Honda Racing has unveiled a hybrid-powered trophy truck equipped with a 1,300 horsepower engine, marking the first hybrid vehicle to compete in the Score World Desert Championship’s top Trophy Truck class. The vehicle, built upon the midsize Passport SUV platform, is designed to secure an overall Baja 1000 victory in 2027. Developed in partnership with Mason Motorsports and Menzies Motorsports, the truck will debut at the 2026 SEMA Show and is driven by two-time Baja 1000 winner Bryce Menzies. The powertrain combines a 2.4-liter V6 engine derived from Acura’s ARX-06 GTP race car with a bespoke 800-volt hybrid system, achieving output that surpasses traditional 9.0-liter V8 trophy trucks.
Racing Technology and Engineering
The hybrid system incorporates a Formula 1-style pouch cell battery housed in a carbon fiber case, which is assembled and validated in Honda’s Santa Clarita clean room. The powertrain includes brake-by-wire systems on each axle, adaptive traction control, and artificial intelligence power deployment software that manages energy distribution across all four wheels. They have not disclosed the battery’s capacity or the electric motor’s contribution to overall performance.
The rear-mounted V6 engine, featuring twin turbochargers, connects to a five-speed transmission developed by Mason. The all-wheel-drive system employs dual rear driveshafts with angled gearsets at the wheels and portal gearsets at the front hubs for enhanced ground clearance. Carbon fiber body panels reduce weight, while aerodynamic features like deep front wheel channels and high-mounted exhaust outlets enhance performance. The cabin is shaped to channel air toward a rear-mounted cooler for optimal thermal management.
Chassis and Racing Ambitions
Beneath the body lies a modified Gen 2 AWD chassis from Mason, adapted by Honda Racing to accommodate hybrid components. A 145-gallon carbon-Kevlar fuel cell sits centrally in the cab, maintaining balance as fuel depletes during races. Dual Fox shocks and Toyo tires complete the desert-ready setup, ensuring reliability across challenging terrain. The truck’s first race is the 2027 Baja 500, followed by the 60th anniversary Baja 1000, where Honda aims for an overall victory. This power output provides the raw power, but proving durability across 800 miles of harsh terrain remains the primary challenge.
