Hoshino Impul Co., Ltd., (known as Impul) is a Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

ese automotive aftermarket company based in Setagaya-ku, Tokyo

Tokyo

, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...

. Founded by Nissan's factory driver, Kazuyoshi Hoshino

Kazuyoshi Hoshino

is a former racing driver and businessman from Japan.Hoshino's nickname was . He won the Japanese motocross national championships in the 90cc and 125cc classes for Kawasaki in 1968 before switching to cars as a Nissan factory driver in 1969....

, the company exclusively produce aftermarket parts for Nissans, such as bodykits, engine components as well as wheels.

History

The company was founded in 1980 by the Nissan works driver, Kazuyoshi Hoshino

Kazuyoshi Hoshino

is a former racing driver and businessman from Japan.Hoshino's nickname was . He won the Japanese motocross national championships in the 90cc and 125cc classes for Kawasaki in 1968 before switching to cars as a Nissan factory driver in 1969....

 in Maruko-cho, Shizuoka-ken. Within months, Impul produced its first product, the IMPUL D-01 wheel, which to promote it, it found its way on Hoshino's Gr. 5

Group 5 (racing)

Group 5 was an FIA motor racing classification which was applied to four distinct categories during the years 1966 to 1982. Initially Group 5 regulations defined a Special Touring Car category and from 1970 to 1971 the classification was applied to limited production Sports Cars restricted to 5...

 Silvia

Nissan Silvia

The S12 was produced from 1984 to 1988, with revisions to the exterior trim in 1987 . It was sold in three configurations—a coupe , a hatchback, and a widebody chassis called grandprix .A number of different engines were equipped in the S12 chassis, depending on production year and more...

 racing competing in the Formula Silhouette, a Fuji Grand Champion support series as well as starting a Tokyo based sales center in Sayama-shi, Saitama-ken. A year later, that was relocated in Kichijoji

Kichijoji

is a neighborhood in the city of Musashino in Tokyo, Japan. It is centered on the commercial area to the north of its train station and has a youthful, artistic, slightly countercultural reputation...

, Musashino-shi.

In 1983, Hoshino formed Hoshino Racing Limited, a racing team to help promote his products and because of expansion, he relocated his company in Shimorenjaku, Mitaka as well as establishing a depot nearby.

In 1987, Impul offered its first fully tuned car, the IMPUL 630R, a tuned Y33 Gloria

Nissan Gloria

The Gloria is a large luxury car made from 1959 by the Prince Motor Company, and later by Nissan Motors since its merger with the former - hence being originally marketed as Prince Gloria and later as Nissan Gloria...

/Cedric

Nissan Cedric

The Nissan Cedric is a large automobile produced by Nissan since 1960. It was developed to provide upscale transportation, competing with the Prince Skyline and Gloria which were later merged into the Nissan family...

.

Since 1983, the company ran its own racing team which found success in domestic series such as JTCC

Japanese Touring Car Championship

The Japanese Touring Car Championship , is a former touring car racing series held in Japan...

, Formula Nippon

Formula Nippon

Formula Nippon is a type of formula racing and the top level of single-seater racing in Japan.Formula Nippon evolved from the Japanese Formula 2000 series begun in 1973 by way of the Japanese Formula Two and Japanese Formula 3000 championships...

 and Super GT

Super GT

The Super GT series, formerly known as the All-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship or JGTC , is a grand touring car race series promoted by the GT-Association...

.

In 2002, the racing relocated in Gotemba-shi, Shizuoka

Shizuoka Prefecture

is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshu island. The capital is the city of Shizuoka.- History :Shizuoka prefecture was formed from the former Tōtōmi, Suruga and Izu provinces.The area was the home of the first Tokugawa Shogun...

Hoshino was the first driver to win in a the team's R32 GT-R

Nissan Skyline GT-R

The Nissan Skyline GT-R is a Japanese sports car based on the Nissan Skyline range.The first GT-Rs were produced from 1969–1973. After a 16 year hiatus since the KPGC110 in 1972, the GT-R name was revived in 1989 with the Skyline R32. This car was nicknamed "Godzilla" by the Australian motoring...

 during a JTCC race in 1990. Its primary sponsor is Calsonic, spanning two decades.