- Honda previewed HRC trims aimed at performance and rugged SUVs.
- A sharper Civic Type R concept debuted with major aero upgrades.
- Trail Line concepts target CR V, ZR V, WR V, and Vezel SUVs.
Several Honda and Acura models may soon be offered with new HRC-branded trims, including tuned versions of performance flagships like the Civic Type R and Integra Type S.
The move comes as part of a push by Honda to leverage its motorsport pedigree more visibly, pursuing a similar strategy to Hyundai’s N division, Nissan’s Nismo brand, and Toyota’s Gazoo Racing – at least before it became a brand of its own.
Read: Prelude, Type R And CR-V Get Sporty HRC Makeovers, And Honda Didn’t Stop There
A glimpse of what’s to come arrived at the Tokyo Auto Salon, where Honda previewed a range of upcoming HRC trims. The standout was a camouflaged Civic Type R, fitted with an aggressive bodykit that included reshaped bumpers, custom rear wing endplates, and a sizeable rear diffuser stretching deep beneath the car.
Also debuting in Tokyo was a motorsport-styled version of the new Prelude, outfitted with forged carbon fiber components. Both the Civic and Prelude are part of Honda Racing Corporation’s ‘Sport Line’ concept, aimed at street performance.
They shared space with a separate collection of ‘Trail Line’ SUVs, which take a different approach altogether. These included accessorized CR-V, ZR-V, WR-V, and Vezel models, all dressed in protective body cladding and off-road kit for a more rugged look.
Street and Trail Strategies
According to Honda vice president Hideo Kawasaka, there are plans to introduce Sport Line and Trail Line models through the Honda Racing Corporation department. However, he did not specify if all of the models showcased in Tokyo will reach the production line, nor did he confirm in which markets they will be available.
Honda’s HRC Concepts
“Without racing, our vehicles will not get any better,” Kawasaka told Auto News. “Guided by this philosophy, we have pursued the joy of driving by feeding insights and technologies gained through racing back into our production vehicles.”
Honda has been laying the groundwork for an HRC product expansion for some time. At the 2024 SEMA Show, the company revealed a heavily modified Acura Integra Type S, fitted with aggressive aftermarket components and racing upgrades. Not long after, executives confirmed ongoing efforts to develop HRC-branded production models for public sale.
