CoolBDPhenom03

Hey folks,

I'm down in SD for a couple of conferences if anyone would like to connect. I flew down so my car isn't with me and even worse...Hertz stuck me in a Prius!

Anyway, I'm heading over to HRE for a tour. Come join!

--D

SaphGreyC63

PRIUS!?!?!?!

Girard@ACGautomotive

Stop by the new shop if you have some free time afterwards

CoolBDPhenom03

Yeah, I was on a roll upward from a Yaris, to an Altima, to a GLK. I guess being Gold Club doesn't mean squat even though I've rented maybe 6 cars in the last 2 months.

CoolBDPhenom03

Where is that?

CoolBDPhenom03

Nvm, got it. I'll swing by now on my way to HRE.

Girard@ACGautomotive

Kearny Mesa. We are a bit south of HRE.

CoolBDPhenom03

In the lobby.

Girard@ACGautomotive

Great meeting you today! Hope you had a blast at HRE!

CoolBDPhenom03

Thanks, Tal.

I got the grand tour, met Vince, and even shook hands with the president of HRE. Sweet stuff. Pics coming later!

CoolBDPhenom03

Quick detour to ACG...

Look who stopped by


Shop car - on race fuel, it's cranking about 800hp to the wheel, 0-60 in 2.3


Shop car again, but in the shop, they were working on 3 other GTRs. They'd just moved a month ago so it's still being fully setup

CoolBDPhenom03

HRE Tour:

Entrance


Lobby


Warehouse




Soon to be happy customers

CoolBDPhenom03

Manufacturing Process:

All monobloc wheels start as about 100lb blanks that get machined down to the basic design which ends up being between 17 and 22lbs; the tech has to hand mount every blank for each wheel and program in the design into the machine


The blanks then come out like this - 3-piece or 1-piece


Since the raw metal is still sharp after being machined, techs must sand it down by hand; if you have a mixed polished and brushed rim, they do this process twice - before and after the wash


After the sanding stage, each wheel is washed; for brushed wheels, they are washed by hand to make sure the chemicals and process do not ruin the finish


Then comes the powder coat, which I learned is an electrically charged rim being blasted with actual powder; after each wheel is finished, one of the engineers inspects every single wheel before he approves it to be shipped


The selection palate - my finish/color is missing...must be working on it

CoolBDPhenom03

Eye candy!

CoolBDPhenom03

More samples to go out to dealers


Look closely...you'll see CF in there


Showroom being rearranged




New rim style! I was told that all HREs are forged rims, not cast. When you cast a rim, the barrel is strong, but the face (spokes) isn't. To overcome, this dilemma, HRE collaborated with a Japanese company to design more affordable wheels that are still strong and top quality. These wheels are cast in a special way so that structural integrity is not compromised with affordability. I was told these new "Flowform" wheels can go for $2900/set.

CoolBDPhenom03

A customer's car about to be outfitted with new shoes, then a photoshoot, then back to its owner overseas


The president's car - well, his family car; I actually bumped into him (Alan) during the tour and got to shake his hand; I also finally put a face to Vince's name

Vic55

Thanks for the virtual tour!!! I have been there many many times--- just got off the phone with the National Sales Director and ordered set #15

Class Act Organization and Product.

CoolBDPhenom03

Dang! 15 sets? I hope you got some swag too

Fung63

if you added up all the $$ you have put into HRE over the years... that's another pretty sweet car you can add to your collection

CoolBDPhenom03

I also failed to mention that the 1/4 mile time was reportedly 9.5 seconds.

buklae620

Great pictures! I plan to do this tour while visiting family in Escondido. I just dont know when.

CoolBDPhenom03, Is there a fee associated with the tour and how did you go about it? Was this a random "might as well stop by since I'm in the area" trip or was it scheduled in advance?

CoolBDPhenom03

No fee. Just call and ask for a tour?

Roswell

Awesome pics, thx for sharing CoolBD! It must have been a great experience to see the "behind the scene" of such a good company.

CoolBDPhenom03

It really was. I always wanted to visit, but after seeing that video, I was even more impressed. However, the video pales in comparison to how painstaking every step is monitored and QC'd in real life. Very impressive - considering the quality and design, you really appreciate how good of a value HREs are.

abcut973

Man that is really cool to be able to visit their factory. If i was around i would have done it as well.
Did they say anything about the release date for the new low cost models?