2027 Honda Passport TrailSport Makes its Competition Debut at the Grueling Rebelle Rally

• 2027 Passport TrailSport brings significantly enhanced off-road capability with 9.65-in. of ground clearance (+1.38-in.) and extensively reengineered suspension
• A team of Honda associates from the Honda of America Racing Team (HART) will put the rugged capability, durability and handing of a Passport TrailSport to the test in the demanding Rebelle Rally competition 10/8-10/17
• Rebelle Rally is an all-women off-road navigation event that challenges teams to cross 1,500+ miles of the Nevada and California deserts using only maps and compasses with no GPS or cell phones

The significantly more capable 2027 Honda Passport TrailSport will take on one of America's most demanding off-road competitions when a team of Honda associates competes in the 2026 Rebelle Rally as part of the Honda of America Racing Team (HART).

The 2027 Passport TrailSport arrives ready for the challenge with an extensively reengineered suspension that increases ground clearance by 1.38 inches to 9.65 inches, along with increased suspension articulation and improved approach, departure and breakover angles. Nearly 70% of the major suspension components have been redesigned, including springs, dampers, control arms, stabilizer bars and knuckles, helping make the 2027 Passport TrailSport the most off-road-capable SUV Honda has ever built.

The Rebelle Rally provides a fitting proving ground for those capabilities. This is the eighth year Honda has competed and as in previous years, Honda engineers use the demanding conditions of the event to explore the rugged performance of off-road components of the vehicle in extreme environments.

The 2027 Passport TrailSport will compete without modifications to its rugged chassis, off-road tuned suspension, powerful 3.5-liter V6 engine, responsive 10-speed automatic transmission and torque-vectoring i-VTM4® all-wheel drive system. Wearing a special Rebelle Rally and HART wrap, the Passport TrailSport will be driven by two Ohio-based Honda associates and Rebelle rookies: Abby Connolly, a senior design engineer in the Powersports power performance group, and Amy Hein, a senior test engineer in the battery electric group, both at the Honda Automotive Development Center in Raymond, OH. They will compete as team #208, the "Good TrailSports" and are entered in the X-Cross Bone Stock class.

"The 2027 Passport TrailSport was designed with enhanced off-road capabilities in mind, and I can't wait to see what it can do. The Rebelle Rally is the perfect place to put it through the ropes," said Amy Hein. "Abby and I have taken Honda's associate off-road training courses and practiced in the Michigan sand dunes. We have spent many evenings map plotting and running mock enduro training for this event. We are excited to see what our team and new Passport TrailSport can accomplish together. I think it's really cool to work for a company that grants us the opportunity to push their vehicles in real world competitions such as Rebelle Rally and used our experiences as an opportunity to improve future developments."

A Unique Off-Road Challenge
The Rebelle Rally is America's longest off-road rally, which this year will begin outside of Las Vegas, NV and finish more than 1,500 miles later near Imperial Sand Dunes, CA. Rebelle is unlike a traditional race. Rather than competing for outright speed, teams strategically navigate rugged terrain without GPS or cellular navigation, relying on paper maps, compasses and headings to locate hidden checkpoints and accumulate points while reaching the finish each day.

It is also the first women's off-road navigation rally in the United States. The 2027 Honda Passport TrailSport will be put to the test over 10-12 hours of extreme off-road driving per day covering every type of terrain, altitude and temperature. The event runs Oct. 8-Oct 17, with seven days of scored competition.

For co-driver Abby Connoly, this has been a dream come true. "I have been gaining experience as a part of HART since 2021 assisting with multiple Pikes Peak International Hill Climb efforts. Now I'm excited to be the first team to compete in the 2027 Passport. Being passionate about women in motorsports, women in STEM, camping and nature, I am excited to take part in an event that brings all of those interests together through the Rebelle Rally."

Follow along team #208 Good TrailSports with live tracking and scoring.

Passport TrailSport Reaches New Heights
Designed in California and developed in Ohio at the Honda Automotive Development Center, the fourth-generation Passport has recorded multiple sales records since its introduction in early 2025. The 2027 Passport and Passport TrailSport are built exclusively at the Honda Alabama Auto Plant.

Honda engineers went beyond simply installing taller springs for the 2027 Passport TrailSport. A total of 28 suspension and related chassis components were redesigned, reengineered or are new. The front and rear driveshafts and front subframe were also redesigned to accommodate the increased ride height and wheel travel. The result is a substantial increase in key off-road dimensions compared with the 2026 Passport TrailSport.

For more on the 2027 Honda Passport TrailSport, click here.

About Honda of America Racing Team (HART)
Founded more than 30 years ago, the Honda of America Racing Team (HART) is among the longest-running associate-driven activities in Honda's rich history. HART is a volunteer activity in which Honda associates compete in a wide variety of motorsport competitions ranging from road racing, club-level events, rally, off-road racing, karting and more. HART provides invaluable experience to associates through the high-speed world of racing, to accelerate the next generation of Honda leaders while transferring vehicle performance learnings into the development and manufacturing of next-generation Honda and Acura products.

About Honda
Honda offers a full line of clean, safe, fun and connected vehicles sold through more than 1,000 independent U.S. Honda dealers. The award-winning Honda lineup includes the Civic, Prelude and Accord, along with the HR-V, CR-V, Passport, Prologue and Pilot sport utility vehicles, the Ridgeline pickup and the Odyssey minivan. The Honda electrified vehicle lineup, representing nearly a third of total sales in 2025, includes the all-electric Prologue SUV, hybrid-electric Accord, CR-V, Civic and Prelude.

Honda has been producing automobiles in America for over 40 years and currently operates eight major auto manufacturing facilities in America. In 2025, nearly 99% of all Honda vehicles sold in the U.S. were made in North America, with 60% made in America, using domestic and globally made parts.

More information about Honda is available in the Digital FactBook.

Important Notice
Although the information included in this press release is accurate as of the date of publication, this information is subject to change at any time without notice. American Honda Motor Co., Inc. assumes no responsibility for updating this information.

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