Honda's 1,300-HP Hybrid Passport Aims for Baja 1000 Victory

Honda Racing Corporation has unveiled the Honda Passport Baja Spec, a Trophy Truck that will become the first hybrid to enter the top class of the SCORE World Desert Championship. HRC wants an outright win at the Baja 1000, a race marking its 60th anniversary in 2027.

The truck produces more than 1,300 horsepower from a 2.4-liter twin-turbo V6 paired with an 800-volt hybrid-electric system. That output tops the big naturally aspirated 9-liter V8s found in today's premier Trophy Trucks. HRC US engineered both the engine and the hybrid system in-house at its Southern California operation.

Sitting behind the cab, the all-aluminum V6 draws from the powertrain used in the Acura ARX-06 GTP prototype, a winner at the Rolex 24 at Daytona as well as the 12 Hours of Sebring. The hybrid setup relies on a lightweight battery pack that HRC US engineers designed, developed, and built themselves. Its carbon-fiber case houses pouch cells based on earlier Formula 1 technology. Each pack is welded, assembled, and signed off inside a recently completed clean room at HRC US headquarters in Santa Clarita, California.

Ahead of the engine sits Mason Motorsports' Masomatic twin-angled drive 5-speed transmission. The AWD transaxle routes torque rearward through two driveshafts, each feeding a high-pinion bevel gear set angled at the wheel. Up front, portal gear sets at each hub are fed by a Mason Motorsports differential.

Bryce Menzies, a two-time Baja 1000 winner, will take the wheel in partnership with Menzies Motorsports. HRC US developed the project alongside Mason Motorsports, using CFD aerodynamic design and advanced vehicle software.

"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."

The truck makes its public debut at the 2026 SEMA Show in Las Vegas on Nov. 3-6 in the HRC booth. It will share the space with 10 concept and race machines, among them a fresh Honda Passport TrailSport Baja Chase truck. Honda is the winningest motorcycle manufacturer in Baja history with 22 overall victories, along with 17 four-wheel class wins.