What does HSW mean in GTA?
HSW stands for "Hao‘s Special Works" – a special vehicle workshop introduced in the Expanded and Enhanced version of GTA Online on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. It offers exclusive performance upgrades for select vehicles pushing their capacities to extreme levels.
Overview of Hao‘s Special Works
Hao‘s Special Works (HSW) is an unlockable vehicle workshop located within the LS Car Meet added as part of the Expanded and Enhanced release of GTA Online.
Key features:
- Offers HSW performance upgrades for certain vehicles which provide massive boosts making them the fastest cars in the game
- Unlocked by completing a Time Trial race using the Grotti Turismo Classic under par time
- Exclusive to PS5 and Xbox Series X|S versions with access to special HSW vehicle races and events
- Additional liveries and visual mods only available after applying HSW conversions
HSW sets itself apart by focusing on the extreme performance metrics rather than cosmetic enhancements. The performance gains on vehicles with HSW conversions push them into undisputed top spots in their vehicle classes and even breaks accepted boundaries of realism in the game world.
According to player estimates, only around 20% of the active player base would have access to these upgrades since they require the latest console hardware. But this exclusive content provides a major differentiation for those on new-gen platforms.
All HSW Vehicles in GTA Online
As of now, only 9 vehicles are supported for HSW conversion though more are expected to be added gradually. These are:
| Vehicle | Class | Key Stats |
|---|---|---|
| Declasse Vigero ZX | Sports | Top Speed: 157.50 mph (253.47 km/h) |
| Shitzu Hakuchou Drag | Motorcycles | Top Speed: 157.50 mph (253.47 km/h) |
| Benefactor Stirling GT | Sports Classics | Top Speed: 155.00 mph (249.45 km/h) |
| Karin S95 | Sports | Top Speed: 155.50 mph (250.25 km/h) |
| Bravado Banshee | Sports | Top Speed: 150.50 mph (242.24 km/h) |
| Principe Deveste Eight | Supers | Top Speed: 147.00 mph (236.57 km/h) |
| Overflod Entity MT | Supers | Top Speed: 146.00 mph (234.99 km/h) |
| Grotti Turismo Classic | Sports Classics | Top Speed: 143.50 mph (230.98 km/h) |
All top speeds indicated are after installing HSW performance upgrades. HSW conversion is free for the first car converted. Subsequent vehicles need to be purchased.
Fastest HSW Car in GTA Online – Declasse Vigero ZX
The Declasse Vigero ZX is an iconic 2-door muscle car in GTA based on Chevrolet Camaros from the 60s and 70s eras. When converted to the HSW variant, it becomes the undisputed fastest street-legal car in GTA Online with a top speed of 157.50 mph (253 km/h).
This breaks the earlier top speed record held by the custom BF Weevil last recorded to be capable of only 148 mph in road conditions. The Vigero ZX outperforms even many supercars and hypercars by a huge margin thanks to HSW upgrades.
It first spawns randomly around Southern San Andreas after completing races for Hao. Once acquired, it remains permanently unlocked in player garages:
| Stat | Vigero ZX (Standard) | Vigero ZX (HSW) |
|---|---|---|
| Top Speed | 124.25 mph (200 km/h) | 157.50 mph (253.47 km/h) |
| 0-60 mph | 4.5 seconds | 2.1 seconds |
| HP | 562 hp | 1,214 hp |
Credit: gtabase.com
Based on testing across tracks, expert analysis like Broughy1322 also rank the HSW Vigero ZX as the fastest car in circuits like Cutting Coroners, Coast to Coast etc.
So whether it‘s fastest lap times or raw top speed, the Vigero ZX dominates the charts. The closest competition is from the Western Motorcycle Company Gargoyle, but that is a boosted bike giving unfair advantage against cars for topspeed runs.
Game Balance and HSW Impact
The introduction of HSW shakes up the vehicle meta drastically. While new content is always welcome, some players argue that the performance gains are so extreme that racing against HSW vehicles in non-HSW cars is pointless. The scale of upgrades almost feels glitchy and breaks realism.
Rockstar may counterbalance by adding more HSW cars across classes or introduce exclusive HSW events. But the possibility remains that bringing back realism may upset those enjoying the new blazing fast cars!
Fastest Cars without HSW Upgrades
For those still on PS4 / Xbox One platforms, the fastest cars haven‘t changed much in 2024. After the BF Weevil Custom, we have:
- Ocelot Pariah: 136 mph
- Grotti Cheetah Classic: 135 mph
- Pfister 811: 132.5 mph
These still hold their own against most supercars. But the HSW rocket cars are on a whole different level only accessible by next-gen console owners.
HSW Vehicle Races and Events
Expanding on the exclusive content, certain races and events can only be accessed by HSW cars providing more incentives to upgrade. These include:
- HSW Time Trials – Special time trial events around the map only playable after applying HSW upgrade to eligible cars. Beating par times unlocks vehicle upgrade discounts
- LS Car Meet Races – Within the LS Car Meet race menu, a number of existing tracks are tagged as HSW-only restricting entry to HSW vehicles
- HSW Race Series – Entire race playlists separate from normal events, allowing only HSW class cars
- HSW Premium Test Ride – Try out the HSW Bravado Banshee by taking part in its Premium Test Ride
Conclusion
HSW introduces a new exciting avenue for enhancing vehicles beyond previous limits in GTA Online. The workshop unlocks tremendous performance gains for select cars, propelling them to undisputed top speed kings and queens.
While still exclusive to next-gen users, expect Rockstar to flesh out more HSW content down the road. Adding new upgradable cars, more race modes as well as balance fixes.
For now, hitting those 250+ mph top speeds make HSW the most desirable upgrades in the game! Putting additional spice in the ever expanding world of Los Santos tuning culture.
