Honda Racing Corporation USA (HRC US) unveiled the Honda Passport Baja Spec, a new trophy truck that will be the first hybrid-powered vehicle to compete in the SCORE World Desert Championship’s top Trophy Truck class. Producing 1,300-plus horsepower, the Honda Passport Baja Spec brings technology developed through Honda’s participation in global motorsport—including Formula 1, IndyCar and IMSA—to the punishing world of Baja desert racing, company officials stated in a press release.
Built and developed by HRC US in Southern California with Mason Motorsports using advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) aerodynamic design and vehicle software, the Honda Passport Baja Spec will race with two-time Baja 1000 winner Bryce Menzies behind the wheel, in partnership with Menzies Motorsports. HRC is targeting an overall victory in the Baja 1000, which celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2027.
The race truck will make its first public appearance at the 2026 SEMA Show in Las Vegas on Nov. 3-6, where it will be displayed in the HRC Booth #24789 alongside 10 HRC concept cars and race-bred machines, including a new Honda Passport TrailSport Baja Chase truck.
“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.”
800-Volt Hybrid Powertrain Built for Desert Racing
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 V-6 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 2.4-liter twin-turbo V-6 is based on the unit in the Acura ARX-06 GTP prototype race car and has proven its durability by winning some of endurance racing’s most demanding events, including victories at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring.
Together, the internal-combustion engine and high-voltage hybrid system generate more than 1,300 horsepower, surpassing the output of the naturally aspirated 9-liter V-8 engines that power today’s premier trophy trucks, the company said.
A Masomatic twin-angled drive 5-speed transmission developed by Mason Motorsports is mounted ahead of the engine. To increase strength and 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.
Formula 1 Battery Tech Comes to Off-Road Racing
The Honda Passport Baja Spec’s hybrid power unit, battery technology and control systems represent a direct transfer of knowledge from Honda global motorsports activities into one of the most grueling racing environments on earth, the release noted.
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 battery pack is welded, assembled and validated in a newly constructed clean room at HRC US headquarters in Santa Clarita, California, underscoring HRC’s commitment to in-house development and advanced manufacturing.
The Honda Passport Baja Spec will also 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.
“The Honda Passport Baja Spec is essentially a software-defined vehicle,” said Fu. “Using proprietary HRC software, the truck integrates powertrain, chassis and energy management systems into a single software-defined platform that can be upgraded continuously during the race and tuned to the driver, course and race conditions.”
CFD-Designed Aerodynamics for Trophy Truck Performance
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, optimizing weight distribution and lowering the truck’s center of gravity for enhanced performance across Baja’s challenging terrain.
Mason Motorsports All-Wheel-Drive Chassis & Driveline
Beneath its aerodynamic Honda Passport body, the mid-engine Honda Passport Baja Spec is based on the state-of-the-art Gen 2 All-Wheel-Drive chassis developed by Mason Motorsports in Lake Elsinore, California. Mason Motorsports has earned five consecutive SCORE Original Truck Chassis Manufacturer of the Year awards and worked closely with HRC US engineers to create a bespoke chassis tailored to the truck’s hybrid architecture. A unique HRC-specific rear frame section was developed to package the twin-turbo V-6 engine and bespoke hybrid power unit while maintaining ideal mass distribution.
Mason has designed its Gen 2 All-Wheel-Drive chassis around a “perfect balance” philosophy, with a 145-gallon carbon Kevlar safety fuel cell positioned at the center of the cab to maintain consistent weight distribution and predictable handling as fuel is consumed. To further optimize weight distribution, many of the Honda Passport Baja Spec’s fixed-mass components, including fluid tanks and batteries, are mounted toward the rear of the chassis.
Toyo tires and long-travel suspension employing dual FOX Racing shocks at each corner ensure maximum control and traction across the varied terrain of desert racing.
The Honda Passport Baja Spec race truck is scheduled to make its competition debut at the 2027 Baja 500 on June 2-6.