HFW

HFW is a German automobile company, famous for their race cars and overall build quality.

History

Heuser Fahrzeugwerke started its life in 1916, with the same name as today, after exchanging hands multiple times. The company only became a proper automobile manufacturer in 1928, after buying another company with rebadging their cars, making the first HFW in history, the HFW Feuerstelle.

During World War II, HFW created engines for aircrafts, motorcycles and vehicles for the war effort. They were banned from making engines and vehicles until 1952, when they sold the new generation of the Feuerstelle.

The post-world period was difficult for the company, almost going bankrupt. Thankfully, they received a large investment from an international hedgefund, allowing the company to stay afloat. This was when HFW launched their new Flamme range of vehicles, being very successful. This eventually turned into the Volcano, Blaze and Lava lineup of cars, positioned into coupé and luxury sedan models, being released in 1972, 1975 and 1976, respectively.

The successful sales of their new Flamme range of vehicles enabled the company to go on acquisitions, buying the Whitney brand in 1994 but eventually selling most of the brands under it in 2000, keeping the Cowley marquee. In addition to vehicles, the company also makes motorcycles.

In recent years, Electrification has taken over the plans of the company, who made several EVs, and spilled over the Flamme range of vehicles.

One of their cars is a video game cultural icon, the 2005 HFW Blaze GTR (Rev.C), which the company sold exclusive kits for those that wanted to make their regular Blaze SportArt to look like it.

SportArt

SportArt is HFW’s high-performance luxury cars subsidiary, founded in 1972. Initially created to facilitate HFW’s racing program during the 1960s and 1970s, the subsidiary started to supplement the company’s vehicle portfolio with specially modified higher trim models, for which they are now most known by the general public. These SportArt badged cars traditionally include modified engines, transmissions, suspensions, interior trims, aerodynamics, and exterior modifications to set them apart from their common counterparts.

The first SportArt turned car was a mid-engined supercar called Hitze.

Featured Vehicles In Project Redline

Regular

Blaze SportArt (Rev.A) (1990)

Intended as an homologation vehicle for the GTC, the Blaze SportArt (Rev.A) became an instant classic for its performance, style and drivability. Although only five thousand were required to be made, HFW sold at least triple that number.

Only available in coupé and convertible coupé body styles, this instant classic is powered by a FR 2.5L inline-4 engine with a 5-speed manual transmission.

Blaze SportArt (Rev.C) (2005)

The third generation Blaze was a major success to the company but no car was as iconic as the Blaze SportArt (Rev.C). Produced in coupé and convertible coupé styles, it sold over 85 thousand vehicles in its lifetime. Its presence in games and media can’t be overstated and it’s what most people think of when they think of a good HFW vehicle. This is the 2005 version, which came with a new front fascia.

Powering this vehicle is the HFW W60E32 Inline-6 engine, with 3.2L in a FR configuration, and a 6-speed manual transmission.

Blaze GTR (Rev.C) (2005)

One of the most iconic race cars of all time, the Blaze GTR (Rev.C) is an immediate classic for the fact that it won just about everything that it competed in. Powered by a naturally aspirated V8 engine, it dominated the 2000 and 2001 American GrinVits Series. It was also a subject of controversy, seeing that the homologation version didn’t pass double digits, and prompted an early retirement from the American racing scene. It went back to racing in 2003, this time taking place in Europe, in 24H GrinVits in Rosburgring, winning the race in 2004 and 2005. It made a bigger name of itself being featured in a popular series of racing games, being the hero car, with a custom vinyl that is as iconic as the car itself.

Powering this racing monster is the HFW B50R40 naturally aspirated V8 4.0L engine in a FR configuration and a 6-speed manual transmission.

Inferno SportArt (Rev.B) (2022)

As the company repositioned the Blaze lineup to be luxury entry-level sedans, they created the Inferno lineup to carry on the coupé legacy of old. And the highest trim offered is the Inferno SportArt (Rev. B). The second generation sports a more aggressive profile in comparison to the regular Inferno series. It got a minor facelift in 2022 after complaints of its design.

It is powered by a twin-turbo inline-6 engine in a F4 configuration and either a 8-speed automatic or 6-speed manual transmission.

Volcano SportArt (Rev.D) (2010)

While the Volcano was on its sixth generation by 2010, the SportArt version was only in its fourth. And thankfully, HFW took their time to make their best luxury sedan even better. With a sportier look in comparison with the regular Volcano, it has a big standout from the rest of the lineup: a 5.0L V10 engine. It was available in both sedan and wagon/estate bodystyles.

Powering the Volcano SportArt is the aforementioned 5.0L V10 engine in a FR configuration and a 7-speed manual transmission.

Custom

Nix Volcano (2005)

This is the first generation Nix Volcano, based on the fourth generation HFW Volcano SportArt. It shares most of its design with the HFW vehicle, but it has many external changes to make it a bit unique. Internally, it has a tuned-up V8 out of the regular HFW Volcano (Rev.F) models, with a supercharger.

Blaze GTR MW (2005)

The car of a generation. The vehicle that most want to have but can’t. There’s almost nothing different from the regular Blaze GTR (Rev.C) in here, other than the vinyl that pays a tribute to its gaming popularity.