2025 Honda Baja Passport

2025 Honda Baja Passport Joins the Mint 400 Off-Road Race

The 2025 Honda Baja Passport is set to compete in the Mint 400, the longest-running off-road race in the United States. This high-performance off-road vehicle will tackle the demanding 400-mile course near the Nevada-California border on March 7-8, racing in both the Stock Production Truck and Unlimited Truck 2WD categories.

Honda Baja Passport Race Truck – Competing in Unlimited Truck 2WD Class

Powered by an HRC-developed twin-turbocharged V6, the Honda Baja Passport Race Truck is based on the all-new 2026 Honda Passport, incorporating design cues from the production model. The front fascia, hood, roof, and side profile reflect the upcoming SUV’s rugged styling.

With approximately 550 horsepower, the HR35TT 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 shares its engine block and cylinder heads with the production Honda 3.5-liter i-VTEC® V6. Custom elements include an HRC-designed intake plenum and specially calibrated Engine Control Unit. The Baja Passport Race Truck is equipped with 24 inches of front suspension travel, 30 inches of rear suspension travel, and 40-inch off-road tires, enhancing its capability for extreme terrain.

Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) driver Ethan Ebert, who previously raced the Honda Ridgeline Race Truck, will pilot the Baja Passport Race Truck in the Unlimited Truck class. Honda’s off-road racing program, which began in 2015, has achieved 17 class victories in 40 races, including multiple wins at the Mint 400, Baja 500, and Baja 1000. The team will continue to compete in off-road endurance events throughout the year.

• The 2025 Honda Baja Passport will compete in the Mint 400, a 400-mile off-road race near the Nevada-California border, entering both the Stock Production Truck and Unlimited Truck 2WD classes.

• The Honda Baja Passport Race Truck is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine producing approximately 550 horsepower, featuring components derived from Honda’s production V6 engine.

• Key design elements of the race truck are inspired by the 2026 Honda Passport, including its front fascia, hood, roof, and side profile.

• The vehicle features 24 inches of front suspension travel, 30 inches of rear travel, and 40-inch tires, designed to handle extreme off-road conditions.

• Honda’s off-road racing program, active since 2015, has achieved 17 class victories in 40 races, including wins at the Mint 400, Baja 500, and Baja 1000.

• The Stock Production Truck class entry is based on the Honda Passport TrailSport, with minimal modifications such as 33-inch General Grabber X3 tires, adjustable coilovers, and upgraded cooling and filtration systems.

• The Stock Production Passport is driven by Honda of America Racing Team (HART) engineers and retains its 3.5-liter V6 engine, 10-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive system.

• Engineers developed high-strength skid plates, rock sliders, and underbody protection components to improve durability in rough terrain, supported by Honda’s Auto Development Center in Ohio.

• The 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport features off-road-tuned suspension, reinforced chassis components, steel skid plates, and recovery hooks, designed for rugged terrain.

• Honda has introduced an expanded range of Genuine Honda Accessories for the Passport, including 18-inch wheels, an aluminum front scuff plate, rock sliders, and a full-size spare kit.

Stock Production Truck Class – Honda Engineers Put the Passport TrailSport to the Test

The 2025 Honda Baja Passport, in its TrailSport configuration, enters the Stock Production Truck category with minimal modifications. Factory engineers have reinforced the SUV’s off-road capability with 33-inch General Grabber X3 tires, 3-way adjustable coilovers, and improved cooling and air filtration systems.

A team of Ohio-based Honda engineers, Andrew Shapiro, Jordan Guitar, Craig Ackerman, and Thomas Accardo, will race the Passport under the Honda of America Racing Team (HART) banner. This volunteer-driven racing program, composed entirely of Honda associates, has a strong history in motorsports.

To endure the harsh conditions of desert racing, HART engineers designed high-strength skid plates, rock sliders, and additional underbody protection components. The fabrication team at Honda’s Auto Development Center in Ohio contributed to manufacturing these upgrades. For safety compliance, the vehicle features a roll cage, racing seats, and a fuel cell. The Passport’s 3.5-liter V6 engine, 10-speed automatic transmission, and i-VTM4™ all-wheel drive system remain unchanged from the production model.

Honda’s Legacy in Off-Road Racing

Since its debut in 1968, the Mint 400 has been known as one of the most challenging off-road races in North America. The 2025 event will consist of four laps over a 100-mile loop of rugged desert terrain, providing an extreme test of the Baja Passport’s durability and performance.

HRC engineers will closely analyze the vehicle’s suspension performance in real-world off-road conditions, gathering data to refine Honda Performance Parts, a division announced at SEMA 2024. This development supports the growing market for aftermarket upgrades tailored to off-road enthusiasts.

2026 Honda Passport TrailSport – Engineered for Off-Road Adventures

The upcoming 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport is the most off-road-capable SUV Honda has produced to date. It comes standard with an upgraded suspension system, expanded all-wheel drive functionality, heavy-duty steel skid plates, all-terrain tires, and orange heavy-duty recovery hooks.

Built on Honda’s light truck platform, the 2026 Passport delivers enhanced structural rigidity, with a 72% increase in front lateral rigidity and a 50% increase in rear torsion rigidity. The redesigned suspension includes stronger forged steel suspension arms and durable cast-iron knuckles, while skid plates protect critical components such as the oil pan, transmission, and fuel tank.

Designed with input from Honda Powersports engineers, the skid plates can withstand the full weight of the vehicle in extreme conditions. Honda has also developed a comprehensive range of Genuine Honda Accessories for the Passport, including multiple 18-inch wheel options, an aluminum front scuff plate, heavy-duty rock sliders with stainless-steel reinforcement, and a Full-Size Spare Kit.

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