Quick Facts:
- Program: HRC Performance Parts, the first line of performance parts from Honda Racing Corporation USA.
- Off-road parts: Forged 18×8-inch wheel and Borla cat-back exhaust.
- Fits: 2026 and newer Honda Passport, 2023 and newer Honda Pilot.
- Exhaust clearance gain: Up to 1.9 inches, per Honda.
- Wheel finishes: Machine Black and Techna Bronze.
- Show debut: SEMA Show, Las Vegas, November 3 to 6, 2026.
- On sale: March 2027 at Honda and Acura dealers and Honda DreamShop.
- Price: Not announced.
 5 min read
In This Article
HRC Performance Parts Overview
Honda Racing Corporation USA announced its first HRC Performance Parts on October 22, 2026. Two of them target off-road drivers. Specifically, a forged 18×8-inch wheel and a Borla cat-back exhaust fit the Honda Passport and Honda Pilot. Honda will show the parts at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas on November 3 through 6. Sales then begin in March 2027.
The line also covers road cars. Separately, the Civic Type R and Acura Integra Type S get a forged 19×10-inch wheel.
Ground clearance is the number worth watching. Honda says the exhaust raises it by up to 1.9 inches. However, this figure comes from Honda’s own release, not independent testing. Treat it as a best-case number until reviewers measure it. For more show context, see our SEMA 2026 press conference guide.
Until March, the wheels already on your Passport or Pilot do the work. Tire pressure and lug-nut torque both affect how any wheel behaves off pavement. The VIAIR 300P 12V Portable Tire Inflator, the JACO ElitePro Digital Tire Pressure Gauge and the EPAuto 1/2-inch Drive Click Torque Wrench cover both jobs. However, the VIAIR needs the engine running during a big air-up, and you supply the lug socket for the wrench.
Tire and wheel basics for Passport and Pilot owners
HRC Performance Parts Key Facts
Honda confirmed the details below in its Honda Racing newsroom release. Nothing here comes from our own testing.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Wheel | 18×8-inch forged 6061 aluminum, Machine Black or Techna Bronze |
| Wheel partner | Titan 7 |
| Exhaust | Borla cat-back, 304 stainless steel, factory hangers |
| Exhaust claims | Flow up to 6% higher, up to 1.9 inches more ground clearance |
| Fitment | 2026 and newer Passport, 2023 and newer Pilot |
| Sold through | Honda and Acura dealers, Honda DreamShop online |
| Availability | March 2027 |
| Price | Not announced |
New Honda Passport Wheels From HRC
The new wheel is a forged 18×8-inch design built for the Passport and Pilot. Honda used aircraft-grade 6061 aluminum and forged it under 10,000 tons of pressure. Two finishes are planned, and both carry “Honda Racing” machined into the wheel face.
Titan 7 developed the wheel with HRC. The supplier also works on HRC efforts at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and other production-based race car programs. Buyers shopping Honda Passport wheels now have a forged option from Honda’s own racing arm to wait for.
Honda says each wheel offers about 220 pounds more load capacity than the factory wheel. Notably, Honda did not publish a weight for the 18×8 design. Therefore, you have no way yet to judge any unsprung weight savings. For me, the load number is the most useful detail here, because it speaks to strength before looks.
A Honda Passport Exhaust With More Clearance
HRC partnered with Borla on its first exhaust, a cat-back system made of corrosion-resistant 304 stainless steel. Honda says it raises flow by up to 6% and bolts on with the factory hangers. Borla’s Polyphonic Harmonizer technology, according to Honda, accentuates the natural sound of the 3.5-liter V6. Its Anti-Drone design is meant to keep highway cruising comfortable.
The off-road claim is clearance. Honda says the system’s compact design adds up to 1.9 inches of ground clearance. The release does not say where Honda measured the gain or which factory part the new system clears. For background on trail capability, read our Passport TrailSport off-road breakdown.
Both parts fit the 2026 and newer Passport and the 2023 and newer Pilot. Fitment includes the refreshed 2027 Passport TrailSport, which starts at $49,995 according to our Passport TrailSport pricing report.
What Honda Has Not Announced
Honda has not announced a price for any HRC part. The release also omits the 18×8 wheel’s weight, supported tire sizes, and warranty coverage for the parts.
Honda’s release also skips whether the exhaust meets California sound and emissions rules. Our report on SB 1069 and aftermarket parts explains how the state approves them.
Honda will also show prototypes of future parts at SEMA. They include adjustable coilovers with camber plates, a Brembo big brake kit with 6-piston calipers, and a short throw shifter. Even so, Honda did not tie those prototypes to the Passport or Pilot.
What This Means for You
This matters most to Passport and Pilot drivers who leave pavement. Specifically, the clearance claim is the only off-road figure Honda gave. If you own a 2026 or newer Passport, or a 2023 or newer Pilot, nothing changes today. The parts reach dealers in March 2027, so you have several months to plan. Wait for pricing before you commit, since Honda gave no figure and any budget you set now is a guess.
Before March, underbody protection and tires are worth sorting out ahead of any wheel. Our report on an all-weather tire BFGoodrich lists as a Passport fit covers one tire option. Specifically, skid plates are one of the first mods worth making, since they protect the underbody before you add capability.
Trail readiness also covers getting unstuck and fixing a flat. The MAXTRAX MKII Safety Orange Vehicle Recovery Board set, the Rhino USA Kinetic Recovery Rope and the Rhino USA Tire Repair Kit (86-Piece) handle both. Use the rope only from rated recovery points, and remember a plug is a trail fix, not a permanent repair.
Trail recovery basics for Passport and Pilot owners
Pilot owners get the same wheel and exhaust. However, Honda gave one 1.9-inch figure and did not break it out by vehicle. Therefore, treat it as a best-case number for both models.
Final Thoughts
HRC Performance Parts are the first line of hardware from Honda’s racing arm sold through Honda and Acura dealers. I like how two of the parts aim at trail use. A clearance gain and a stronger wheel matter more to Passport drivers than a louder exhaust note.
Still, this is a preview, not a purchase decision. Honda has not posted prices, the 18×8 wheel’s weight, or warranty terms. If you drive a Passport on dirt roads and forest trails, I would wait for March 2027. Then check the warranty terms, and spend money on a skid plate and tires before any wheel.
Either way, I am glad to see Honda put its racing name behind parts for the Passport and Pilot. Pricing is the detail to confirm as the March 2027 sales date gets closer.
FAQ
What are the new Honda HRC parts?
They are the first line of HRC Performance Parts from Honda Racing Corporation USA. The initial lineup has three products. A forged 19×10-inch wheel fits the Civic Type R and Integra Type S. The Passport and Pilot get a forged 18×8-inch wheel and a Borla cat-back exhaust.
Which vehicles fit the HRC wheel and exhaust?
Both off-road parts fit the 2026 and newer Honda Passport and the 2023 and newer Honda Pilot. The 19×10-inch wheel fits only the Civic Type R and Integra Type S.
When do HRC parts go on sale?
Honda says sales begin in March 2027 at Honda and Acura dealers and on Honda DreamShop online. The SEMA Show debut comes first.
How much do the HRC wheel and exhaust cost?
Honda has not announced pricing for either part, and its release does not say when it will.