Honda has developed a new race truck, the Passport Baja Spec, to compete in the Baja 1000's Trophy Truck class. The vehicle features a 1,300-horsepower hybrid powertrain and is designed to challenge V8-powered competitors.
The Passport Baja Spec is built on a Mason Motorsports Gen 2 chassis with a Passport-like body shell. It offers 25 inches of front wheel travel and 32 inches at the rear. The truck utilizes a unique twin-angled five-speed transmission and a transfer case that routes power to both front and rear wheels. The rear wheels have separate driveshafts for each hub, while the front wheels receive power through portal axles. This design aims to minimize low-hanging components.
The mid-engine Passport Baja Spec is powered by a 2.4-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine combined with an 800-volt hybrid system, producing over 1,300 hp. The V6 engine is based on the unit used in Acura's ARX-06 prototype race car. The battery pack, built at HRC's California headquarters, uses pouch cells in a carbon-fiber case, technology derived from previous Formula 1 race cars. The hybrid setup is expected to reduce the frequency of fuel stops for its 145-gallon carbon-kevlar fuel cell.
Honda has partnered with Mason Motorsports and Baja champion Bryce Menzies for this project. The Passport Baja Spec is scheduled to debut at the 2027 Baja 500 on June 2nd, with the ultimate goal of competing in the 60th anniversary Baja 1000 on November 14th, 2027.