We’ve already highlighted a bunch of different pre- and maybe production vehicles rolling into this year’s Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association show in Las Vegas, starting next week. Not to be left out of the fray, Honda is also bringing both track and off-road vehicles, too. But the one that caught our eye the most is Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) USA’s “prototype” parts shod on the Passport TrailSport HRC Concept.
Honda debuted its HRC parts division in 2024. Think: Toyota TRD or Mopar goodies you can bolt on from the factory. But Honda is stressing that HRC is race-proven, essentially taking what they’ve beta tested on and off-road for Honda and Acura race cars, and then filtering similar suspension, aero, trim, and other components that you could fit to your own car without shredding your factory warranty. Considering we already think the Honda Passport Trailsport is quite capable, it’s cool to see Honda up the ante with this concept. Here’s what’s on it—and what we think about the future of HRC for mainstream customers like you—and us!
Lift It!
Honda touts the Passport Trailsport as the most “off-road-capable” Honda to date. But its 8.3-inch ride height is only mid-pack vs. competitors like the Hyundai Palisade XRT Pro (8.4 inches) and is significantly overshadowed by options like the Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland (up to 10.9 inches). To up the ante, very literally, HRC lifts this version 2.6 inches, and adds another inch of ground clearance via meatier, taller, Hercules Racing rubber. Bumping ground clearance to nearly 12 inches would certainly give the Passport Trailsport a lot more capability—and doesn’t even factor in the following, additional upgrades.
Trailsport HRC Means Business
Honda says the HRC Passport Trailsport was “engineered for off-road terrain and overlanding,” and as such, they went further than just lifting the rig. The HRC squad modified the front and rear bumpers to improve the vehicle’s currently relatively average 19.8/19 approach/departure angles. Just lifting the HRC will improve these, but nose up to a very steep incline—or bowl the Passport Trailsport down one—and those relatively shallow angles will hang you up. But hacking back the bumpers should get Honda close-ish to a rival like the Toyota 4Runner Trailhunter’s superior approach/departure figures (33/24). HRC also extended the family hauler’s aluminum skid plates, widened the rock sliders, added a rear spare-tire carrier, and added more armoring for the center bearing, prop shaft and rear drive unit.
Bright Ideas
If you overland, you know invariably you’ll be stuck on some mission in the dark or during a nearly-black-as-night storm. So HRC handles that issue with more lumens via stronger fog lamps, camping lights, and a rooftop light bar. Plus, they added beacons to the rear, too. All of that wattage is handled through a multi-zone lighting control unit. We also dig the very-low-profile accessory roof rack. Putting heavy stuff on the top of a tall-riding SUV is dumb. It throws off an already high center of gravity. Hence, the rear tire rack. But a roof rack for keeping camping gear, shovel, etc., out of harm’s way makes sense.
Custom Cabin And Wheels
Bling matters, which is why HRC is showing off prototype wheels for this one-off Passport Trailsport. The cabin is also trimmed in blue Alcantara inserts and HRC branding, and the body gets a matte Thermal Orange paint job with a blackout roof.
Other Honda Goods At SEMA
You’re far less likely to see this version of a Civic Type R roll up to you at the supermarket lot—whereas, all the goodies on the Passport Trailsport look doable for any buyer. Still, we think the Civic Type R HRC Rally XP is bad-ass. Honda says they’ve been testing this car with F1 driver Liam Lawson busting it around the desert in Texas. This version is 100 percent street legal and was built to compete in American Rally Association (ARA) 2WD class. I mean, imagine if Honda wanted to go after the Subaru WRX in that tiny, but awesome category!
HRC Civic Type R
For this mod, Honda did use off-the-shelf parts from the HRC catalog, including for the suspension, turbo, clutch, driveline, and hood. Then they piled on custom “prototype” parts for the brakes, wheels, and exhaust and added custom underbody protection and rally-specific dampers.
TopSpeed’s Take
It’s fantastic that Honda is putting teeth into the HRC catalog. We’ve said before that the more customers can take a “generic” vehicle and make it into a “one-of-one” expression of their desires, the more carmakers will find repeat buyers. You might not be able to wrap your Passport Trailsport exactly like this, but HRC badging for the grille shouldn’t be tough to add. Ditto, swapping bumpers, lift kits, HRC wheels, and a lot of what Honda is bringing to SEMA should be something Honda can easily get to market. And because not everyone “needs” all of that, a semi-hardcore version of HRC hitting customers also seems like a very smart, very Honda way to play this game.
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