Honda unveils new factory Trophy Truck program based on groundbreaking 1300+ horsepower hybrid-powered Passport

Thursday night's unveiling of Honda’s next factory racing effort took place in downtown Los Angeles, about as far away in mindset and backdrop as the Baja peninsula it is intended to ultimately conquer.

After months of closely guarded secrecy, Honda Racing Corporation USA (HRC US) unveiled its new Honda Passport Baja Spec, a groundbreaking new racer built as the first hybrid-powered vehicle in history to compete in the SCORE World Desert Championship's unlimited Trophy Truck class.

Built and developed by HRC US in Southern California with Mason Motorsports, Honda Passport Baja Spec will introduce advanced technologies to Baja off-road desert racing, developed through Honda's participation in global motorsport including Formula 1, IndyCar and IMSA. The 1300-plus Honda Passport Baja Spec will be piloted by two-time Baja 1000 winner Bryce Menzies. Las Vegas-based Menzies Motorsports will field the effort in partnership with Red Bull, AMSOIL, Toyo Tires, Baja Designs, Fox Shox and Method Race Wheels.

Scheduled to make its competition debut at next June’s SCORE Baja 500, the factory-backed effort represents a multi-year commitment from HRC targeting an overall victory in the Baja 1000 – the legendary desert race celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2027.

The Honda Passport Baja Spec represents HRC's determination to push the boundaries of Baja desert racing, the ultimate test of off-road performance and durability," said Kelvin Fu, president of Honda Racing Corporation USA.

"We incorporated knowledge and technology from across global Honda racing programs to create the Honda Passport Baja Spec, a bold new approach to desert racing, and HRC is excited to show the world what it can do."

At the heart of the Honda Passport Baja Spec is a sophisticated hybrid powertrain combining a race-bred and winning 2.4-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine with a bespoke 800-volt hybrid-electric system, both built and developed in-house by HRC US in Southern California. Fitted behind the cab, the all-aluminum V6 is based on the unit in the Acura ARX-06 GTP prototype race car that earned overall victories at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring. The powertrain reflects a marked departure from the current 9.0-liter naturally aspirated engines found in most winning Trophy Trucks.

A key element of the hybrid architecture is a lightweight battery pack designed, developed and manufactured in-house by HRC US engineers. The battery utilizes previous-generation Formula 1-style pouch cells housed within a lightweight carbon-fiber case.

The Honda Passport Baja Spec also will be first in the Trophy Truck class with an unprecedented suite of electronics and vehicle-control technologies, including dual-axle brake-by-wire, adaptive traction control and AI power deployment – all technology developed through Honda's participation in global motorsport.

Beneath its aerodynamic carbon fiber Honda Passport body, the mid-engine Honda Passport Baja Spec is housed with the radical new state-of-the-art Gen 2 All-Wheel-Drive chassis developed by Mason Motorsports of Lake Elsinore, California. A unique HRC-specific rear frame section was developed to package the twin-turbo V6 engine and bespoke hybrid power unit while maintaining ideal mass distribution.

A Masonmatic twin-angled drive five-speed transmission developed by Mason Motorsports is mounted ahead of the engine. To increase ground clearance and allow camber and toe adjustments, the unique AWD transaxle distributes torque through dual rear driveshafts to angled high pinion spiral bevel gears at each wheel, which replace a conventional ring and pinion gear. Torque is transferred to the front wheels by a Mason Motorsports differential through portal gear sets mounted at each front hub, maximizing ground clearance and optimizing drivetrain geometry.

Unlike traditional Trophy Trucks, HRC US engineers designed the carbon fiber body of the Honda Passport Baja Spec using advanced CFD to optimize airflow across the vehicle to maximize high-speed stability, efficiency and control. Deep side channels behind the front wheels help manage airflow and reduce drag, while high-mounted exhaust outlets behind the cockpit incorporate integrated aerodynamic fins that direct exhaust flow and enhance aerodynamic performance. Cab-tunneling reduces aerodynamic drag while directing airflow to a cooler mounted as far rearward and low as possible.   

Honda has a long history with Baja that predates the first official off-road race on the peninsula. In 1962, Los Angeles-based Honda dealers and desert-racing pioneers Dave Ekins and Bill Robertson Jr. rode two Honda CL72 motorcycles from Tijuana to La Paz in just 39 hours and 56 minutes. Their historic ride established a benchmark that inspired thousands of desert racers on two-wheels and four, ultimately leading to the creation of the first NORRA Mexican 1000 in 1967.

Honda has since become the winningest motorcycle manufacturer in Baja history, amassing 22 overall victories and numerous class wins. On four wheels, the Honda off-road racing program has earned 17 class victories since 2015, including four Baja 1000 wins and five Baja 500 triumphs.

The groundbreaking new Honda will be displayed to the public for the first time at next week’s 2026 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, alongside 10 HRC concept cars and race-bred machines, including a new Honda Passport TrailSport Baja Chase truck.