From Autoweek · Mark Vaughn · · 1m
Honda Passport Baja Spec Trophy Truck Debut
Honda's new Baja 500 race truck uses hybrid tech and aerodynamics to outperform rivals.
In brief
Honda's new Baja 500 race truck uses hybrid tech and aerodynamics to outperform rivals. Honda's Baja 500 Trophy Truck features hybrid power and aerodynamic design for better desert racing performance. Originally reported by Autoweek.
Aerodynamic Design
Honda's new Baja 500 race truck features advanced aerodynamics for smoother airflow.
“We spent a lot of time doing CFD (computational Fluid Dynamics)”
Wheelwell Airflow
The truck channels air under the front wheel to the sides, tucking it away from the rear tire.
“Look at the space around and behind the front wheel. The wheelwell is wide open”
SUV Shape Advantage
Longer vehicles prevent air from breaking away, reducing suction zones that pull the truck backward.
“If the rear of the vehicle ends abruptly... the air cannot follow the sharp corner”
Hybrid Powertrain
The truck uses a 2.4-liter twin-turbo V6 engine with a rear-mounted electric motor for 1,300 hp.
“The internal combustion engine itself is a 2.4-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine”
Weight and Performance
The truck weighs almost the same as a V8 Trophy Truck despite hybrid powertrain.
“I don’t know exactly what it (the race truck) weighs, but it’s almost pretty close to the same weight as a V8 Trophy Truck”
First Race Date
The truck will race at the Baja 500 June 6 in Ensenada, California.
“The Passport’s first race will be at the Baja 500 June 6 in Ensenada”
The short version
Honda's Baja 500 Trophy Truck features hybrid power and aerodynamic design for better desert racing performance.
