So you’ve finally realized that your "fast" car in Los Santos is actually kinda slow. It happens to everyone. You’re cruising down Great Ocean Highway, thinking you’re the king of the world, and then some guy in a Deveste Eight screams past you like you’re standing still. That, my friend, is the power of Hao’s Special Works. If you’re wondering how to get hsw upgrade gta 5, you’re basically looking for the secret sauce that turns mid-tier rides into absolute rockets. But there’s a catch. Or a few catches, actually.
First off, let's get the platform thing out of the way because it’s the biggest source of heartbreak in the GTA community right now. HSW is exclusive. If you’re playing on a PlayStation 4, an Xbox One, or a PC, you’re out of luck. Period. Rockstar Games decided to keep this specifically for the "Expanded & Enhanced" versions on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. It’s annoying, especially for PC players who usually get the best toys, but that’s the current reality of the game’s ecosystem.
Starting the Hao’s Special Works Journey
The whole thing kicks off with a phone call. You’ll get a ring from Hao himself. He’s the guy you might remember from the early story mode missions with Franklin. He tells you he’s set up shop inside the LS Car Meet and wants you to check out a specific vehicle. This isn't just a "show up and talk" kind of deal. You actually have to prove you can handle the speed he's about to give you.
A map icon will pop up—a purple "H"—located at a garage in Vinewood. When you get there, you’ll jump into a highly modified Grotti Brioso R/A. This is your trial. You have to beat Hao’s time in a point-to-point race across the city. Honestly, the time limit is pretty generous. You don't need to be a pro racer, but you do need to avoid slamming into Los Santos traffic at 120 mph. If you fail, you can just restart. Once you beat the clock, Hao officially invites you to the LS Car Meet (LSCM) and unlocks the ability to buy HSW upgrades.
The LS Car Meet Membership
You can’t just roll into a standard Los Santos Customs and ask for HSW tech. It doesn't work like that. You have to head over to the Cypress Flats area, where the LSCM is located. If you haven't been there yet, it’s a giant warehouse. You'll need to buy a membership from Mimi for $50,000. It’s a small price to pay for what you’re getting. Once you’re a member, you gain access to the mod shop inside the warehouse. This is where the magic happens. Drive your eligible car into the modding area, and you’ll see the "HSW Performance Upgrade" option at the very top of the menu.
Which Cars Actually Work?
This is where people get confused. You can't just take a Faggio or a Zentorno to Hao and expect him to bolt a turbo the size of a watermelon onto it. Only specific vehicles are HSW-compatible. Rockstar adds more with almost every major DLC update, like the Bottom Dollar Bounties or The Chop Shop, but the list is still relatively selective.
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Some of the heavy hitters include:
- The Karin S95 (which is actually free for returning players who migrated their characters).
- The Pegassi Weaponized Ignus (a literal beast in freemode).
- The Bravado Banshee (the classic that becomes a top-tier supercar with HSW).
- The Grotti Turismo Classic.
- The Principe Deveste Eight.
- The Maibatsu MonstroCiti (if you want an off-road vehicle that defies physics).
When you look at the car websites in-game (Legendary Motorsport or Southern San Andreas Super Autos), look for the "HSW" logo on the vehicle's thumbnail. If it's not there, Hao won't touch it.
The Financial Reality of Going Fast
Let’s talk money. GTA Online is expensive, and HSW is the "luxury" tier of spending. To even start the HSW process on a car, you usually have to pay a "Conversion Fee." This isn't the actual upgrade; it's just the price of admission to allow HSW parts to be installed. This fee can range from $250,000 to over $1,000,000 depending on the car.
After you pay the conversion fee, you still have to buy the HSW Stage 1, 2, and 3 engine tunes, the HSW transmission, and the HSW turbo. By the time you’re done fully maxing out a car like the Ignus, you might have dropped $2 million on top of the original purchase price. Is it worth it? If you do any kind of competitive racing, yes. If you just want to get across the map in three minutes instead of five, also yes.
One little-known tip: the first HSW conversion you do is usually free if you’ve completed Hao’s introductory time trial. Use that freebie on the most expensive conversion possible to save yourself a massive chunk of change. The Weaponized Ignus conversion is usually the best bang for your buck there.
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Why HSW Changes the Meta
It isn't just about a higher top speed. HSW upgrades fundamentally change how the game’s physics engine handles the car. Most "normal" cars in GTA 5 have a hard speed cap. Even if the speedometer says 140, the game engine usually caps the actual velocity around 120-130 mph to prevent the world from failing to load in around you. HSW breaks those limiters.
We are talking about cars hitting true speeds of 150+ mph.
This makes certain vehicles, like the HSW-upgraded Benefactor Stirling GT, almost untouchable in races. However, there’s a trade-off. Handling. When you’re moving that fast, the twitchy physics of GTA 5 become even more apparent. A small bump on the highway that you’d normally ignore can now send you into a low-earth orbit. You have to learn to drive all over again.
HSW Specification Races
Once you've figured out how to get hsw upgrade gta 5, you'll notice new race blips on your map. These are HSW-specific races. You can only enter these with HSW vehicles. The payouts are decent, but more importantly, it's the only place where you can really let these cars loose without worrying about a random NPC in a minivan ruining your day.
Troubleshooting the "H" Not Appearing
Sometimes, the game glitches out. You might be on a PS5, you might have migrated your character, but Hao just won't call. If the purple "H" isn't showing up on your map, try these steps. First, make sure you've actually visited the LS Car Meet at least once and spoken to Mimi. Sometimes the Hao questline is "soft-locked" until that first cutscene plays.
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Second, check your phone for a text from Hao. If your phone is full of jobs from Martin Madrazo or LJT, the game might struggle to push the new prompt. Clear out some of your old invites. Lastly, stay in a freemode session for at least 15 to 20 minutes. Don't go into missions or buildings. Just drive around. Usually, the script for Hao’s call triggers after a certain amount of time spent in the open world.
The Strategy for New Players
If you’re just starting out on the New-Gen consoles, your priority should be the Karin S95. Like I mentioned, for many, it’s free. It’s a solid drift-heavy car that becomes a monster with HSW. Don't waste your money upgrading every car you own. Pick one "daily driver" for speed—like the Deveste Eight or the Hakuchou Drag (the bike is insanely fast with HSW)—and focus your funds there.
What Most People Get Wrong
A common mistake is thinking that HSW makes a car "bulletproof" or better for combat. It doesn't. In fact, most HSW cars (with the exception of the Weaponized Ignus) are just as vulnerable to rockets and gunfire as their standard versions. You're paying for performance, not protection. If you’re looking to survive a lobby full of Oppressor Mk IIs, HSW isn't the answer. Speed is your only defense—you simply hope you’re moving too fast for the missiles to track you.
Also, remember that HSW upgrades can be toggled. If you find a car is too fast to handle for a specific race or roleplay scenario, you can actually swap back to the standard parts in the mod shop, though you'll have to pay to put the HSW parts back on if you didn't buy them during a discount week.
Final Steps for Your Build
To maximize your HSW experience, don't just stop at the engine.
- Install Low Grip Tires if you want to drift, though I'd avoid them for actual racing.
- Adjust your Suspension. Lower isn't always better in GTA; a slammed HSW car will catch on curbs and spin out more frequently.
- Use the HSW Liveries. They don't add speed, but they let everyone else know you spent the money.
Go to the LS Car Meet, finish that time trial, and get your conversion. Just be ready for the repair bills—hitting a wall at 160 mph isn't cheap. Once you’ve secured the upgrade, the next logical move is to test your top speed on the long stretch of highway near Fort Zancudo. That's the unofficial testing ground for the HSW elite. Don't forget to check the Weekly Update every Thursday, as Rockstar often discounts HSW conversion fees or specific performance parts, which can save you millions of GTA dollars in the long run.