Honda Racing Corporation USA (HRC US) has taken a bold step into the desert by converting its midsize Passport SUV into a full-size, hybrid-powered Trophy Truck. The vehicle, named the Honda Passport Baja Spec, will be the first hybrid unit ever allowed to compete in the SCORE World Desert Championship’s premier Trophy Truck class. Developed in partnership with Mason Motorsports and Menzies Motorsports, the truck will be piloted by two-time Baja 1000 champion Bryce Menzies. Its public debut is slated for the 2026 SEMA Show, where it will sit beside a conventional Passport TrailSport Baja Chase model.
Hybrid powertrain and performance
The heart of the new truck is a compact 2.4-liter twin-turbocharged V6 sourced from the Acura ARX-06 GTP prototype. Paired with an 800-volt hybrid-electric system, the combination delivers more than 1,300 horsepower (969 kW), eclipsing the output of today’s typical 9.0-liter V8 Trophy Trucks. The V6 draws on proven endurance-racing pedigree, having won events such as the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring. The hybrid architecture relies on a bespoke battery pack built from former-generation Formula 1-style pouch cells, each encased in a carbon-fiber shell and assembled inside a clean-room facility at HRC’s Santa Clarita headquarters.
Beyond raw power, the system integrates brake-by-wire on both axles, an adaptive traction-control suite, and what Honda calls AI power deployment – a software layer that can re-balance torque distribution in real time based on driver input, terrain, and race conditions. While the exact electric contribution has not been disclosed, the high-voltage architecture promises instant torque and regenerative braking that can recharge the battery during the grueling desert stages.
Chassis, aerodynamics, and desert-ready equipment
The truck rests on a heavily modified version of Mason Motorsports’ Gen 2 all-wheel-drive chassis. A unique rear frame section was engineered to house the hybrid hardware while preserving the ideal front-to-rear weight balance. Fuel is stored in a central 145-gallon (549-liter) carbon-Kevlar cell, positioned beneath the driver’s seat to keep the center of gravity low and maintain consistent handling as the tank empties. Fixed-mass components such as the battery pack and fluid reservoirs are mounted toward the rear to further stabilise the vehicle throughout a long race.
Every body panel is formed from carbon fiber to shave off excess weight. Advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) shaped deep side channels behind the front wheels, high-mounted exhaust outlets with integrated fins, and a tapered cab that guides airflow toward a rear-mounted cooler. These aerodynamic treatments improve high-speed stability while reducing drag across the open desert. The drivetrain departs from the conventional ring-and-pinion layout; instead, each rear wheel receives power through angled high-pinion spiral bevel gears driven by dual driveshafts, while portal gearsets at the front hubs raise ground clearance without sacrificing steering geometry.
Suspension duties are handled by dual Fox Racing shocks at each corner, paired with long-travel axle designs that can absorb the brutal jumps and potholes typical of Baja courses. Toyo off-road tires complete the setup, providing traction on loose sand, rocky washboards, and high-speed desert straights.
Debut, race calendar and ultimate ambition
The Honda Passport Baja Spec will first be displayed to the public at the 2026 SEMA Show, taking place from November 3 to 6 in Las Vegas, Nevada. It will occupy booth #24789 alongside ten other HRC concept vehicles, including a conventional Passport TrailSport Baja Chase truck. After the show, the machine’s competitive debut is scheduled for the 2027 Baja 500, which runs from June 2 to 6.
Honda has set its sights on a loftier prize: an overall victory at the Baja 1000 during the event’s 60th anniversary in 2027. The manufacturer already boasts a record 22 overall Baja 1000 wins on motorcycles and 17 class victories in four-wheel competition since, making the hybrid Trophy Truck a logical next step in its desert-racing legacy. If the hybrid powertrain proves reliable under the punishing conditions of the Baja desert, it could redefine what is possible in off-road motorsport.
