Honda Unleashes a Trio of Rugged TrailSport SUVs to the All-Women Off-Road 2023 Rebelle Rally

>> Honda Pilot and Passport TrailSports will compete largely unmodified, showing rugged capability and durability of Honda light trucks
>> Competition vehicles feature "pop art" exterior wraps, the boldest designs ever for Honda Rebelle Rally entrants
>> Honda engineers along with journalist Mercedes Lilienthal will pilot the entries
>> Rebelle Rally is nation's longest competitive off-road rally at more than 1,500 miles

October 12, 2023 — TORRANCE, Calif. Honda today unveiled its trio of rugged TrailSport SUVs that will compete in the grueling 2023 Rebelle Rally, an eight-day off-road competition through the unforgiving desert conditions of the American Southwest. Piloted by Honda associates and automotive journalists, two 2024 Pilot TrailSports and the refreshed 2024 Passport TrailSport will compete in the all-women navigation event from October 12-21. The Honda Pilot TrailSport and updated Passport TrailsSport will challenge the difficult conditions, putting the handling, capability and durability to the test.

All three Honda TrailSport SUVs will compete wearing a special Rebelle Rally exterior wrap with vivid colors inspired by comic book "pop art" style. Designed by Honda exterior designer Lili Melikian, of the Honda Design Studio in Torrance, Calif., the bold exterior graphics showcases a unique terrain on each vehicle, including dust, water and rocks, flying off the wheels, highlighting TrailSport's rugged capability in the many tortuous landscapes they will be encounter during the weeklong off-road competition.

This is the fifth year Honda engineers are using America's longest off-road rally, more than 1,500 miles across the deserts of California and Nevada, to further explore the rugged performance of off-road components in extreme environments.

Ohio-based Honda associates Liz Long, a chassis reliability test engineer at the Honda Auto Development Center (ADC) in Ohio, and Hillary Tate, a project administrator of design and construction for Honda facilities across North America, will drive a race prepared Honda Pilot TrailSport in the X-Cross™ category. The duo is part of the Honda of America Racing Team (HART), a unique racing program run entirely by Honda associates throughout the United States.

Pilot TrailSport is Honda's most off-road capable SUV ever with standard steel skid plates protecting the oil pan and fuel tank, raised off-road tuned suspension, trail-ready all-terrain tires and expanded all-wheel drive system capabilities. For competition, ADC has added custom-fabricated steel bumpers and Maxxis RAZR AT tires for improved traction in all conditions.

A 2024 Honda Passport TrailSport will also compete in the X-Cross™ category, showcasing the performance of the model's new off-road tuned suspension with increased articulation. It will be piloted by Honda Performance Development (HPD) IndyCar trackside engineers and Rebelle rookies Serena Halterman and Nicole Rotondo. HPD in Southern California prepared their Passport TrailSport for competition by making just three modifications from stock, adding custom-fabricated steel skid plates, front recovery points and Maxxis RAZR AT tires.

Competing in the Bone Stock category, the 2024 Pilot TrailSport piloted by award-winning automotive journalist Mercedes Lilienthal (driver) and her teammate, Emily Winslow (navigator) also receives Maxxis RAZR AT tires for improved off-road traction. Based out of Portland, OR, this will be Lilienthal's fourth Rebelle, while Winslow, based near Seattle, WA, will be competing in her fifth.

The Rebelle Rally is not a race for speed; it's a unique event where teams strategically navigate the rugged terrain without the assistance of GPS or cellular navigation. Teams rely on traditional elements such as paper maps, compasses and headings to navigate to hidden checkpoints, with the goal of accruing the most points and reaching the finish line each day. The 2023 Rebelle Rally will feature its largest field to date with 65 vehicles entered.

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