands of people the joys of nitro-powered touring cars. Enjoying the sights and sounds of nitro cars brought a whole new dimension to the fun of RC! |  The Micro RS4 (2001), the first-ever 1/18 scale RC car and the 2002 Car of the Year, which set the stage for a huge wave of 'micro' 1/18 scale cars and trucks. | |
 The HPI Savage (2002) was the first 1/8 scale monster truck, and helped this once-obscure class of RC models explode into massive worldwide popularity! |  The Baja 5B (2006) raised the standard of large-scale RC cars, unleashing previously-unseen scale realism and performance! |
The move into die-cast scale models
Recently, staying true to its car fanatic heritage, HPI has moved into the 1/43 scale die-cast car market. This represents a bold and exciting direction for the company, and highlights once again the commitment to HPI's vision. We know that the die-cast range of products will showcase the detail and excellence that HPI is known for!
The first series of high quality 1/43 scale diecast models released by HPI Racing were WRC and endurance road racing versions of the popular Subaru Impreza. In 2005 and 2006, HPI sponsored the Prova Subaru Impreza STi racing team in the Japanese Super Taikyu Endurance Series. We used these close ties with Subaru to provide highly accurate representations of several Subaru Impreza models for the initial production runs, and continue our relationship with Subaru to this day.
Because of HPI's close relationship with the Subaru factory through the HPI-sponsored Provo Subaru endurance racing teams, the first selection of models to be produced were based on the Subaru Impreza models. These first models gave eager die-cast collectors a taste for HPI precision cast models and promised much more for the future line-up!
Strictly Limited
To ensure the high quality of the die-cast models and provide a unique opportunity for collectors, the production numbers for most models are strictly limited, making them highly collectible and extremely desirable. HPI Racing is not attempting to break into the mass market, as these numbers show - this line of diecast models is intended to be no-compromise, high-quality representations of the real cars.
Attention to Detail
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A Few Minutes with the Head of Design for HPI Die-cast
First of all, thanks for taking the time to talk with us, I know you're a busy guy these days.
Thank you for the opportunity! I know many die-cast model and HPI fans want to know more about HPI die-cast cars, so I'm looking forward to answering any questions you have.
Q: When did you start getting interested in cars?
Like many young boys, at about age 10. (laughs) At that time, in the early 1980's, there was a huge boom in popularity of the supercars in Japan. It was around this time that I got interested in drawing as well, so I would go to motorsports shows and events with my camera to try and see all the supercars that were there.
Q: What did you study in college?
I studied product design at an art university for four years; I also studied art history and design at Tama Art University in Tokyo. I have a degree to work as an art curator, but of course this doesn't help much in my current career!
Q: How long have you worked as an artist? What specific fields and disciplines have you concentrated in?
I've specialized in drawing model cars for the last 12 years. In the past few years I've been in charge of the entire model car process from planning, design and production management.
Q: What makes a good model car in your opinion?
Realism, plus an air or atmosphere of realism. Die-cast model cars don't drive around and we can't ride in a model car (laughs), however this is why a model car needs to have as much realism, and the aura of reality, as possible. This can't be achieved merely by accurately scaling it down to size.
Q: What makes the HPI models unique in 1:43 scale?
With our 1:43 scale models, the distance between a model and anyone looking at it can be closer. HPI pays the utmost attention to each and every detail to have the viewer look at our die-cast model cars more closely. We also regard consistent quality as important and carry out thorough quaility control to eliminate defectives. I believe consistent high quality makes our model cars special for each customer.
Q: What are your favourite cars from the many classic, modern and road cars?
I like "historic" cars mainly; cars famous for their race record or drivers. I also like automakers and cars which have historic feeling from their unique design or engine. You can find such cars in all categories including classic, modern, road and racing car.
Q: What single 1:43 scale car would you most like to make?
I always like the car I am working on at the time the best. The more I am involved in the design and promotion for a car, the more I like the car. Once the production is over, my 'favourite' will be the next car I design. Unfortunately, I can't tell you which single 1:43 scale car I want to make the most (laughs). If I do, the guys I work with will ask me to make it, but I would have to finish all the other cars I want to make before then!
Q: Where do you see HPI die-cast cars in 5 years?
I would like HPI to grow as a die-cast brand, and to have exciting products that die-cast fans look forward to seeing. In order to do so, we must expand our product range and keep good communications and relations with customers. I would like to ask everyone who has seen our products to send us their comments and request what they'd most like to see. With customers' comments and requests, we should be able to establish a great relationship with customers in 5 years!
Thank you very much for this opportunity to talk with you!
I appreciate the opportunity to share my experience and production concept with HPI die-cast fans!
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